Constitution’s state playoff run comes to an end after falling to Holy Cross in boys’ semifinal
The Crusaders had not won against Constitution since 2013. But that streak ended Tuesday night as the Generals fell. 78-66.
The Constitution boys’ basketball team appeared to have knocked off the toughest competition in the eastern half of its bracket.
But the Generals’ next test in the PIAA Class 2A tournament came with a challenge, as the Generals fell to Holy Cross, 78-66, Tuesday night in the state semifinals at Liberty High School in Bethlehem.
The Crusaders, from Dunmore, Lackawanna County, had not won against Constitution since 2013. But that streak ended Tuesday. The District 2 champion, Holy Cross will face Aliquippa for the state title on Friday at Hershey’s Giant Center.
“They outplayed us,” said Generals coach Rob Moore. “The score is indicative of one team needing to do all the things they needed to do to win and the other team didn’t. We missed free throws. I don’t know if they missed a free throw. They did what they had to do to win.”
Holy Cross shot its way to the state final, not missing a three-pointer in the first half or a free throw for the entire game. Meanwhile, Constitution (25-7), the District 12 champ, made 4 of 8 shots from the line.
Point guard Michael Hughes led Holy Cross with 22 points.
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“They were getting bounces,” Moore said. “I am a firm believer that when teams are getting bounces it’s because they are playing harder. There’s a karma to basketball, when a team’s playing better that’s going to happen within the flow of the game. That’s what happened today.”
Constitution trailed 34-26 at the half after senior Kyree Latimer, who finished with 24 points, hit a bucket at the buzzer.
The Generals were a different team to start the third quarter. Constitution guard Perry Fields (19 points) and Latimer narrowed Constitution’s deficit to 34-32 with 6 minutes, 42 seconds remaining.
And they didn’t back down. However after a three-pointer from Holy Cross’ Adam Badyrka, the Crusaders took a six-point advantage in the fourth, a lead they would never relinquish.
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“Every time we made a run, they answered,” Moore said. “That’s unfortunately what happens sometimes. They get to go to Hershey on Friday, and I coach softball tomorrow.
“I am proud of the way the kids played all season. We made it to the state semifinals. It’s a great group of kids. Is it what I wanted? No, but you can’t win every game.”
This story was produced as part of a partnership between The Inquirer and City of Basketball Love, a nonprofit news organization that covers high school and college basketball in the Philadelphia area while also helping mentor the next generation of sportswriters. This collaboration will help boost coverage of the city’s vibrant amateur basketball scene, from the high school ranks up through the Big 5 and beyond.