Weatherly's Corbin Wagner (center) poses with his parents, Shay Dorney (left) and Matt Wagner (right), after surpassing 1,000 career points scored during a District 11 Class A semifinal boys' basketball game against Nativity at Tamaqua High School Tuesday. The Wreckers defeated the Hilltoppers 69-66 in overtime (SUBMITTED PHOTO).

McKeegan comes up clutch for the Wreckers

TAMAQUA — Weatherly did it again — and this one mattered most.

The Wreckers knocked off Nativity 69-66 in overtime during a District 11 Class A semifinal game Tuesday at Tamaqua High School, earning their third win of the season over the Hilltoppers.

Ian McKeegan led the way with 31 points, including a coast-to-coast layup in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime. Corbin Wagner added 12 points and reached the 1,000-point milestone for his career, while Dom Kokinda chipped in 14.

Weatherly trailed 57-55 in the closing seconds of regulation after McKeegan missed two free throws with 5.0 on the clock. Nativity’s Trey Keating, who finished with a game-high 33 points, split a pair at the line with 4.1 seconds remaining, leaving the door open.

McKeegan took advantage.

After the miss, he raced the length of the floor and banked in the tying layup at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

The momentum carried over.

Weatherly opened the extra period on a 7-2 run, fueled by five McKeegan points and a key basket from Adler, and held on down the stretch.

The Wreckers had erased an earlier 34-23 second-quarter deficit by shooting 7-for-8 during a 19-point third-quarter surge. Kokinda scored six during the run, McKeegan added a 3-pointer and four more points, and Wagner scored six — including his milestone bucket — to give Weatherly a brief 42-38 lead.

Nativity answered late in the third to retake the lead, and the fourth quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle.

The Hilltoppers went up 56-53 with 35 seconds left in regulation before McKeegan drove to cut it to one. After missed free throws on both ends, the dramatic finish unfolded.

The overtime win completed a season sweep for Weatherly over Nativity. The Wreckers previously defeated the Hilltoppers twice during Schuylkill League Division II play, making Tuesday’s playoff victory their third triumph over Nativity this winter.

Weatherly advances to the District 11 Class 1A championship game Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Bethlehem Christian at Catasauqua High School.

The Hilltoppers will take on Lincoln Leadership on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Martz Hall in a consolation with the winner heading to the PIAA Class A Tournament.

District 11 Class A Semifinals

At Tamaqua High School

NATIVITY (66) — Clarke 2 3-4 7, Bowan 3 1-2 9, Pasker 2 0-0 5, Lutzkanin 0 2-2 2, Swartz 0 0-0 0, Kalkiewicz 0 0-0 0, Kramer 0 0-0 0, Holley 4 1-2 10, Keating 10 9-12 33, Shimko 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 16-22 66.

WEATHERLY (69) — Adler 3 0-1 6, Kokinda 7 0-2 14, McKeegan 12 6-10 31, Saldukas 1 2-3 4, Davis 1 0-2 2, Wagner 5 2-3 12. Totals 29 10-21 69.

3-point FGs: Keating 4, Bowan 2, Holley, Paker, McKeegan

Officials: Melusky, Onushco, Shober

Northwestern Lehigh 60, North Schuylkill 28

ALLENTOWN — North Schuylkill couldn’t find the rhythm it needed and fell to Northwestern Lehigh in the District 11 Class 4A semifinal at William Allen High School.

The Spartans (14-10) fell behind early as Northwestern Lehigh opened the game on a 24-9 first-quarter run. North Schuylkill regrouped in the second quarter and trailed 34-22 at halftime but was limited to just six total points over the final 16 minutes as the Tigers pulled away.

Xavier McNally led the Spartans with 11 points, while Jude Maziekas added seven. Cam Kacilowicz and Julian Nelson each chipped in three.

Mason Bollinger and Malachi Coleman paced Northwestern Lehigh (21-5) with 19 points apiece, while Cannon Fitch added 11.

North Schuylkill will have one more opportunity to extend its season. The Spartans face Salisbury in the District 11 Class 4A consolation game Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Easton High School, with a berth in the PIAA Class 4A Tournament on the line.

District 11 Class 4A Semifinals

At William Allen High School

NORTH SCHUYLKILL (28) — Cairo 0 0-0 0, Damiter 1 0-0 2, Maziekas 3 0-1 7, Wall 0 0-0 0, Mengel 1 0-0 2, Kacilowicz 1 1-2 3, Kronkowski 0 0-0 0, Nelson 1 1-2 3, McNally 5 1-4 11, Gallagher 0 0-0 0, Osenbach 0 0-0 0, Hannon 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 3-9 28.

NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH (60) — Bollinger 8 0-1 19, Zimmerman 1 0-0 2, Snyder 0 0-0 0, Lagowy 1 1-1 3, Kozlowski 0 0-0 0, Fitch 2 5-6 11, Hechler 0 0-0 0, Krimmel 1 2-2 4, Wertman 0 0-0 0, Kumernitsky 1 0-0 2, Coleman 8 1-2 19, Mish 0 0-0 0, Nicholas 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 9-12 60.

3-point FGs: Maziekas, Bollinger 3, Fitch 2, Coleman 2

Officials: Branosky, Donatelli, Pincin