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<p>BETHLEHEM &#8212; By the middle of the third quarter, mighty Neumann-Goretti was mystified.</p><p>The Holy Redeemer Royals not only sensed it. They heard it.</p><p>&#8220;They were arguing with each other,&#8221; Holy Redeemer&#8217;s lightning-fast point guard Lydia Lawson said. &#8220;They were saying things, like &#8216;Why is this team still in the game with us?&#8217; and &#8216;Why are we letting them score so many points?&#8217;</p><p>&#8220;They definitely weren&#8217;t expecting it to be a game.&#8221;</p><p>Yet it was, to the very end.</p><p>That&#8217;s when the Saints, pressed against the wall by a determined bunch of Royals and a dynamic gameplan by their head coach, pressed back to save their season with a 48-39 victory in the PIAA Class 2A girls basketball quarterfinals at Bethlehem&#8217;s Freedom High School.</p><p>That moved defending state champion Neumann-Goretti, the top-ranked Class 2A team in Pennsylvania and the No. 7 team in the nation, into Tuesday&#8217;s PIAA semifinals against Dunmore. The fellow District 2 squad was a 45-44 winner over Imhotep Charter in an earlier quarterfinal game at Freedom.</p><p>&#8220;We definitely gave them all they can handle,&#8221; Holy Redeemer center Rebecca Prociak said. &#8220;We fought with them to the end. It means a lot to us as a team.&#8221;</p><p>Basically the same group of Royals, without current Iona freshman Alexis Lewis, came back to meet a Goretti team that routed them 72-41 in last year&#8217;s state semifinals.</p><p>Not this time.</p><p>Playing a patient game with a collapsing zone defense, Redeemer not only frustrated the Saints but controlled most of the game.</p><p>Lawson swished an early 3-pointer to pull Redeemer within 8-7 a little less than three minutes into the game. Kayla Hons came off the bench to pop another trey at the very end of the first quarter to keep the Royals within three points entering the second quarter.</p><p>With that, a strong message was delivered, right on time and on target.</p><p>The Royals weren&#8217;t about to get run out of the gym again.</p><p>&#8220;They played their butts off,&#8221; Holy Redeemer coach Chris Parker said. &#8220;Against the number one team in the state of Pennsylvania and top 10 in the country, I couldn&#8217;t ask anything more from them.&#8221;</p><p>In the second quarter, Redeemer became more cunning, crafty and precise while making a bid for a monumental upset against a 27-1 Saints team that has won 66 of its past 67 games.</p><p>Meghan Corridoni, Kayla Hons and Sam Rajza all hit consecutive baskets, then Corridoni converted two free throws as the Royals rolled off eight straight points and took a 23-22 lead with 3:19 remaining in the first half.</p><p>They clung to that advantage at intermission, thanks to a layup by Prociak that gave Redeemer a 27-26 lead with two quarters to go, as the Royals shot 67 percent from the floor (10-for-15) over the first two quarters.</p><p>&#8220;We didn&#8217;t expect it,&#8221; Prociak, who finished with 10 points and seven rebounds, said of the halftime lead. &#8220;We didn&#8217;t want them to get a big lead. When we were in the game, it really motivated us.&#8221;</p><p>Did it ever.</p><p>Corridoni, who finished with a team-high 14 points, hit a 3-point play and followed with a 3-point goal. Then Prociak finished on a spinning lay-in as Redeemer took a 35-28 lead with 4:08 to play in the third quarter.</p><p>&#8220;Being up at halftime definitely gave us a boost,&#8221; Lawson said.</p><p>It didn&#8217;t last.</p><p>Although Talia Kosierowski&#8217;s 3-pointer a second before the third quarter ended gave the Royals a one-point lead with a quarter to play, the Saints turned the momentum.</p><p>They turned to a ferocious press defense that made it a struggle for Redeemer to bring the ball upcourt, and held the Royals to a single point in the final quarter &#8212; on a free throw by Prociak.</p><p>&#8220;I think the press was difficult for us to beat,&#8221; said Lawson, who did a splendid job holding onto the ball against the trapping Saints but found trouble, along with the rest of the Royals, setting up an offense in the final quarter. &#8220;The whole first half, we never saw them press us up and down the floor.</p><p>&#8220;When they came out with the press, I think they caught us by surprise.&#8221;</p><p>Still, the Royals were within three points with little more than two minutes to play. But Morgan Lenahan hit a pair of free throws and Kamiah Smalls made three down the stretch to seal the victory for the Saints.</p><p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t say enough about how proud I am of these kids,&#8221; Parker said. &#8220;This group of kids is so special. These seniors I&#8217;ve had the privelege to coach over the last four years, what they accomplished has been remarkable. Outside of a two-minute lapse, we had them on the ropes.</p><p>&#8220;I thought they played great.&#8221;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>PIAA CLASS 2A QUARTERFINALS</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Neumann-Goretti 48, Holy Redeemer 39</strong></p><p><strong>HOLY REDEEMER (39) &#8212; </strong>Lydia Lawson 2 0-0 5, Talia Kosierowski 1 0-0 3, Sam Rajza 1 0-0 2, Meghan Corridoni 4 5-5 14, Rebecca Prociak 4 2-4 10, Sara Flannelly 0 0-0 0, Kayla Hons 2 0-0 5. <strong>Totals 14 7-9 39.</strong></p><p><strong>NEUMANN-GORETTI (48) &#8212; </strong>Morgan Lenahan 3 2-3 9, Kamiah Smalls 4 6-8 14, Jada Russell 1 0-0 3, Chyna Nixon 5 0-0 11, Jabria Ingram 1 1-2 3, Alisha Kebbe 1 4-5 6, Minika Glenn 0 0-0 0, Mijah Parmley 1 0-0 2. <strong>Totals 16 13-18 48.