Historic Night for Riverside: McNally, Rose Reach 1,000 Points in Blowout Win
By: Doug Noldy | Sportzwire | February 14, 2025 | Photo courtesy Jake Speicher (Speicher Media)
Taylor, PA -- Friday night was one for the history books at Riverside High School. Senior sharpshooting duo Connor “Cmac” McNally and Gerry Rose both reached the coveted 1,000-point milestone in their careers, adding to an unforgettable Senior Night as the Vikings dismantled the Western Wayne Wildcats, 98-34.
McNally’s moment came first, with 6:39 left in the first quarter. The senior guard buried a three-pointer off an assist from none other than his milestone partner, Rose, etching his name as the 16th Viking in school history to achieve the feat.
Minutes later, it was Rose’s turn. With 5:55 remaining in the second quarter, he drained a three-pointer assisted by his younger brother Brayden, joining McNally in the record books as the 17th Viking to reach 1,000 career points. The moment was made even sweeter with Brayden sharing in his brother's milestone moment.
The Vikings were dominant from the start, draining an incredible 17 three-pointers as a team. McNally led all scorers with 22 points, hitting six from beyond the arc. Rose added 14, while fellow senior Waldemar Mercado chipped in 16, including four threes. Fittingly, every senior contributed to the scoring on a night full of celebration and meaning.
For the Wildcats, Sean Owens stood out with a valiant 16-point effort, but Western Wayne had no answer for Riverside’s hot shooting and relentless pace.
With the win, Riverside shifts its focus to Sunday’s Lackawanna Conference title showdown against Holy Cross. The third meeting in this intense rivalry is set to tip off at 3 p.m. at Carbondale Area High School, promising to be another thrilling chapter in the Vikings’ season.
