Heartbreaker at the Buzzer: Holy Cross Falls 58-57 to West Catholic
By: Brad Loff | Sportzwire | March 22, 2025 | Photo courtesy Bob Gaetano
It was a script written for March magic, but heartbreak found its way into the ending for Holy Cross. The Crusaders led nearly wire to wire in their state playoff clash with West Catholic, but a last-second three-pointer ripped victory from their grasp, sending Holy Cross to a gut-wrenching 58-57 loss.
Holy Cross came out strong and set the tone early, leading 14-12 after the first quarter. They extended their lead to 29-27 at halftime and kept their composure, holding a 44-38 advantage after three quarters. But West Catholic’s fourth-quarter surge, capped off by a buzzer-beater, left the Crusaders stunned.
Senior guard Michael Hughes led Holy Cross with 15 points, going 5-for-5 from the field and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line, including one big three-pointer. Adam Badyrka added 14 points with sharp shooting beyond the arc, draining three triples. Matt Lyons contributed 14 points of his own, displaying strong interior presence and going 6-for-9 from the field. CJ Thompson chipped in eight points, and senior guard Mario Matrone added four.
Despite outshooting West Catholic from the free-throw line (9-of-15 compared to West Catholic’s 3-of-5), the Crusaders couldn't find the final defensive stop. West Catholic was paced by Jayvon Byrd and Eric Scott, who both tallied 11 points, with Byrd hitting three three-pointers. Naseem Perez added nine points with a pair of clutch threes.
In the final minute, Holy Cross clung to a one-point lead. After a missed opportunity to extend their advantage, West Catholic pushed the ball upcourt, and with just seconds left, Byrd found space on the perimeter and launched a high-arcing shot that splashed through the net as the buzzer sounded. Silence fell on the Holy Cross faithful.
But despite the painful ending, the Crusaders have every reason to hold their heads high. Their season included statement wins over teams like Scranton Prep, Honesdale, and Holy Redeemer, and they played with heart and resilience in every game.
Photographer: Bob Gaetano
Top Scorers Breakdown:
Michael Hughes — 15 points (5 FG, 4-6 FT, 1 three-pointer)
Adam Badyrka — 14 points (5 FG, 1-2 FT, 3 three-pointers)
Matt Lyons — 14 points (6 FG, 2-3 FT)
CJ Thompson — 8 points (3 FG, 2-4 FT)
Mario Matrone — 4 points (2 FG)
