HS Boys’ Hoops: Williams Valley stuns Nativity, sets up chaotic Division II playoff finish
Williams Valley's Chris Dickerson (Photo by Eli Doyle).
TOWER CITY — Williams Valley delivered when the margin for error was gone.
The Vikings jumped on Nativity early and never let the pressure ease, pulling away for a 72-52 Schuylkill League Division II boys’ basketball victory Monday at Williams Valley Jr./Sr. High School in a game that carried major postseason implications for both teams.
Gabe Rodriguez led the charge for Williams Valley with 17 points, knocking down three 3-pointers and consistently finishing in transition. Bryce Zilinski poured in 15 points, Evan Kandybowski added 12 points, Chris Dickerson chipped in 10 and Evan Achenbach scored 10 as the Vikings spread the scoring load and kept Nativity from mounting a sustained run.
Williams Valley set the tone immediately, racing out to a 24-12 first-quarter lead behind balanced scoring. The Vikings continued to control the tempo in the second quarter, extending the advantage to 38-21 at halftime and forcing the Hilltoppers to play from behind the rest of the night.
Nativity tried to answer after the break behind Trey Keating.
The senior poured in a game-high 28 points, scoring from all three levels and accounting for more than half of the Hilltoppers’ offense. Keating hit three 3-pointers and attacked the rim in the second half as Nativity briefly trimmed the deficit, but Williams Valley answered every push with timely baskets.
The Vikings outscored Nativity 16-10 in the third quarter to reassert control, then coasted home despite a 21-point fourth quarter from the Hilltoppers.
The win also clinched a District 11 Class 3A playoff berth for the Vikings.
Jake Bowman added 10 points for Nativity, while the Hilltoppers were otherwise limited by Williams Valley’s ability to contest shots and protect the paint.
NATIVITY (52) — Clarke 0 0-0 0, Bowman 2 5-6 10, Pasker 1 1-4 3, Lutzkanin 1 0-0 2, Swartz 1 0-0 3, Kalkiewicz 1 0-0 3, Keating 10 5-6 28, Shimko 1 1-2 3, Holley 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 12-18 52.
WILLIAMS VALLEY (72) — Rodriguez 6 2-2 17, Dickerson 2 4-6 10, Rautzahn 0 0-0 0, Achenbach 4 1-1 10, Kandybowski 5 2-2 12, B. Zilinski 6 3-4 15, K. Zilinski 3 0-0 8. Totals 26 12-15 72.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nat (10-11, 7-6) | 12 | 9 | 10 | 21 | 52 |
| WV (9-11, 7-6) | 24 | 14 | 16 | 8 | 72 |
3-point FGs: Bowman, Swartz, Kalkiewicz, Keating 3, Rodriguez 3, Dickerson 2, Achenbach, K. Zilinski 2
Officials: Cooper, K. Dean, Marquardt
JV Score: Nativity 50-28
Pottsville 58, Pine Grove 34
POTTSVILLE — Christian Alvarez and Davey Kunstek paced Pottsville with 14 points apiece as the Crimson Tide rolled past Pine Grove in a Division I contest.
Ryder Bowers and JuJu Bainbridge each added eight as Pottsville spread the scoring around.
Pine Grove was led by Dane Hannevig with 10 points and Tanner Kolb with nine.
PINE GROVE (34) — Snyder 0 0-0 0, Lyons 0 0-0 0, Kolb 4 1-1 9, Felty 3 1-1 7, Herber 1 2-2 4, Schneck-Haines 0 0-0 0, Shanahan 0 0-0 0, Witmer 1 0-0 2, Hannevig 4 1-2 10, Fairell 1 0-2 2, Miller 0 0-0 0, Ballard 0 0-0 0, Hitz 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 5-8 34.
POTTSVILLE (58) — Hobbs 1 1-2 3, McGinley 1 0-0 3, Allen 0 0-0 0, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 3 1-3 8, Leskin 0 1-2 1, Alvarez 4 4-7 14, Bowers 3 0-0 8, Eroh 0 0-0 0, Kunstek 5 2-2 14, Clews 0 2-6 2, Kimber 0 0-0 0, Viars 1 0-0 2, Oswald 1 0-0 3, Baker 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 11-22 58.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG (7-15, 3-11) | 5 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 34 |
| Po (15-6, 11-2) | 11 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 58 |
3-point FGs: Hannevig, McGinley, Bainbridge, Alvarez 2, Bowers 2, Kunstek 2, Oswald
Officials: Litwhiler, Doyle, Ruggeri
JV Score: Pottsville 48-42
BOYS’ PLAYOFF UPDATE
Several matchups in the Schuylkill League boys’ playoffs are already locked in.
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Tri-Valley and Minersville are locked into the semifinals, awaiting quarterfinal winners at Martz Hall.
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Pottsville is the Division I runner-up and will face the Division II third seed in Saturday’s first quarterfinal at 5 p.m.
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Division II runner-up Schuylkill Haven will battle Division I third-seed Blue Mountain in Saturday’s other quarterfinal at 6:30 p.m.
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That’s not all.
What remains unresolved is Division II’s third and final playoff berth.
Entering the final night of league play Tuesday, Nativity, Williams Valley, Marian and Weatherly are all still mathematically alive.
Final league games (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.)
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Nativity at Lourdes
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Marian at Shenandoah Valley
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Weatherly at Williams Valley
Break it down:
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If Nativity and Williams Valley both win, the teams would finish tied at 8-6 and require a play-in tiebreaker game for the third Division II playoff spot due to their season split. The tiebreaker game would take place Thursday, at a site and time to be determined.
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If either Nativity or Williams Valley wins, and the other loses, the winning team would earn the Schuylkill League playoff berth.
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If both Nativity and Williams Valley lose, and Marian defeats Shenandoah Valley, a four-way tie at 7-7 would occur involving Nativity, Williams Valley, Marian and Weatherly, ensuing who knows what kind of chaos (Shout out Dr. Toth). We’ll have to wait for an official ruling if this scenario is triggered.
