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District 2/4 Boys Game Recap (Holy Redeemer vs. St. John Neumann)
 

District 2/4 Boys Game Recap (Holy Redeemer vs. St. John Neumann)

Written by: Jon K on January 7, 2023

 

 

January 7, 2023

 

Royals Get Buzzer-Beater in Hoops Thriller

 

Holy Redeemer 76, Saint John Neumann 75 (OT)

 

by Jon K.

WILKES-BARRE – The term “instant classic” might get a bit overused throughout the course of a basketball season.  And while Saturday afternoon’s non-conference matchup between Holy Redeemer and Saint John Neumann didn’t bring any special pre-game incentive for either team, the post-game payoff was incredibly significant for both coaches.  For every second of all 36 minutes, these two teams brought a playoff-like intensity onto the floor.  While the Knights’ all-everything 2,000-point scorer Davion Hill would amaze the crowd by scoring half of his teams’ points through the second half, the Royals refused to let this one slip away as they continued to dial up their defensive pressure.  Both squads, trailing at the time, held possession at the end of regulation and overtime.  While Neumann capitalized in tying the contest and sending it into overtime, Holy Redeemer was able to use their opportunity to get a buzzer-beating 76-75 victory sending their jubilant fanbase into a wild, instant celebration.    

 

The first quarter gave fans a peak at what was in store with five ties and four lead changes.  The Royals immediately displayed their speed and quickness to create a pair of early turnovers and taking a 4-2 lead with baskets by Louis Lussi and Jacob Hunter.  Lussi would add another bank shot in the lane, but St. John Neumann would get a jumper from Messiah Baldwin and a Hill floater on the baseline to tie it at 6.  The Royals got an inbounds basket from Zach Perta and score by Darryl Wright at the 3:27 mark to go up by four, 10-6.  The Knights responded with some solid shooting, getting a jumper from Joe Savage along with back-to-back triples from Kane Wright and Hill.  During this span, and what proved to be a key difference in the game, was the outstanding offensive rebounding effort by 6-4 Jeff Kozerski.  Three times he made strong putbacks, the final one knotting the game at 16 after Neumann had regained the lead.  In the closing half-minute, Darryl Wright made a terrific steal on Hill and converted a free throw before Baldwin netted a triple for the Knights giving them a 19-17 lead after the first stanza.

 

Joe Savage would start the second quarter with a basket before Perta made an athletic layup and ensuing 3-point shot.  After a pair of free throws from Savage, Darryl Wright nailed a trey to tie the game at 23.  St. John Neumann then went on an 8-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game, 31-23, via a driving, twisting layup from Hill followed by triples from Savage and Baldwin.  That’s when senior guard Zach Perta caught fire for Holy Redeemer.  He started by scoring a key layup off a turnover at the 3:15 mark.  He then wrapped a pair of triples around another score by Kozerski under the basket to tie the game at 31.  After Neumann got a rally-ending trey from Corey Agnew, Perta would hit yet another triple to tie it up at 34.  In the closing minute of the first half, Hunter and George Sabatini would add a free throw for HR around another Perta steal to take a 36-34 edge into the locker room.

 

Holy Redeemer would maintain their momentum through much of the third period.  Neumann began the second half being very patient and working the ball around, something not seen from the Knights in the first half.  Their patience was rewarded as they got it inside to Hill who got fouled, making one of two to cut it to 36-35.  A few moments later he was again fouled going to the hoop, but coming up empty on both opportunities.  The Royals capitalized, getting a pair of triples from Lussi wrapped around an offensive call against Hill to take their biggest lead of the game, 42-35.  Hill, who was becoming a force in the contest, got a pair of baskets along with a score by Kane Wright to trim the deficit to a single point, 43-42.  After Holy Redeemer got back-to-back treys from Hunter and Wright for another seven-point advantage (49-42), the Knights would rally for a 10-2 run to take a 52-51 lead with 15 seconds left in the period.  In that streak, Neumann got a Baldwin inside score, pair of free throws and putback from Hill, a turnaround by Savage, and spinning layup by Hill.  Darryl Wright again made a clutch shot for the Royals, connecting on a triple at the buzzer (their 6th of the period) to take a 54-52 lead into the eight minutes.

 

After teams traded turnovers the start the quarter, the Knights got a 3-point play from Savage and pair of free throws from Hill wrapped around a foul shot by Hunter to take a 57-54 lead with 5:48 left in the game.  Holy Redeemer would grab the lead back (58-57) with a basket by Perta and score by Kozerski off a Neumann turnover.  The crowd then watched as Hill’s next shot seemed to reman motionless on the rim before dropping in as his 3-point play gave the lead back to Neumann, 60-58, with 4:46 remaining.  Mark Atherton then converted a corner trey before Tyrick Moy put SJN back on top 62-61 with 3:42 on the clock.  Zach Perta would then make his fourth triple to put HR into the lead, 64-62, with 3:21 left.  A half minute later, a basket by Baldwin followed by a free throw by Savage gave the Knights a 65-64 edge with 2:55 remaining.  After Perta missed a long triple, the Royals displayed fantastic hustle in creating a turnover that led to a driving layup by Hunter with 1:31 left to take the lead back (66-65).  The Royals would get the ball back in the closing minute with Hunter adding another score to lead 68-65 with 29.8 on the clock.  After several timeouts, everyone in the gym knew who would be taking the final shot.  Davion Hill launched a triple with the referee whistle sounding shortly before the ball swished through net setting up a miraculous, game-winning opportunity with 0.8 on the clock.  The free throw would be off target as a collective sigh of relief could be heard throughout the gymnasium.  This one was headed to overtime knotted at 68.

 

Lussi would get things going for a Royals lead, 70-68.  Savage, playing a superb all-around game for the Knights nailed a triple to give Neumann a 71-70 lead with 2:03 left.  Moy would then add a layup at with 1:30 on the clock extending the SJN advantage to three points, 73-70.  Lussi would then convert a pair of free throws to cut it to 73-72 with 1:10 left.  A basket by Hill gave the Knights a 75-72 lead.  On their ensuing possession after a miss, Kozerski made the play of the game, fought hard for the rebound and getting fouled on the putback with 39.7 ticks left cutting it to 75-74.  An open triple probably should have been passed up by Savage on the Knights’ next possession.  The off-target shot was grabbed by the Royals.  After the ball was knocked out of bounds by Neumann, Holy Redeemer inbounded the ball with 10.8 left.  They worked it around, finding Hunter open.  He stepped toward the basket and put up the winning shot that gave Holy Redeemer a pulsating 76-75 victory sending the fans onto the court in celebration.   

 

Holy Redeemer got an incredible 16 triples in the game, placing five players into double figures.  Zach Perta led the way with 21 points (4 triples).  His efforts all over the floor were impressive.  Louis Lussi added 14 points with a pair of key triples in the third period.  Jacob Hunter scored 13 points and seemed to come up with clutch baskets throughout the game.  Both Darryl Wright and Jeff Kozerski netted a dozen points each.  Wright had 3 treys.  Kozerski was incredibly tenacious underneath the basket, especially on the offensive putbacks.  The Royals were 9 of 18 from the free throw line.

 

Saint John Neumann was led by their sensational 2,000+ point scorer Davion Hill.  He netted 30 points.  Joe Savage had a solid effort with 18 points and Messiah Baldwin added 12 points.  The Knights were 10 of 15 from the charity stripe.

 

Holy Redeemer gets back into Wyoming Valley Conference action on Tuesday at Wyoming Area.      

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