</strong></p><p><strong>Holy Redeemer`14`13`11`1` &#8212; `39</strong></p><p><strong>Neumann-Goretti`17`9`11`11`&#8212;` 48</strong></p><p><strong>3-point goals &#8212; </strong>HR 4 (Lawson, Hons, Corridoni, Kosierowski); NG 3 (Nixon, Russell, Lenahan)</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Holy Redeemer&#8217;s Rebecca Prociak (44) puts up a shot over Neumann-Goretti&#8217;s Alisha Keebe (4) during Friday&#8217;s state quarterfinal game at Freedom High School on Friday night. Redeemer held one-point leads at halftime and at the end of the third quarter before falling to top-ranked Goretti, 48-39. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL031216HRGBB63-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Holy Redeemer&#8217;s Rebecca Prociak (44) puts up a shot over Neumann-Goretti&#8217;s Alisha Keebe (4) during Friday&#8217;s state quarterfinal game at Freedom High School on Friday night. Redeemer held one-point leads at halftime and at the end of the third quarter before falling to top-ranked Goretti, 48-39. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL031216HRGBB61-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Holy Redeemer&#8217;s Meghan Corridoni passes the ball while being defended by Neumann-Goretti&#8217;s Kamiah Smalls (20) during their state quarterfinal battle at Freedom High School on Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL031216HRGBB61-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Holy Redeemer&#8217;s Meghan Corridoni passes the ball while being defended by Neumann-Goretti&#8217;s Kamiah Smalls (20) during their state quarterfinal battle at Freedom High School on Friday night. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL031216HRGBB67-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Holy Redeemers&#8217; Rebecca Prociak goes for a layup during a PIAA Class 2A state quarterfinal game against Neumann-Goretti at Freedom High School in Bethlehem on Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL031216HRGBB67-2.jpg</photo2><caption2>Holy Redeemers&#8217; Rebecca Prociak goes for a layup during a PIAA Class 2A state quarterfinal game against Neumann-Goretti at Freedom High School in Bethlehem on Friday night. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL031216HRGBB62-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Neumann-Goretti&#8217;s Alisha Keebe (right) steals the ball from Holy Redeemer&#8217;s Lydia Lawson during the fourth quarter of a PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal game at Freedom High School on Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL031216HRGBB62-2.jpg</photo3><caption3>Neumann-Goretti&#8217;s Alisha Keebe (right) steals the ball from Holy Redeemer&#8217;s Lydia Lawson during the fourth quarter of a PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal game at Freedom High School on Friday night. </caption3><photoCredit3>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL031216HRGBB66-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Holy Redeemers&#8217; Talia Kosierowski (right) passes the ball over the head of Neumann-Goretti&#8217;s Jabria Ingram during a state quarterfinal game at Freedom High School on Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL031216HRGBB66-2.jpg</photo4><caption4>Holy Redeemers&#8217; Talia Kosierowski (right) passes the ball over the head of Neumann-Goretti&#8217;s Jabria Ingram during a state quarterfinal game at Freedom High School on Friday night. </caption4><photoCredit4>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL031216HRGBB65-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Holy Redeemer&#8217;s Lydia Lawson hustles past Neumann-Goretti&#8217;s Kamiah Smalls (20) during the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal game at Freedom High School on Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL031216HRGBB65-2.jpg</photo5><caption5>Holy Redeemer&#8217;s Lydia Lawson hustles past Neumann-Goretti&#8217;s Kamiah Smalls (20) during the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal game at Freedom High School on Friday night. </caption5><photoCredit5>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Royals force defending state champion Neumann-Goretti to rally for victory at the end</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Paul Sokoloski</p><p>psokoloski@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Paul Sokoloski at 570-991-6392 or on Twitter @TLPaulSokoloski</p></shirttailMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><videoMeta><p><table class="mceItemTable" style="border:none;width:98%;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">VideoID:</td><td id="videoid" style="width:50em;font-size:90%;">aA9fUuD6Wpo</td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">VideoType:</td><td id="videotype" style="font-size:90%;">YOUTUBE</td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">URL:</td><td id="url" style="font-size:90%;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA9fUuD6Wpo</td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Embed String:</td><td id="videoembedstring" style="font-size:90%;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Caption:</td><td id="videocaption" style="font-size:90%;">Rebecca Prociak gave Redeemer the lead right at the halftime buzzer</td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Credit:</td><td id="videocredit" style="font-size:90%;"> Paul Sokoloski | Times Leader</td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Position:</td><td id="videoposition" style="font-size:90%;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="margin-top:10px;font-size:70%;color:#555;">(use the &#8220;for files&#8230;&#8221; link above to associate attached files with this source)</p></videoMeta></div>

Holy Redeemer proves a handful for Neumann-Goretti in state quarterfinal defeat