The Nativity boys' basketball squad huddles on the bench with coach Brady Burke during a timeout in a District 11 Class A boys' basketball game Friday at Martz Hall. Lincoln Leadership defeated the Hilltoppers 51-49 (Photo by Eli Doyle).

POTTSVILLE — Lincoln Leadership made the final plays and ended Nativity’s season Friday at Martz Hall.

The Lions edged the Hilltoppers 51-49 in a District 11 Class A consolation game in a back-and-forth battle that wasn’t decided until the final seconds.

“We talked about making one stop,” Lincoln Leadership coach Pernell Hosier said. “One stop at a time. Knowing that (Trey) Keating is a tremendous player, we had to focus on our guys knowing their assignments and covering their assignments. (The Lions) carried out everything we asked of them. We have five seniors on the floor, and that’s a lot of experience. At the end of the day, we have to ride with our seniors.”

Lincoln Leadership (14-11) built a 25-23 halftime lead and survived multiple Nativity rallies in the second half.

The Hilltoppers (11-14) led 36-35 after three quarters and carried a 39-35 advantage early in the fourth before the game turned into a possession-by-possession dogfight.

Trey Keating led Nativity with 20 points, knocking down four 3-pointers and converting 4-for-4 from the foul line. Jake Swartz added 12 points on four 3s, and Nick Clarke finished with nine points for the Toppers.

Lincoln countered with balanced scoring. Tyler Forbes scored 14 points, Deeani Velez added 12, and Brandon Young chipped in nine. Robert Baker finished with eight points, including a key 3-pointer in the second quarter that sparked a 9-0 Lions run.

Nativity grabbed momentum midway through the fourth when Keating found Clarke for a pull-up jumper to make it 39-35, but Velez answered with a 3-pointer to tie it at 39-39.

The teams traded baskets down the stretch. With the game tied at 45-45, Young’s putback gave Lincoln a 47-46 lead. Keating answered at the line to put Nativity back in front, but Young split a pair to tie it again at 48-48 with 1:21 remaining.

After a Nativity turnover, Forbes delivered the decisive sequence. The Lions’ forward grabbed an offensive rebound and converted two free throws with 34.9 seconds left to give Lincoln a 50-48 edge.

Nativity had two chances to win it.

After Owen Holley made one of two free throws to cut the deficit to 50-49, Baker split a pair with 18.5 seconds remaining to make it 51-49. The Hilltoppers had two looks from the corner in the final seconds, but both attempts rimmed out as time expired.

Keating finishes his career locally as one of the most decorated players in Schuylkill League history, leading the area in scoring (28.6 points per game), earning back-to-back league MVP honors from coaches, collecting multiple all-area and all-state selections, and surpassing both 1,000 and 2,000 career points.

“Starting back during my freshman year, it goes quick,” Keating said as his high school career came to a close. “Getting to experience the Schuylkill League playoffs here at Martz Hall, districts here and all over, getting to the state playoffs, and then accomplishments on top — and all the support from the school. All my teammates and all my coaches I’ve had over the last four years, I can’t thank them enough for all the memories and friendships.”

Lincoln Leadership moves on to claim the District 11 Class A third berth in the PIAA Class A Tournament, while Nativity closes its first season under coach Brady Burke at 11-14, reaching both the District 11 tournament and the Schuylkill League playoffs.

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a coach,” Burke said. “My dad was a coach, and it was something I thought maybe I’d get into one day. Once I stopped playing, I met my wife, and she told me I should get into coaching. She said, ‘You know the game so well, you have so much to offer these kids.’ When the opportunity came for Nativity, I knew it was a great place. I could really see myself fostering a group of young men and building a program — kind of following in my father’s footsteps and being a coach.

“Ruth Weidman, the athletic director, Mrs. (Lynn) Sabol, the former principal, Mr. (Mike) Grabowski, the new principal, and the rest of the administration at Nativity have welcomed me with open arms. I’m so thankful for the opportunity. They’ve all been a pleasure to work with. I can’t say enough good things about that. It truly is a family environment. That’s something they say a lot, but it truly is, and it feels so good to be a part of. I want to be a part of it for years to come.”

Game Summary

District 11 Class A Consolation

LINCOLN LEADERSHIP (51) — Velez 5 0-0 12, Baker 3 1-2 8, Forbes 6 2-2 14, Parker 0 0-0 0, Lockhart 0 1-2 1, Henegan 3 0-0 7, Young 2 5-9 9. Totals 19 9-15 51.

NATIVITY (49) — Clarke 4 0-0 9, Bowman 0 1-2 1, Pasker 2 1-2 5, Lutzkanin 0 0-0 0, Swartz 4 0-0 12, Kramer 0 0-0 0, Holley 0 1-2 1, Keating 6 4-4 20, Shimko 0 1-3 1. Totals 18 7-12 49.

3-point FGs: Velez 2, Baker, Henegan, Clarke, Swartz 4, Keating 4

Officials: Groody, Towle, Shober