HS Boys’ Basketball: Nativity topples Marian in gritty, physical contest
Marian's Dominic Catrone (1) and Nativity's Layne Pasker (21) battle for the ball during a Schuylkill League Division II boys' basketball game Friday at Marian (Photo by James Gelatko). The Hilltoppers defeated the Colts 57-50.
HOMETOWN — Physicality, composure and overcoming adverse times were all on display Tuesday evening.
Noah Dolbin scored a team-high 18 points and 13 rebounds as Nativity defeated Marian 57-50 in an aggressive Schuylkill League Division II boys’ basketball game Friday evening at Marian Catholic High School.
“Just hang in there,” Hilltoppers coach Mike Walborn said he told his team through the turbulent second half. “There was a couple of tough calls. I don’t know if we did get them, or if we didn’t get them. If they were, they were. Thats part of the game. But we fought through.
“I think we were down two, or three, maybe, and then they learned to count on themselves. And they knew that as long as we’d attacked the glass, we would be okay. We didn’t settle for 3’s and we attacked the glass, and we were fortunate to get the win.”
Nativity (8-7, 8-1 in D-II) controlled the game throughout the first half and led 32-19 going into halftime. But the second half was a different picture.
Rocco Griguoli scored 12 of his game-high 24 points during the third quarter for the Colts (7-8, 4-5 in D-II), who outscored the Hilltoppers 19-5 in the frame. Marian was on top 38-37 heading into the fourth quarter.
Nativity’s Trey Keating, who ranks in the top 5 in the PIAA in points per game across all classifications with 27.2 according to MaxPreps, recorded only one bucket and two free throws entering the fourth quarter. He opened the frame by adding two more points on free throws before finding a slashing Dolbin for a layup to push the Hilltoppers back ahead 43-38. After another empty Colts’ possession, Keating found Layne Pasker on a full-court pass for another assist.
Keating, a junior, shot 3-for-4 from the free throw line in the closing minute of the contest to help put away Marian and secure the win. While finishing with only nine points, the junior found ways to be effective by adding 13 assists, 11 rebounds and five steals.
