WHEELING – The 9th annual Cancer Research Classic is now in the books, and by all accounts it was an overwhelming success.

The McDonough Center at Wheeling Jesuit University was packed, the competition fierce and both local quints competed well Saturday.

Event organizer and director Dr. Gregory Merrick was happy with how the seven-game extravaganza played out.

“It was a marvelous day. The crowds were great, the enthusiasm was tremendous and the bands added to the atmosphere,” Merrick said. “The weather cooperated and we got good reviews on our new reserved seating and improved concessions. I couldn’t be happier.”

Merrick earns credit for not only putting on the best prep hoop tourney in the nation, but also on his adept pairing of the teams. Of the seven games contested, five were decided by three points or less.

The only two not coming down to the wire were Advanced Prep’s 105-71 pounding of Westtown and Allderdice’s 62-48 win over Wheeling Park, in a game which was much closer that the final tally would indicate.

Advanced Prep’s 105-point explosion established a new CRC scoring standard.

What was billed as the event’s prime attraction – Montverde Academy and DeMatha – lived up to the hype. Montverde held on for an exciting 74-71 victory.

The Florida-based academy boasts 14 potential D-I college players on its roster. It is amazing coach Kevin Boyle can pacify that many prime-time players with sufficient court time.

The game I enjoyed most was Chaminade’s 84-83 overtime win over Huntington Prep. Chaminade was fueled by Duke-bound Jayson Tatum’s 46-point effort. Huntington Prep countered by receiving 27 points from Michigan State signee Miles Bridges and 25 from Indiana commit Curtis Jones.

“We treated the fans to big-time basketball in the Montverde-DeMatha game. For basketball purists, it showed the importance of playing quality defense,” Merrick said. “The Chaminade-Huntington prep game reinforced why Tatum is second to none. He dropped in 46 on a McDonald’s All-American (Bridges). Tatum was our tourney MVP.”

This year’s CRC couldn’t have opened in any better fashion. Wheeling Central launched the proceedings with a thrilling 75-74 triumph over Archbishop Wood out of Philadelphia. WVU signee Chase Harler propelled Mel Stephens’ Maroon Knights with 38 points.

Central’s nail-biter ushered in Park’s valiant effort against Pennsylvania’s No 2-rated Class 4-A squad. Allerdice pulled away down the stretch as the Patriots, using only six players, simply ran out of gas.

The nation’s best teams and top players are the magnet to attract the SRO crowd, but having two local basketball powers in the field is also a key component to the CRC success.

While the play on the court was entertaining, it was galvanized by superb officiating. It is no easy task supervising the nation’s prep elite, but it was handled expertly.

Wheeling’s Doug Costain is charged with selecting the officials for the CRC. He has done so from the event’s outset. It is a job he relishes.

“The criteria for picking the CRC event is simple – either working college games or have the ability to work college games. Some of our best local high school officials just opt not to do college games,” Costain said. “The officials working the event donate their services. We do, however, outfit them in nice CRC apparel.”

Costain’s resume is an impressive one. He is only 46 years of age but owns 29 years of officiating experience. Costain has worked collegiately for 25 years, both at the D-1 and D-2 levels.

He also got a taste of professional ball. Costain worked in the NBA during its strike-shortened 1994 season as well as the CBA, when it served at the development league for the NBA.

Costain was on the Montverde-DeMatha game with Jim Prati and Frank Micale. They did a superb job of keeping control while allowing the players to display their skills.

“The coaches were very complementary of the officiating,” Merrick said. “Officiating can make or break a tournament of this magnitude. Good officials need to keep control, and our crews did that Saturday.”

Kapral may be reached at bkapral@timesleaderonline.com