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Paul VI Catholic defeats Gonzaga in national top-10 battle to win WCAC Championship

hunterby:Hunter Shelton•02/24/25•

HunterShelton_

Syndication: The News-Leader
Head coach Glenn Farello Jr. of Paul VI Catholic (Virginia) cheers on his players during the championship game of the Tournament of Champions against St. John Bosco (California) at Great Southern Bank Arena on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.

Two of the nation’s top high school boys basketball programs meant in a titanic clash on Monday evening in Washington, D.C. for the 2025 WCAC Championship.

In a tight battle that saw four lead changes, Paul VI Catholic (Va.) managed to squeeze past Gonzaga (D.C.) for the 58-54 win. Superstar junior shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr. paved the way for the Panthers with a game-high 29 points.

Smith, a five-star prospect in the 2026 recruiting cycle, shot 9-19 from the field, draining a pair of 3-pointers while also nailing nine free throws. He added seven rebounds, three assists and two steals to round out an elite performance.

PVI, the No. 6 team in the nation per the On3 Composite Rankings, shot 36 percent from the field and made three treys in both the first and fourth quarters. Senior power forward Jaquan Womack added 12 points, seven boards, two steals, an assist and a block. Smith and Womack made 14 of PVI’s 18 baskets on Monday.

“I feel great right now, I thought all the work that we put in paid off, and we’ve still got more to win,” Womack, a Towson signee, told Capitol Hoops after the win.

Gonzaga, No. 9 in the nation, took a 25-23 lead into halftime following a five-point second quarter from PVI. The Eagles shot 40.9 percent and made seven 3-pointers, but it wasn’t enough late. Senior combo guard Derek Dixon led with 13 points and was one of five Eagles to score eight or more in the losing effort.

Paul VI Catholic led for more than 25 minutes of game time and had 16 second-chance points. It’s now added a third title in the last four years, continuing its run of dominance in the WCAC. Throughout the year, its also picked up nationally-ranked wins over the likes of IMG Academy (Fla.), St. Frances Academy (Md.), St. John Bosco (Calif.) and DeMatha Catholic (Md.), cementing its status as one of the nation’s top programs.

The On3 Composite High School Basketball Team Rankings is a proprietary algorithm that compiles rankings listed in the public domain by respected High School media and data companies. It includes Massey, Max Preps, ESPN, and SI, creating the industry’s most comprehensive and geographically balanced High School Team Ranking.