The Royals knew the team coming in was going to be a physical game. Jeff Kozerski came up big for Holy Redeemer tonight, scoring 15 points and Jacob Hunter had a game-high 18 points as Holy Redeemer took the 57-51 victory at home to take sole possession of first place in Divison 2 of the Wyoming Valley Conference. "We knew if we won the game in the paint, we win the game." Royals senior guard Jacob Hunter said.
Nanticoke started off the game on a 7-2 run but Holy Redeemer proceeded to go on a run as Hunter hit a three pointer, Zach Perta hit a free throw then Jeff Kozerski hit a basket to give the Royals an 8-7 lead but the Trojans retook the lead on a Jaidyn Johnson bucket at 9-8 to end the first quarter.
Kozerski gave Holy Redeemer back the lead early in the second quarter but baskets by Ibn Jordan-Thomas and Liam Mullery gave the Nanticoke a three point lead then the Royals went on a run. Holy Redeemer hit three of four free throws from Hunter and Darryl Wright then Mark Atherton hit a putback to give the Royals the lead. In all, Holy Redeemer went on a 13-2 run as the Royals took a 23-15 lead into halftime.
Liam Mullery cut the Nanticoke deficit to two with a pair of three pointers. However, Kozerski hit back to back baskets, Hunter hit a three pointer and Kozerski hit one of two free throws for an 8-0 run and a ten point lead. They built up a 15 point lead at the end of the third quarter as the Royals outscored the Trojans 17-10.
Kozerski built the lead up to 17 early in the fourth quarter. However, a three point play by Johnson and a three pointer by Mullery with 4:09 remaining in the game cut Nanticoke's deficit to 8. After Holy Redeemer made one of two free throws, Johnson hit a basket to make it a seven point game. However, that was the closest Nanticoke got as the Royals hit their free throws as Holy Redeemer defeated Nanticoke 57-51. Jaidyn Johnson and Liam Mullery each tied the team lead with 17 points and Ibn Jordan-Thomas added 10 for the Trojans.
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