Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

YATESVILLE — Cinderella wasn’t going to do it again.

Oh, Riverside tried all right on Friday night. The Vikings also received a boost from an unexpected source.

But Holy Redeemer was able to withstand the challenge for a 51-45 victory in a District 2 Class 3A boys basketball semifinal game at Pittston Area High School

The second-seeded Royals (18-6) will play top-seeded Wyoming Seminary (20-4) for the D2-3A championship at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Both teams advance to the PIAA Class 3A state tournament. Sixth-seeded Riverside ended its year at 10-14.

Collin Cook paced the defending D2-3A champion Royals with 18 points, including going 7 of 8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter. J.D. Turosky added 10 more and 12 rebounds. Center Nick Prociak returned after missing about a month with a foot injury to add eight.

Riverside entered the game off a 46-29 upset of No. 3 Mid Valley, a program that’s usually poking around the semifinals annually.

“Since the last time we lost to Seminary in their gym, we’ve been really preaching to the guys one game at a time, one game at a time, one game at a time,” Redeemer coach Paul Guido said. “Whether it was MMI, whether it was Northwest, whoever it was — Lake-Lehman — we wanted to focus on that playoff mentality.”

Redeemer had to focus for all four quarters. The Royals led 24-17 at halftime as Riverside stayed within striking distance despite shooting 6 of 21 (29 percent) in the first two quarters.

The Vikings, though, made a spirited run in the third behind Marcus Echevarria. Echevarria missed his only two shots in the first half, but started the third by nailing two 3-pointers. He continued his hot shooting as he finished the third with 12 points, including a drive that moved Riverside within 33-31 at the 1:04 mark.

“He was terrific,” Guido said. “I’m pretty sure he’s only made six threes all year, and he hit two there back-to-back in the third quarter. And I thought, ‘Yeah, it’s going to happen.’ But that kind of opened up the sieve for him and everything started to go in.”

Redeemer’s Joey Judge, though, closed the third with a 3-pointer and Cook opened the fourth with a short jumper for some breathing room. Riverside managed to get within 42-38 midway through the final period, only to have Redeemer score four consecutive points.

The small run allowed the Royals to keep Riverside at arm’s length the rest of the way.

District 2 Class 3A Semifinals

Holy Redeemer 51, Riverside 45

HOLY REDEEMER (51) — Collin Cook 4 10-11 18, J.D. Turosky 5 0-0 10, Nick Prociak 3 2-2 8, Bryce Yencha 2 2-3 6, Joey Judge 2 1-2 6, Derek Answini 1 0-0 3, Tucker Ell 0 0-0 0, Jake Adonizio 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 15-18 51.

RIVERSIDE (45) — Marcos Echevarria 7 0-0 17, Michael Ricket 4 3-4 12, Jason Holman 3 0-1 7, Evan Carrubba 1 2-2 5, Razen Reyes 1 0-0 2, Michael Antoniacci 1 0-0 2, Brayden Thiel 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 5-7 45.

Holy Redeemer`15`9`12`15 — 51

Riverside`7`10`14`14 — 45

Three-point goals — HR 2 (Answini, Judge); RIV 6 (Carrubba, Holman, Ricket, Echevarria 3).

Holy Redeemer’s Bryce Yencha shoots against Riverside’s Evan Carrubba on Friday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL022418HSBB-Redeemer-Riverside_3-1-.jpg.optimal.jpgHoly Redeemer’s Bryce Yencha shoots against Riverside’s Evan Carrubba on Friday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Holy Redeemer’s Nick Prociak looks to shoots against Riverside defender Jason Holman in a District 2 Class 3A boys semifinal at Pittston Area High School on Friday night.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL022418HSBB-Redeemer-Riverside_1-1-.jpg.optimal.jpgHoly Redeemer’s Nick Prociak looks to shoots against Riverside defender Jason Holman in a District 2 Class 3A boys semifinal at Pittston Area High School on Friday night. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Holy Redeemer’s J.D. Turosky gets ready to pass between Riverside defenders Michael Ricket (left) and Jason Holman on Friday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL022418HSBB-Redeemer-Riverside_2-1-.jpg.optimal.jpgHoly Redeemer’s J.D. Turosky gets ready to pass between Riverside defenders Michael Ricket (left) and Jason Holman on Friday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

By John Erzar

[email protected]

Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar