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YATESVILLE — So many players wore the Wyoming Seminary uniform since the program’s last state tournament appearance, that the list would be too long to mention.

Senior guard Tyler Maddock wasn’t about to join them.

Maddock put the final touches on a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter that all but locked up a 58-43 victory, but also that elusive state playoff berth with the District 2 Class 3A semifinal win over Dunmore.

Seminary (20-4) last made the state playoffs in 1992 when it finished the runner-up in District 2 Class A. Now, the top-seeded Blue Knights go for something that’s been even more elusive when they play second-seeded Holy Redeemer (18-6) for the D2-3A crown at 8 p.m. Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena. Seminary hasn’t won a district championship since winning the D2-A title in 1986.

“It feels unbelievable,” said Maddock, the only senior starter and one of three on the roster. “My freshman year, I think we won four games, so to be here my senior year, a state playoff berth on the line, it’s all an awesome feeling.”

Fourth-seeded Dunmore completed its season at 14-10.

“First of all, they shot the ball tremendously well,” Dunmore coach Tony Lacertoso said. “We had opportunities to cut it to maybe to five, maybe to four, maybe even to three. … All in all, they shot the ball well and that was the difference in the game.”

Seminary shot 12 of 23 (52 percent) in the first half and proved it was no fluke by going 6 of 8 from the field in the third quarter. These weren’t all high-percentage shots as the Blue Knights hit all eight of their 3-pointers in the first three periods. Jake Koretz and Jeremy Callahan had three treys apiece. Even Dimitri Gnall, who does a majority of his damage inside the arc, canned one.

“I think we’re capable of being a good shooting team and our guys stepped up and hit big shots at big times tonight,” Seminary coach C.J. Kersey said. “I think in a lot of game we had one or two guys hit those shots. But today, it was really an all-around effort in the terms of shooting and also playing good solid defense down the stretch as well.”

Still, despite holding a double-digit lead throughout the third quarter, Seminary found itself in some mild trouble to start the fourth. Dunmore’s Rich Grippi, who sizzled in the first quarter with 10 points but took just two shots in the middle quarters, nailed a 3-pointer early as part of a 6-0 run.

Those points moved Dunmore within 44-38 at 6:17 of the fourth, but the offense abruptly went silent and didn’t score again until the 1:46 mark. In between, Seminary scored nine consecutive points, with Maddock capping the run with a layup and ensuing free throw.

District 2 Class 3A Semifinals

Wyoming Seminary 58, Dunmore 43

WYOMING SEMINARY (58) — Dimitri Gnall 6 4-4 17, Jake Koretz 5 1-2 14, Jeremy Callahan 3 4-4 13, Tyler Maddock 2 1-2 6, Ethan Meuser 2 0-0 4, Nick Ganter 2 0-0 4, Dan Paglia 0 0-0 0, Gavin Flanley 0 0-0 0, Alex Meuser 0 0-0 0, Todd Phillips 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 10-12 58.

DUNMORE (43) — Daniel Walsh 7 0-1 16, Rich Grippi 5 0-0 13, Nate Fangio 2 1-2 6, Jerry Longo 3 0-0 6, Noah Mihal 0 2-2 2, Mark Rinaldi 0 0-2 0, Frank Ruggiero 0 0-1 0, Tom Dougherty 0 0-0 0, Steve Borgia 0 0-0 0, Ross Cordaro 0 0-0 0, Owen Haggerty 0 0-0 0, Mike Aranica 0 0-0 0, Jared Argust 0 0-0 0, Ian Cowder 0 0-0 0, Tyler Maciejewski 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 3-8 43.

Wyoming Seminary`15`13`16`14 — 58

Dunmore`10`8`14`11 — 43

Three-point goals — SEM 8 (Gnall, Maddock, Callahan 3, Koretz 3); DUN 6 (Fangio, Walsh 2, Grippi 3)

Wyoming Seminary’s Dimitri Gnall scores after grabbing a lob pass over Dunmore’s Nate Fangio 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-Sem-Dunmore_1.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary’s Dimitri Gnall scores after grabbing a lob pass over Dunmore’s Nate Fangio in a District 2 Class 3A boys semifinal at Pittston Area High School on Friday night. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Wyoming Seminary’s Nick Ganter drives to the hoop against Dunmore’s Mark Rinaldi on Friday night.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL022418HSBB-Sem-Dunmore_3.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary’s Nick Ganter drives to the hoop against Dunmore’s Mark Rinaldi on Friday night. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Wyoming Seminary’s Jeremy Callahan looks to fend off Dunmore’s Steve Borgia on Friday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL022418HSBB-Sem-Dunmore_2.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary’s Jeremy Callahan looks to fend off Dunmore’s Steve Borgia on Friday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader
Blue Knights clinch first state berth since 1992

By John Erzar

[email protected]

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