Riverside Vikings

March 15, 2025 – Riverside’s impressive season came to an end in the Elite 8 as they fell to West Catholic, 55-41. Despite a hard-fought effort, Riverside couldn’t overcome West Catholic’s balanced scoring and strong defensive play.

The Vikings are One step closer. Riverside took care of business, but now the road leads straight through District 12s top seed. The challenge is real, and The Vikes will need to be at their best.

Riverside wasted no time making a statement in the PIAA 3A state tournament, jumping out to a commanding lead and never looking back in a dominant 77-54 win over Southern Columbia. Behind Nico Antoniacci’s 23-point explosion and Gerry Roses 18-point effort, the Vikings rained down nine three-pointers and controlled the tempo from start to finish. A 21-9 first-quarter surge set the tone, and a 20-point third quarter put the game out of reach. With their offense clicking, Riverside now turns its attention to the next challenge, Overbrook in the second round.

This was the fourth time that Riverside and Holy Cross played this season. Both split their regular season matchups and the Crusaders winning the Division Title. “I think we provided Northeast Pennsylvania basketball community with a great season of basketball.” Said Vikings head coach Josh Aniska. Riverside took the District 2 3A Title for the second straight year with a 61-50 victory over Holy Cross. Gerry Rose had a game high 21 points and Brayden Rose added 14 points for Riverside.

Top-seeded Riverside defeated Dunmore 80-58 in the District 2 Class 3A semifinals, led by Gerry Roses 23 points and Brayden Roses 20. The Vikings outshot the Bucks from deep, hitting eight three-pointers and converting 14 free throws to secure the win. Brayden Canavan led all scorers with 27 points for Dunmore, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace. With the victory, Riverside advances to the District 2 Class 3A championship, where they will meet No. 2 Holy Cross for a fourth time this season, this time with the title on the line Thursday night at Mohegan Arena.

Senior sharpshooters Connor McNally and Gerry Rose both hit the 1,000-point milestone Friday night, leading the Riverside Vikings to a commanding 98-34 win over Western Wayne. The Vikings hit 17 three-pointers in the victory, setting the stage for Sunday’s Lackawanna Conference title clash against Holy Cross.

In front of a roaring crowd and packed student sections, the Riverside Vikings outlasted the Old Forge Blue Devils in a nail-biting overtime battle, 63-58. Nico Antoniacci led the charge for Riverside with an incredible 28-point performance, including five three-pointers and a perfect 5-for-5 from the line. Despite a valiant effort by Old Forge’s Cameron Parker and Camren Krushnowski, Riverside’s clutch play down the stretch sealed the win in a game that will be talked about for weeks.

Holy Cross Stays on Top After Thrilling Win Over Old Forge Holy Cross remains the No. 1 team in the NEPA Elite D2 Small School Boys Basketball Rankings after surviving a tough 61-56 battle against Old Forge. The Crusaders showcased their grit, using a strong fourth-quarter push to hold off the surging Blue Devils. With Riverside continuing their steady climb and Old Forge proving they can hang with the best, the competition at the top is heating up. Can Holy Cross maintain their undefeated streak, or will one of these challengers finally knock them off? The race for District 2 supremacy is just getting started!

The atmosphere was electric at Holy Cross as a packed house of students, faculty, alumni, and fans filled the gymnasium for a playoff-caliber showdown. Both communities—Riverside and the Crusaders—turned out in full force for this highly anticipated matchup, creating a standing-room-only environment worthy of its billing.

SportzWire District 2 Week 10 Small School Top 10: Powered by Coach Howanitz Week 9 brought exciting matchups that caused some shuffling in the District 2 Small School rankings. Let’s break down how each team’s position has changed and analyze the key Week 9 games that led to the updates in the Week 10 rankings. 1. Scranton Prep (Previously: 1) Result: Scranton Prep 27, Jersey Shore 19 Scranton Prep remains the top team in the district after securing a solid win over Jersey Shore. With a 7-1 record, they are proving why they are a powerhouse in the small school division. Their defense and offensive execution have kept them at the top for yet another week.

The rankings saw some significant movement after Week 5. Riverside and Lackawanna Trail made strides upwards after solid wins, while Mid Valley and Old Forge slipped after tough losses. Lake-Lehman continues to move up, and Lakeland makes its first appearance in the top 10. The race for the top spots remains competitive as these teams continue to battle it out on the field.