By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
WILKES-BARRE – Holy Redeemer found itself “stuck in the mud” for much of Thursday’s District 2 Class 3A boys basketball championship game.
The only way out for the Royals was to first drag the Mid Valley Spartans in with them.
Holy Redeemer shut down Mid Valley, then closed with an offensive burst, punctuated by a Zach Perta dunk, for a 51-40 victory at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
The title was the third in four years for the Royals, the No. 1 Small School in the Riverfront Sports Super Six Power Rankings of District 2 teams.
It did not come easy.
“We were kind of stuck in the mud there a little bit,” Holy Redeemer coach Paul Guido said. “We were going slow and hesitant and patient and that’s not us.
“Normally, we’re aggressive and looking to get downhill at every chance we get.”
Holy Redeemer scored just six points in the first quarter, trailed by as much as eight in the second and, after a series of lead changes, still found itself behind late in the third quarter.
The Spartans, however, could never put the Royals away.
Holy Redeemer held Mid Valley without a field goal for a span of 7:31 covering parts of the second and third quarters, then to just one field goal for a stretch of 10:01 leading into the game’s waning seconds.
Before they could break loose, the Royals had to first stop the Spartans – repeatedly.
Holy Redeemer adjusted its defense to give a little more help against Danny Nemitz, the most effective player on either team in the first half, and make it more difficult for him to get the ball back.
“We kind of talked about that at halftime,” Guido said. “If we could make that little defensive adjustment, maybe that would get us some stops and hopefully that would lead us out into transition.”
That formula eventually developed, but it took a while because the Royals had their own difficulties solving the Spartans’ defense, even when they were able to try to get out and run more often.
After scoring 34 points in the first 28 minutes (3½ quarters), Holy Redeemer – the closest thing to a track team on the hardwood – sprinted to the finish line with 17 points in the last 4 minutes, including the special 2 in the unofficial high jump competition when the 5-foot-10 Perta broke free and took in a Jacob Hunter pass with 1:30 left.
When the closing flurry began, it was still a one-point game.
Darryl Wright’s drive with 3:50 left made it 36-33.
Perta had 7 of his game-high 19 points as Holy Redeemer packed 14 into 2 minutes for a 50-37 lead.
“My coach said, ‘be more aggressive with the ball’,” said Perta, who also grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots. “My point guard, Darryl (Wright) said, ‘be more aggressive with the ball’.
“I’m really happy that I have them by my side. I wouldn’t want any other team, any other coaches, any other players with me.”
Jacob Hunter added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 and overall champions.
Wright had 10 points, 6 assists and 3 steals.
George Sabatini came off the bench to grab nine rebounds. He had six in the fourth quarter and provided the interior defense that helped hold Mid Valley to 16.7 percent shooting in the second half after it had hit 40 percent in the first half.
The Royals outscored the Spartans, 27-9, in the 13 minutes Sabatini was on the floor.
Nemitz had 12 of his 16 points, 3 of his 4 assists and 2 of his 3 steals in the first half.
Demaja Dunston came off the bench to score five of the nine Mid Valley points in the third quarter, including a three-point play with 2:21 left in the third quarter for the last lead at 31-30.
Both teams advance into the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament.
MORE CLASS 3A BOYS FINAL COVERAGE
Expanded boxscore: Class 3A boys expanded boxscore – NEPA Sports Nation.
Photo Gallery: Holy Redeemer/Mid Valley boys basketball Photo Gallery – NEPA Sports Nation.
Broadcast archive: District 2 Class 3A Boys: Mid Valley vs. Holy Redeemer | Basketball | NPFNetwork7 (meridix.com).
