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.

“We know were going to get that as it gets tighter,” coach Mike Walborn said about the defensive emphasis on Keating. “We are going to get more emphasis on Trey, which is great. They just have realize that they all can play and they have to make it happen.

And they all did. Sammy (Walborn) did an excellent job of handling the ball tonight, getting downhill and finishing strong. Noah was over the place, rebounds, I mean, it was a whole team effort. Everyone did very well.

Before the third quarter rally, Marian previously led right after the opening tip as Dominic Catrone scored the first points of the ballgame on a slicing layup.

Nativity turned up the intensity for the first time in the contest midway through the first quarter with a full-court press. Dolbin poked a steal and completed the and-1 play to push the Hilltoppers ahead 11-8.

Walborn knocked down a 3-point to open the second quarter and spark Nativity’s scoring barrage. Walborn and Keating both added a steal during 9-0 Hilltoppers’ run in the opening minutes of the frame. The run was highlighted by a thunderous slam dunk by Dolbin.

Griguoli netted the Colts’ first points of the second quarter with 5:14 to play as Nativity went on to outscore Marian 16-7 in the quarter and led 32-19 at the half.

Pasker finished with 13 points for the Hilltoppers, while Walborn collected 11. Keating and Dolbin combined for 24 of Nativity’s 30 rebounds in the game.

NATIVITY (57) — Kreitzer 0 0-0 0, Bowman 2 0-0 6, Walborn 5 0-2 11, Dolbin 7 4-5 18, Grabowski 0 0-0 0, Pasker 4 1-4 13, Keating 1 7-10 9, Clarke 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 12-21 57.

MARIAN (50) — Catrone 2 1-2 5, Nunez 0 1-3 1, Ju. De La Cruz 1 0-0 2, Ja. De La Cruz 4 0-0 8, Ferreira 1 0-0 2, Rodino 0 0-0 0, Tom 0 0-0 0, Knock 0 0-0 0, Tirpak 3 1-2 8, Griguoli 11 2-4 24. Totals 22 5-11 50.

Nat (8-7, 8-1)   16 … 16 … 5 … 20 — 57

Mar (7-8, 4-5)  12 … 7 … 19 … 4 — 50

3-point FGs: Bowman 2, Walborn, Tirpak