Your source for Lancaster-Lebanon League Boys Basketball

 
 
 
District 2 Boys Recap (WVC D2 Title Game: Holy Redeemer vs. Wyoming Area)
 

District 2 Boys Recap (WVC D2 Title Game: Holy Redeemer vs. Wyoming Area)

Written by: Jon K on February 13, 2024

 

 

February 12, 2024

 

Royals Rumble to Another Division Crown

 

Holy Redeemer 58, Wyoming Area 48

 

WILKES-BARRE – After giving up 16 first half points to Dane Schutter in which the 6-5 senior repeatedly found a wide-open landing strip in the middle, Holy Redeemer tightened up their defense and got their versatile big-man into their offense.  George Sabatini, especially effective when moving around the court, helped the Royals erase a 21-10 second quarter deficit with a 12-0 run to take momentum into the locker room.  Wyoming Area, a talented and balanced team that was looking for their first division title in many years, rallied to grab a second half lead (36-35), but the Warriors came up short in several late possessions as Holy Redeemer was able to get to the free throw line to secure their third consecutive Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 Championship, 58-48.  This was a well-played matchup with a terrific turnout of fans on hand from both schools at Wilkes-Barre Area high shool.

Dane Schutter established his presence quickly by guiding Wyoming Area to a 7-2 lead just two minutes into the contest.  He used a combination of offensive putbacks, drives to the basket and a great feed from Anthony DeLucca.  The Warriors were controlling the tempo.  George Sabatini made a nifty spin move to bring the Royals within 9-4 before Mark Atherton made a steal and full court driving layup to cut the deficit to 9-6.  The Warriors would take a 13-8 lead into the second period after scores by Brady Noone and Tyler Sciandra were wrapped around a baseline jumper by David Popson.

Over the opening two minutes of the secnd period, Wyoming Area expanded their lead to 21-10.  After hitting a pair of free throws, Sciandra launched an acrobatic hook shot that resulted in an “and 1”.  Moments later, Schutter connected on a triple.  Atherton would convert a pair of free throws followed by a Popson putback to cut it to 21-14.  WA would again push the lead back to nine points (25-16 and 27-18) after Schutter would get back-to-back layups, the first via a terrific pass from Matt Rusinchak.  Popson and Sabatini would continue to play tough inside, but it was the outside triple by Atherton that ignited a 12-0 run in the final minutes of the first half.  Sabatini would drive at the 2:03 mark to cut it to 27-23.  The Royals then came up with a steal that ended up in a Popson trey.  Sabatini would give HR their first lead, 28-27, with a turnaround layup.  He capped off the rally with an impressive putback slam in the closing moments, but went down hard to the floor that left everyone in the gym holding their breath in hopes that he has not suffered any serious head injury.  Much to his coaches’ surprise, the senior forward got up rather quickly and appeared to be OK.  The Royals went into the intermission with a 30-27 lead.

The second half started a bit slow on both sides as a pair of free throws by Noone cut the gap to a single point, 31-30.  Teams traded scores over the next two minutes – Popson and Atherton for HR plus a pair of scores by Noone (who was playing very well) – to keep the Warriors within a single point, 35-34.  Schutter scored in the lane to put Wyoming Area back in front 36-35 moments before Brayden Sock nailed a triple put HR into the lead once again (38-36).  Popson then hit a baseline shot from a beautiful no-look feed from Sabatini to give the Royals a 40-36 advantage after three quarters.

Wyoming Area got a terrific pass from DeLucca into Luke Kopetchny for a layup at the 5:58 mark cutting it to 40-38.  The Warriors then committed consecutive turnovers before Sabatini got a putback followed by a driving, powerhouse slam at the 2:42 mark giving the Royals a 44-38 lead and the Red Sea making their presence known.  Rusinchak hit a clutch triple reducing the gap to 44-41, but Holy Redeemer would then go on a 5-0 spurt over the next minute to take a 49-41 lead with 1:21 left in the game.  The Royals were looking to secure this one from the charity stripe, but a deep double-bank triple by DeLucca with 36 ticks made it 53-48.  Holy Redeemer captured the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 Championship with another slam by Sabatini as the Royals came away with the 58-48 victory.

Holy Redeemer was led by George Sabatini with 23 points, Mark Atherton with 15 points, and David Popson with 13 points.  Brayden Sock added 7 points.  The Royals connected on 3 tripes and made 15 of their 22 free throws.

Wyoming Area was paced by Dane Schutter with 22 points.  Tyler Sciandra and Brady Noone each netted 8 points.  Anthony DeLucca, Matt Rusinchak, and Luke Kopetchny combined for 10 points.  The Warriors made 3 triples and converted 13 of their 16 free throws.

Both teams advance to Thursday’s Wyoming Valley Conference Tournament to be played at Wilkes-Barre Area.  Holy Redeemer will take the Division 1 Runner-up (Dallas) at 6 pm followed by Wyoming Area battling the Division 1 Champion (Wilkes-Barre Area)at 7:30 pm. 

Image

Image

Image

 

Image

Image

Image

Image

 

 

                                           

Follow LLhoops on Twitter @LLhoops

 
 
Fifty Years of Lancaster-Lebanon League Boys Basketball
 
LL Hoops Livestream
 
 
 
 
x