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BETHLEHEM — The pivotal moment for Nanticoke Area came with just about five minutes to play Tuesday night.
Nationally ranked Imhotep Charter already had the game well in hand, reaching a 40-point lead to enact the mercy rule and a running clock. There was only one thing left for Nanticoke Area to do at Bethlehem Freedom High School.
One by one, Nanticoke Area coach John Beggs pulled his seniors to let them hear one final cheer from the partisan crowd as Imhotep eventually left with a 60-23 victory and a spot in the PIAA Class 4A boys basketball championship game.
“I was a little emotional at the end, not because of the wins and losses,” Beggs said. “As a coach you can handle those and we ran into a team that was better than us. But the relationships you establish and the Trojan pride these guys played with, it was just tough to see them walk off the floor in that uniform for the last time.
“That’s why we brought each one off individually, give the Trojan faithful a chance to show their appreciation for these guys and what they’ve accomplished this season and their entire basketball career.”
Nanticoke Area (21-8) didn’t get a district title, finishing third in the District 2 playoffs. The Trojans were the last Wyoming Valley Conference team standing and advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 1985.
“We were happy with what we accomplished this year and how far we got,” said guard Rich Wiaterowski, one of six seniors in the regular rotation. “We would have loved to make it to the next round and win a state medal, but we were just very happy how we did and how far we got. I’m very proud of this team and what we accomplished this year.”
District 12 champion Imhotep (30-2), ranked sixth nationally by USA Today, will go for its fifth state championship on Saturday against the winner of Tuesday night’s game between D7 runner-up Quaker Valley (25-3) and D10 champion Erie Strong Vincent (27-3).
Nanticoke Area’s strategy was to control the ball and limit turnovers. It worked somewhat in the first quarter as senior Luke Butczynski knocked down a couple of 3-pointers to keep the Trojans within shouting distance of Imhotep.
There was a problem.
“The problem was they didn’t miss,” Beggs said.
Imhotep wasn’t flawless by any means in the first quarter. Guard Daron Russell, though, was. The Rhode Island recruit scored nine of his game-high 22 points in the opening period to give the Panthers a 15-8 lead.
Russell continued his assault in the second quarter as did Bernard Lightly. Both Panthers had two 3-pointers as the points started piling up for Imhotep. Dahmir Bishop ended the half with a 3-pointer off an offensive rebound for a 39-5 advantage.
Thing got worse in the third period as Alec Divers’ floater at 2:11 was the only Nanticoke Area basket. Imhotep’s talent and supreme depth took over so much that South Carolina recruit Dave Beatty barely made a dent in the scorebook. But his drive to the hoop — part of his quiet four-point night — gave Imhotep a 57-17 to end the third and started the mercy rule.
“It was just really tough competition,” Nanticoke Area senior guard Zack Cardone said. “We knew what was coming. They’re a great team, a team we’ve never seen before.
“That was probably one of the best teams Nanticoke has ever played. But I’m proud of our guys for everything we’ve done over the season. I couldn’t ask for a better team to play with in my four years.”
PIAA 3A Semifinals
Imhotep Charter 60, Nanticoke Area 23
IMHOTEP (60) — Dave Beatty 2 0-0 4, Daron Russell 9 1-2 22, Bernard Lightsey 3 1-2 10, Donta Scott 4 0-0 8, Chareef Knox 1 1-2 3, Dahmir Bishop 2 1-1 6, Jamil Riggins 0 0-0 0, Kareem Cummings 0 0-0 0, Fatayn Wesley 1 0-0 2, Amear Johnson 2 0-0 4, Elijah Taylor 0 0-0 0, Sami Wylie 0 1-2 1, Davonte Canty 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 5-10 60.
NANTICOKE AREA (23) — Nate Kreitzer 2 0-0 6, Rich Wiaterowski 0 0-0 0, Cody Piestrak 1 0-0 3, Luke Butczynski 2 1-2 5, Justin Casey 1 0-0 2, Matt Piontkowski 1 0-1 2, Zack Cardone 0 0-0 0, Trahjan Krupinski 0 0-0 0, Tyler Thomas 0 1-2 1, Alec Divers 1 0-0 2, Dylan Szychowski 0 0-0 0, Terrel Telesford 0 0-0 0, Colby Butczynski 0 0-0 0, Brandan Fontaine 0 0-0 0, Jared Piontkowski 0 0-0 0, Collin Brown 0 0-0 0, Andy Kozlofski 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 2-6 23.
Imhotep`15`24`18`3`—`60
Nanticoke`8`7`2`6`—`23
Three-point goals — IM 7 (Russell 3, Lightsey 3, Bishop). NAN 5 (Kreitzer 2, Piestrak, L.Butczynski 2).
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