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Coach says Warriors might be the best team Holy Redeemer has faced this season.
Senior Nicole Maximowicz, left, is part of an imposing front line for the D2 runner-up Royals.
Don Carey/the times leader
A rugged preseason exhibition schedule that included perennial state powers Trinity and Allentown Central Catholic helped toughen his team for the regular season, said Holy Redeemer girls basketball head coach Rich Nemetz.
Tonight, Nemetz hopes those out-of-league tests pay even more dividends as the District 2 runner-up Royals take on Gettysburg (23-4) at 6 p.m. in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A tournament at South Western High School in Hanover.
Gettysburg, the No. 3 seed from District 3, might be the best team Holy Redeemer (17-7) has faced this season, said Nemetz. The Warriors are led by 5-foot-10 junior forward Bri Thomas, whom he considers one of the top players in the state.
“Thomas can do it all,” said Nemetz. “She’s definitely a Division I college prospect and has great versatility.”
Thomas is the team’s leading scorer and has averaged 18 points in her last 11 games.
“She can score inside and outside, or she can break you down going to the basket,” Nemetz said. “She finds open teammates. She plays good defense and she’s a strong rebounder.”
Thomas poses such a big problem that the Royals are going to have to keep switching defenses on her.
“You can’t go straight man-to-man,” said Nemetz. “I don’t think there’s any one player who can stop Thomas. She’s that good.”
Gettysburg has another outstanding player in 5-9 junior Destinee Reed, a front-line player with excellent quickness. She’s also a three-point shooting threat.
“She’s the second-best player on the team,” said Nemetz. “She also isn’t afraid to take the ball to the basket.”
The Warriors have a playmaker in 5-4 sophomore guard Ellen Blair to run the offense.
“I think the key for us is containing them from scoring,” Nemetz said. “Hopefully, we can do some things offensively that will open up some good looks.”
Holy Redeemer is led by senior guard Olivia Francisco, who averages 14 points a game. The Royals also have an imposing front line in 6-foot sophomore center Sydney Myers and 5-11 seniors Nicole Maximowicz and Allison Capaci.
Redeemer was forced to hit the road as the No. 2 seed out of District 2 when it lost 54-49 in overtime to West Scranton in the District 2 finals last Saturday.
“We’ve recovered emotionally,” Nemetz said. “We hurt ourselves against West Scranton. We committed 37 turnovers, but we almost won because of our defense.”
The Royals will probably need to play one of their best games of the season to beat Gettysburg, he added.
“I’m not saying we’re afraid of them. We just have to figure out how to stop them. It’s going to be a battle between two good teams, Hopefully, we can come out on top.”
If you go
Take I-81 South toward Hazleton. Merge onto I-83 South via exit 70 on the left toward South Harrisburg/York. Keep left to take PA 581 W/HARRISBURG/EXPY via exit 41A toward CAMP HILL/GETTYSBURG. Merge onto U.S. 15 South via EXIT 5B toward GETTYSBURG. Take Pa. 94 South exit toward HANOVER. Turn left onto Pa. 94 CARLISLE PIKE and continue to follow Pa. 94. Turn left onto Black Rock Road. Take the third left onto Bowman Road. South Western High School is on the left.