There's no easy way to put this, so here goes: Neumann-Goretti has Archbishop Carroll's number.

OK, now that that's out of the way.

The Patriots' 74-68 loss to the visiting Saints Sunday typifies a rivalry that has been competitive of late, but more one-sided than outsiders might think.

Neumann-Goretti has won 23 of the team's last 24 meetings in the last 10 years. (The only contest that Carroll stole from N-G? A 70-65 decision in the PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals in 2008-09. Two wins later, and the Patriots were state champions.)

In their most recent meeting, the Patriots (10-3) held a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter. They were up by 13 heading into the final period, at 51-38.

So what happened? The Saints, the reigning Class AAA state champs, went to the line and knocked down shots so regularly that the Patriots could not keep pace.

Tracy Peal (pictured) had 15 points and 10 rebounds, All-Delco Juan'ya Green had 22 points, nine assists and five boards and Shane Randall coupled eight points with 11 rebounds.

What it boils down to is Carroll has to beat Neumann-Goretti. Plain and simple. The only time the Patriots beat the Saints in the last decade, they made it count by winning the state crown. If they intend on making another lengthy run, they'll have to go through Neumann-Goretti.

Who would've thought Archbishop Carroll losing Monday in the Catholic League championship would be the least of its problems?

Already coping with All-Delco point guard D.J. Irving sidelined with a fracture in his shooting hand, the Patriots have another problem afoot following their 75-59 loss to Neumann-Goretti at the Palestra.

Senior forward Ben Mingledough (pictured) was ejected from the game after stepping in to break up a confrontation between teammate Vince Mostardi and the Saints' Tony Chennault, a Wake Forest-bound guard who is four inches taller than Mostardi. That means the Patriots will be without both Mingledough and Irving (assuming he doesn't cut off his cast) when they take on Simon Gratz Wednesday in the District 12 Class AAA play-in game.

A year ago, Carroll beat Gratz in the play-in on its way to the PIAA crown. Still, you have to imagine the Patriots would like their odds against the Bulldogs a whole lot more with their second- and third-leading scorers on the court instead of on the bench.