Pictured above: Eli Yusavage
Eli Yusavage scored 18 points Thursday night as host Valley View spoiled the season opener for Holy Cross with a 43-35 victory in a meeting of ranked boys basketball teams.
Valley View improved to 3-0 with the win over the top-ranked Small School in the preseason Riverfront Sports Super Six Basketball Power Rankings of District 2 teams. Valley View, No. 5 among Big Schools, joined Holy Redeemer in getting to 3-0 Thursday to match Blue Ridge and Carbondale for the best starts in the district.
The teams traded the lead throughout until Valley View finished the third quarter and started the fourth quarter strong to move in front to stay.
Defenses dominated early as the teams combined for just nine points nearly six minutes into the game.
Yusavage and Hayden Hosie from Holy Cross hit 3-pointers late in the quarter, which ended with Valley View holding a 10-9 lead.
The Cougars led 21-18 at halftime, but the Crusaders held them to one point deep into the third quarter.
Holy Cross used a 9-3 start to the second half to take the lead.
Yusavage hit a mid-range jumper to close the third-quarter scoring, then opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a drive for a three-point play with 6:25 left to put the Cougars ahead to stay, 29-27.
Valley View extended its late-game run to 13-4 and its lead to 37-31 with 2:05 left.
The last time it was still a one-possession game, Yusavage scored his final basket with 2:40 left for a 35-31 lead.
A.J. Kucharski added to a strong defensive game by drawing a charge, then hit a jumper from the left elbow for the six-point lead.
Holy Cross answered to get back within four twice, but L.V. Pegula hit both ends of a one-and-one with 29.8 seconds left, then sophomore Noah Veno went 4-for-4 from the line in the last 17.7 to seal the win.
Kucharski added eight points and three steals for Valley View.
Hosie led Holy Cross with 12 points. Tierney added 11.
EDITOR’S NOTE: NEPA Student Journalist Spencer Decker contributed to this report.
