Dallas Wins Boys WVC Championship with a Comeback Victory
By: John Kotsko | Sportzwire | February 16, 2025 | Photo courtesy Carrie Yaple
Trailing by 13 points entering the fourth quarter, Dallas head coach Mark Belenski’s message was simple. We Pride ourselves on our defense. The Mountaineers outscored Holy Redeemer 18-2 in the fourth quarter to take a 54-51 victory to win the WVC Championship. “We just had to play our game in that fourth quarter.” Said Dallas sophomore forward Pat Flanagan who had a game high 20 points alongside senior guard Jude Nocito.
It was a back and forth first quarter until late in the quarter when the Royals went on a 9-2 run. David Popson scored seven points on the run and Holy Redeemer led 22-14 at the end of the first quarter. Popson increased the lead to ten with the first field goal of the second quarter. Pat Flanagan got a three point play and Jude Nocito got a basket to cut the lead down to five. After a pair of free throws by Jack Hurst, Jude Nocito scored five straight points to cut the lead down to two. After both teams traded three pointers, Popson got a basket to give Holy Redeemer a 31-27 lead at halftime.
Jude Nocito cut the lead down to two with a basket to start the second half. A pair of free throws and a basket by Cody Quaglia increased the lead up to six. A 5-0 run by Redeemer after cutting the lead down to five after a Dallas free throw increased the lead to 10. The Royals got a three point play by Kyaire McLean and a basket by Brayden Sock to end the third quarter and led 49-36.
Jude Nocito started the quarter with a pair of free throws. Quaglia got a basket to get back up 13. Flanagan scored five straight points. After a stop, Joey Nocito hit a three pointer. Jude Nocito got a basket to cut the lead down to two. Jude Nocito got a free throw with 49.7 seconds left to cut the lead to two. Dallas then got the stop on defense. Joey Nocito got fouled and went to the line to tie the game or take the lead with 34.6 seconds left. Nocito hit the first free throw to tie the game at 51. Nocito missed the second free throw but Flanagan grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled. Flanagan went to the line for the bonus. He hit the first free throw to give the Mountaineers their first lead since the first quarter. Flanagan missed the second free throw but Dallas grabbed another offensive rebound. The Royals forced a jump ball but the possession favored the Mountaineers. The Mountaineers got a free throw from Joey Nocito to make it 53-51. The Royals got a chance to tie or take the lead but the shot went in and out and the rebound went to Dallas. The Mountaineers went to the free throws. Flanagan hit the first free throw to make it 54-51. He missed the second free throw but Flanagan rebounded his own missed free throw and Dallas ran out the clock to take the 54-51 victory and win the 2025 WVC Boys Championship. David Popson had a team high 19 points and Evan Licari added 11 for Holy Redeemer.
Dallas 54 Holy Redeemer 51
Dallas
Pat Flanagan 20
Jude Nocito 20
Joey Nocito 9
Kael Barry 5
Holy Redeemer
David Popson 19
Evan Licari 11
Kyaire McLean 8
Cody Quaglia 9
Jack Hurst 2
Brayden Sock 2
