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By John Hartsock
jhartsock@altoonamirror.com
MILTON -- Claysburg-Kimmel's memorable and historic high school boys basketball season ended with a thud Wednesday night, but Bulldogs coach Mike Harris urged his players to cherish the big picture in the aftermath.
Claysburg was beaten soundly, 72-24, in a District 6, Class 1A second-round playoff game at the Milton Senior High School gymnasium by a quick, athletic District 2 champion Holy Cross team that was clicking on all cylinders from the opening tip.
But Harris didn't want his players to forget the 16 wins and the first-round PIAA state playoff win last Saturday that marked first-ever accomplishments for the Claysburg program.
"In the state tournament, you can run into a buzz-saw,'' said Harris, whose Bulldogs registered a 16-11 season. "When you get to the Sweet 16 in your classification, every team is good -- including us.
"Holy Cross was better than we were tonight, but this game does not in the least diminish what our players accomplished this year,'' Harris added. "I'm so proud of these kids -- they battled all year, and they battled again tonight. Holy Cross just had too much firepower.''
The Crusaders, whose school is located in Scranton, broke out to a 26-8 lead after one quarter and a 48-20 advantage at halftime.
Holy Cross (22-3) placed four players in double figures, with junior Michael Hughes scoring a game-high 23 points, junior Matt Lyons adding 14, freshman C.J. Thompson chipping in 11 points, and junior Mario Matrone scoring 10.
Holy Cross jumped out to a 12-0 lead at the start of the game, with Hughes scoring nine first-quarter points, the 6-foot-5 Lyons -- who had four dunks in the contest -- scoring eight, and Matrone adding seven.
"We just came ready to play, we didn't take any possessions off, and we were able to get a good win,'' Hughes said.
The victory advances Holy Cross into a quarterfinal-round matchup with District 1 champion Dock Mennonite this Saturday at a site and time to be determined.
Holy Cross parlayed its defensive pressure and quickness into several steals that produced layups. The Crusaders also boast a fine inside-out game, with Lyons providing a force in the paint and Holy Cross connecting on seven 3-pointers Wednesday.
"We've created an identity with our defensive pressure, and our transition game has been exceptional,'' first-year Holy Cross coach Al Callejas, Jr. said. "There's nothing better than playing in March when the weather warms up.
"Continuing in these playoffs has given our players a confidence boost,'' Callejas said. "Our strengths this year have been our teamwork and our team chemistry.''
Holy Cross put the 30-point mercy rule into effect just under two minutes into the third quarter on a steal and layup by Thompson that gave the Crusaders a 50-20 lead. Holy Cross also registered a solid defensive effort, limiting Claysburg to just four total second-half points.
Claysburg-Kimmel got a game-high 12 points from Elias Ritchey, who along with Anthony Napolitano and Aidan Simpson, comprise the senior starting group that Claysburg will be losing to graduation this spring.
But the Bulldogs return a decent nucleus around which to continue their success, led by standout sophomore guard Brayden Haney and two other sophomores who contributed nicely this year, Cory Walters and Christian Treon.
"We have a lot of guys coming back,'' Harris said. "A season like this is what this program needs. The kids in our elementary program look at what the varsity team has done this year, and those young kids want to be in the Sweet 16 some day, too.''
HOLY CROSS (72): Bicking 0 0-0 0, Lyons 7 0-0 14, Hughes 9 0-0 23, Thompson 5 1-1 11, Matrone 4 1-2 10, Badryka 3 2-2 8, McIver 0 0-0 0, O'Malley 1 0-0 3, Con. Farrell 0 0-0 0, Alpert 0 0-0 0, Col. Farrell 0 2-2 2, Ritterbusch 0 0-0 0, Monahan 0 0-0 0, Kennedy 0 0-0 0, Schaffer 0 1-2 1. Totals: 29 6-7 72.
CLAYSBURG-KIMMEL (24): Haney 2 1-3 5, Ritchey 4 3-6 12, Napolitano 0 0-0 0, Simpson 1 0-0 2, Walter 0 0-0 0, Treon 1 1-2 4, Knisely 0 0-0 0, Bass 0 1-2 1, Douglas 0 0-0 0, Potter 0 0-0 0, Conrad 0 0-0 0, Dively 0 0-0 0, Strayer 0 0-0 0. Totals: 8 6-13 24.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Holy Cross 26 22 15 9 -- 72
Claysburg-Kimmel 8 12 3 1 -- 24
3-point field goals: Holy Cross 7 (Hughes 5, O'Malley, Matrone); Claysburg-Kimmel 2 (Ritchey, Treon).
Records: Holy Cross (23-3); Claysburg-Kimmel (16-11).
Officials: Ron Marshall, Kevin Shrow, J.D. Sullivan.