District 2 Boys Game Recap (Wyoming Valley Conference Championship: Holy Redeemer vs. Dallas)
Written by: Jon K on February 19, 2023
February 18, 2023
Royals Reach WVC Summit, Defeat Dallas for Title
Holy Redeemer 73, Dallas 65
by Jon K.
DALLAS – Patience paid off for those fans that were able to eventually work their way into the overflow gymnasium at Dallas high school Saturday evening as they were treated to District 2 hoops at its very best. What the schedule makers could not deliver during the regular season, the Wyoming Valley Conference made possible in their championship tournament. And it was worth the wait. Holy Redeemer and Dallas, who came into the contest with a combined record of 41-5, gave the sellout crowd 32 minutes of outstanding hustle, gutsy defense, and clutch-shooting. When the Royals threatened to break open a double-digit lead as action entered the final period, the Mountaineers got an offensive spurt to pull within a single point (59-58) with three and a half minutes left in the game. Holy Redeemer then got to the charity stripe where they converted 11 of 16 opportunities to secure the hard-fought 73-65 victory.
This one started at warp speed. After a bank shot by Darius Wallace gave Dallas a 2-0 lead a minute into the game, Holy Redeemer put together a 9-0 run over the next three minutes. Jacob Hunter got a driving reverse layup and a triple followed by Darryl Wright getting a layup and floater in the lane. The Mounts quickly dusted themselves off as Michael Bufalino momentarily stopped the Royals’ momentum with a putback and ensuing 3-point play. Zach Perta responded with an “and 1” off a jumper followed by another driving layup by Hunter to put HR up 14-5. Bufalino would continue to be the Dallas catalyst as he netted 6 points over the next minute (he had 9 points in the period) with a 3-point play and a triple. A layup by Wallace and pair of free throws by Nick Farrell completed the 10-0 run giving the Mounts a 15-14 edge heading into the second period. Both teams exhibited that they had the ability to stage a run, but more importantly, also showed that had more than enough talent to quickly bounce back.
Dallas continued their run midway through the second quarter taking a 24-21 lead before the Royals would charge back with a flurry of treys that provided a 10-2 spurt to grab a 5-point halftime lead. The pendulum was swinging back and forth and the capacity crowd was hanging on every shot. Perta began the period with a jumper and long triple wrapped around a 3-point play by Bufalino to regain the lead, 19-18. Dallas would then bring the crowd to their feet as their 6-0 run was highlighted by a Bufalino putback, fast-break score by Wallace, and layup by Michael Cumbo for a 24-21 advantage. Coming out of the timeout, the Royals made another impressive statement going on a 10-2 run over the final 3:30 of the first half. Hunter connected on a triple followed by Jeff Kozerski getting a 3-point play on a putback. Nick Farrell got a layup for Dallas with a minute left, but the Royals closed out the half via yet another quick baseline drive to the basket by Hunter and triple at the buzzer by Mark Atherton to make the score 31-26. At the break, Jacob Hunter had 12 points for the Royals while Michael Bufalino had 14 points for Dallas.
Holy Redeemer expanded their lead to nine points (38-29) through the first three minutes of the second half using pinpoint shooting and some stellar defense as Jeff Kozerski was quickly becoming quite the obstacle to deal with inside the lane. Hunter got a driving layup and floater followed by a corner tray from Perta. As teams played even through the remainder of the period, Dallas repeatedly came up with huge scores to keep the deficit within reach as the Royals continued to hit on all cylinders. A charge was called on George Sabatini, but the basket was good at the 4:00 mark (40-31). Jude Nocito got his first points of the game, a triple a half-minute later, but the Royals then got a 5-0 spurt as Hunter again drove down the lane followed by a trey by Wright for a 45-34 advantage with 1:30 left in the quarter. Nocito and Perta then traded triples before Nick Williams got a putback to trim the gap again to nine points (48-39) entering the final stanza.
Williams drove to the hoop cutting it to 48-41 as the final frame got underway. In their next possession, the Royals continued to impress with their athleticism and awareness as Wright got an amazing put-back “and 1” as he was falling to the floor giving HR a ten-point lead. Over the next four minutes, the Mountaineers began to slowly climb their way back going on a 17-8 run. It started with Cameron Faux connecting on a triple. A pair of free throws and drive by Darius Wallace cut it to 54-51 bringing the home crowd fans to their feet. Hunter, stepping outside the lane for a change of scenery, then drained a trey. Williams then got a pair of layups wrapped around a score by Perta as this one as getting very interesting at 59-55. The gym then erupted as Nocito swished a long-range triple with 3:37 remaining reducing the gap to a single point, 59-58. The Royals got a free throw from Atherton and trey from Hunter over the next minute to get some breathing room, 63-58, with 2:40 left. Teams exchanged free throws as Holy Redeemer took a 67-60 lead. More free throws followed (one by Wright and four by Wallace) making it 68-64 with 52 seconds left in the game. Trailing by six points as the clock closed in on a half-minute, the Mountaineers’ triple attempt was off the mark and the Royals went on to secure the 73-65 victory.
Holy Redeemer was led by Jacob Hunter who netted 30 points (with 4 triples). He was outstanding throughout the entire game darting his way to the hoops with control and accuracy. Zach Perta added 19 points (3 triples) while Darryl Wright contributed 17 points. Mark Atherton, George Sabatini, and Jeff Kozerski combined for 7 points. The Royals had 10 triples and were 17 of 28 from the foul line.
Dallas placed four players into double figures – Darius Wallace with 15 points, Michael Bufalino with 14 points (all in the first half as he had foul trouble), Nick Williams with 13 points (all in the second half), and Jude Nocito with 10 points. Nick Farrell, Cameron Faux, and Michael Cumbo combined for 13 points. The Mounts hit 4 triples and were 16 of 20 from the charity stripe.
Both teams advance to this week’s District 2 playoffs. Holy Redeemer (22-2), the 3A #1 seed, will host #8 seed Wyoming Seminary (5-17) on Tuesday night. Dallas (20-4), the #2 seed in 5A, will host #7 seed Wallenpaupack (10-12), also on Tuesday.
— LLHoops Neast Beat (@LLHoopsNEPbeat) February 19, 2023
Follow LLhoops on Twitter @LLhoops
