Apollo-Ridge boys stave off Riverview for another victory

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, January 22, 2019 | 11:03 PM

After Friday’s big upset at Sto-Rox, Apollo-Ridge boys basketball coach Greg Fox wanted to keep the momentum going.

His Vikings obliged by holding off a late Riverview rally and prevailing at home 53-48.

Apollo-Ridge had its biggest lead, 46-33, on a Bobby Mangan shot that beat the third-quarter buzzer.

But Riverview cut the Vikings lead to 48-46 before Klay Fitzroy drove in hard for a basket, and Jake Fello nailed a pair of free throws.

Apollo-Ridge is 5-4 in Section 1-2A play, tied with Springdale for the fourth and final WPIAL playoff berth from the section.

Riverview dropped to 4-5 but remained in the running for its first playoff berth in four years.

“Every game the rest of the way, it’s going to be like do-or-die,” Fox said. “We have nothing to lose, we’re playing hard and going at it. That win at Sto-Rox was a huge win, and every section win now is going to be a huge win.”

Fitzroy led the Vikings, now 9-8 overall, with 20 points and nine rebounds. A key to the game was sophomore Keighton Reese, who hit a trio of 3-pointers in the second period as Apollo-Ridge held a 32-21 lead at the half.

Reese became the school’s all-time 3-point field-goal scorer with 61 on the season, breaking the mark of 59 set several years ago by Luke Burrell.

“In the second quarter, we got some transition buckets,” Fox said. “We got Keighton open a few times, and he got loose and made his shots. We did the little things to get that lead.”

The Raiders, 6-9, made the game close with no special change in coach Paul Sapotichne’s strategy.

“I thought we were executing pretty well,” Sapotichne said. “I thought we missed a ton of shots, put-backs and open looks. I kept telling them that they’ll fall, they’re better shooters than that.”

Riverview also concentrated its defense on Reese, who had 12 points but was blanked in the second half.

Helping spur the comeback was senior Jack Stock, who collected three rebounds, two assists and two key free throws toward a raucous student cheering section directly behind the Raiders hoop.

“He’s a valuable player for us,” Sapotichne said of Stock. “By rebounding, by just knowing the defense well, he’ll say something to me while running down the floor ‘coach let’s try this, let’s try that.’ He did a lot of little things.”

Thanny Black had 16 for Riverview, including a 3-pointer to ignite the fourth-quarter surge. Black was poked near the eye on a foul with 1 minute, 50 seconds to go.

He made 1 of 2 with one eye and left the game briefly for treatment before returning.

Gideon Deasy scored 14 for the Raiders and Noah Black 10. Stock and Thanny Black had seven rebounds each.

Apollo-Ridge will travel to Northgate on Friday before returning home to play first-place Summit Academy next Tuesday.

George Guido is a freelance writer.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Riverview