By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Blue Ridge was hanging around, staying just within striking distance three minutes into the second half.
Then, the Holy Cross pressure defense stopped letting the Rangers even begin their offense.
A steady stream of turnovers helped the Crusaders run off 22 straight points in the second half to once again pound the Raiders, 61-26, in a District 2 Class 2A championship game featuring Lackawanna League boys basketball divisional champions.
Holy Cross established its dominance much earlier during the non-league meeting in December, posting its season scoring high while putting up the most points by any Blue Ridge opponent with an 81-47 rout. This time, it was all about a defense that held Blue Ridge to its lowest output of the season, 21 points below that first meeting and 41 below the Crusaders’ season average.
The Crusaders forced 26 turnovers, including 11 in the third quarter.
“We knew we had to pick up the intensity,” said Hayden Hosie, who led the Holy Cross offense with 17 points.
Matt Lyons and Logan Tierney joined Hosie for the game-breaking run.
Hosie had eight points, including hitting his final two 3-point attempts in a 3-for-5 effort, while Tierney and Lyons added six each in the 22-point streak. A seven-point game turned into a 49-20 rout just a minute into the fourth quarter.
Lyons, who came off the bench to contribute 16 points, 8 rebounds (7 offensive) and 5 steals, made it a Mercy Rule game with 6:20 left on a three-point play. He then followed up a blocked shot by running the floor for a dunk and a 54-22 lead with 4:42 remaining.
“I’m just a role player, getting rebounds, a couple blocked shots, doing anything I can to help the team,” said Lyons, who is averaging more than nine points per game in the team’s seven-game winning streak after averaging less than six on the season prior to that.
Tierney had his second straight strong championship game at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. He had 12 points and 7 rebounds, 4 of them offensive, after posting 11 points along with 15 rebounds (9 offensive) in last year’s win over Old Forge.
“At halftime, coach told us we have to get stuff done,” said Tierney, who also provided a team-high four assists and three steals. “We implemented the press and that press worked really well. We work real hard on that in practice.”
Between the 26-6 turnover differential and a 16-6 advantage in offensive rebounds, Holy Cross got off 60 shots from the floor while Blue Ridge took just 23.
Six Crusaders had multiple steals, including Gabe Gonzales with four.
Holy Cross limited the chances for Connor Cranage, who was efficient in leading Blue Ridge with 15 points. Cranage was 3-for-7 from the floor while making his only 3-point attempt and all eight free throws. He also led the team with eight rebounds and five assists while blocking two shots and making a steal.
The game determined District 2’s only representative in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 2A state tournament.
Lackawanna Division 3 champion Holy Cross (19-5) will play Minersville (16-9) March 11 at 5 p.m. at Lackawanna College. The PIAA moved the game after originally scheduling it at Holy Cross.
Blue Ridge, the Lackawanna Division 4 champion, ends the first division championship season in school history at 20-4.
MORE CLASS 2A BOYS FINAL COVERAGE
Expanded boxscore: Class 2A boys expanded boxscore – NEPA Sports Nation.
Photo Gallery: Holy Cross/ Blue Ridge Photo Gallery – NEPA Sports Nation.
Broadcast archive: District 2 Class 2A Boys: Blue Ridge vs. Holy Cross | Basketball | NPFNetwork6 (meridix.com).
Video highlights: NEPA Sports Nation on Instagram: “⚔️Holy Cross takes the W! Championship video brought to you by Burke Stone Supply & Maddock Insurance”.
