H.S. Boys Basketball: Hazleton Area overwhelmed by Father Judge in 6A quarterfinals

Mar. 16—EASTON — Luis Guzman nailed a 3-pointer to end the first quarter Saturday afternoon, giving Hazleton Area a one-point lead.

Father Judge responded with seven consecutive points to start the second quarter.

Guzman then rallied Hazleton Area with an inside basket to get the Cougars within three.

Father Judge's response this time was devastating as the Crusaders scored the final 16 points of the first half on the way to routing Hazleton Area 79-49 in a PIAA Class 6A boys basketball quarterfinal game at Easton Middle School.

That 16-point outburst, plus a few smaller ones in the second half, ended District 2 runner-up Hazleton Area's season at 14-13.

"They're terrific," Hazleton Area coach Pat Brogan said. "They have shooters, they have size and strength, length, they defend. It's a great team."

District 12 runner-up Father Judge (22-7) won the prestigious Philadelphia Catholic League and showed why through the final three quarters.

Besides the aforementioned by Brogan, Father Judge also had depth. There was little, if any, drop-off when the Crusaders went to their bench.

"It's like playing men, grown men," Brogan said. "It's a great test to show the program what it's like to get to the next level. Not just the size, it's the strength and skill at that next level of basketball."

Still, Hazleton Area battled with Guzman and Dylan Stish leading the way. Guzman finished with 15 points and Stish had 13.

But Father Judge had the size to curtail Guzman after a hot first quarter and the quickness to prevent Stish from getting into a comfort zone on offense.

Father Judge outscored Hazleton Area 48-19 in the middle quarters, taking a 43-24 lead at halftime and a 65-37 lead into the fourth quarter.

The only anxious moment for Father Judge after the first quarter came at the end of the first half. Standout guard Kevair Kennedy, a Division I Merrimack recruit, tweaked his left ankle and was limping noticeably.

Kennedy started the third quarter, but it was junior Derrick Morton-Rivera and sophomore Nazir Taylor who kept the offense in high gear. Father Judge reached the 30-point mercy rule with five minutes left in the game.

Father Judge will have a week off until playing District 12 champion Imhotep Charter (26-5) Saturday in the semifinals. Imhotep took control in the second half to defeat District 11 champion Parkland 48-30.

CLASS 2A

Northwest 60, Northgate 55 (OT)

Josh Miner put the Rangers on his back with 41 points as Northwest pulled out an overtime victory over District 7's Northgate in the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals.

Miner made eight three-pointers, and scored 19 points across the fourth quarter and overtime to help Northwest rally from a nine-point deficit at the end of the third quarter.

Brady Shea and Tucker Crawford added seven points each for Northwest. The Rangers will play District 3's Linville Hill in the state semifinals on Saturday.

PIAA Class 6A Quarterfinals

Father Judge 79, Hazleton Area 49

FATHER JUDGE (79) — Kevair Kennedy 5 2-3 12, Rocco Westfield 2 2-2 8, Nazir Taylor 6 1-2 16, Derrick Morton-Rivera 9 1-2 24, Everett Barnes 1 1-2 3, Kevin Beck 1 0-0 2, Kiev Rucker 0 1-2 1, Rahkiy Mason 2 2-2 7, Max Moshinski 2 0-0 4, Dylan Hanley 0 0-0 0, Michael Chase 0 0-0 0, Jeremiah Adedeji 0 0-0 0, Dom Dorsey 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 10-15 79.

HAZLETON AREA (49) — Luis Guzman 6 0-0 15, Dylan Stish 4 4-4 13, Gavin Perkosky 1 0-0 3, Angel Saladin 0 0-0 0, Yohansel Moran 0 2-2 2, Ryan Staffin 1 1-2 4, Franklin Ritz 2 0-0 5, Estarling Melenciano 2 1-2 5, Justin Cruz 1 0-0 2, Oscady Vasquez 0 0-0 0, Domanic Nika 0 0-0 0, Kendrick Ortiz 0 0-0 0, Ian Rodriguez 0 0-0 0, Curtis Casanova 0 0-0 0, Michael Smith 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 7-8 49.

Father Judge'17'26'22'14 — 79

Hazleton Area'18'6'13'12 — 49

Three-point goals: FJ 11 (Westfield 2, Tyler 3, Morton-Rivera 5, Mason). HA 6 (Stish, Guzman 3, Perkosky, Ritz).

PIAA Class 2A Quarterfinals

Northwest 60, Northgate 55 (OT)

NORTHGATE (55) — Ty Daniels 1 7-10 9, Anthony Barron 1 0-0 3, Robert McKinley 5 4-6 15, Des Williams 4 3-12 11, Ky Rutherford 0 3-3 3, Kadenne Kemp 5 2-2 14. Totals 16 19-33 55.

NORTHWEST (60) — Josh Miner 11 11-12 41, Ryan Miner 1 2-2 4, Brady Shea 2 2-4 7, Jace McCoy 0 1-2 1, Tucker Crawford 2 3-4 7. Totals 16 19-24 60.

Northgate'22'6'12'11'4 — 55

Northwest'11'14'6'20'9 — 60

Three-point goals: NG 4 (Kemp 2, Barron, McKinley), NW 9 (J. Miner 8, Shea)

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