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Irelyn Jannuzzi, Talia Kosierowski trigger Holy Redeemer’s romp in PIAA girls opener

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Charity exercise class benefits Sunday’s Renal Race

<p>Nanticoke more than doubled its output in the first three quarters in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon.</p><p>The result was the District 2 third-seeded Trojans making a remarkable comeback to defeat Bethlehem Catholic 58-56 in a PIAA Class 4A boys basketball first-round game at Bethlehem Freedom High School.</p><p>Nanticoke (19-7) scored 30 points in the fourth quarter, with guard Cody Piestrak scoring all 12 of his points in the final eight minutes, as the Trojans erased a 12-point deficit after three quarters.</p><p>&#8220;We were happy to be down by five at the half,&#8221; Nanticoke coach John Beggs said in a phone interview after the win. &#8220;In the third quarter, we were down by a little bit more, but we took a lot of good shots and they weren&#8217;t falling. We knew (Bethlehem Catholic) in their last three games got big leads.</p><p>&#8220;So we thought if we could keep it close and put a little pressure on them, we may have a chance to get right back in it. Sure enough, we got a couple guys to make some big shots. They had a couple missed free throws, and the next thing you know, somehow we had a possession, got the lead and never let it go.&#8221;</p><p>Nanticoke took the lead for good, 52-51, with 45 seconds left on a pair of free throws by Piestrak.</p><p>&#8220;Then we got a stop and the guys were clutch down the line,&#8221; Beggs said. &#8220;I know Rich Wiaterowski made two free throws late in the game, Nate Kreitzer made four free throws. It was hectic time.&#8221;</p><p>Beggs compared the win over District 11 champion Bethlehem Catholic (21-8) to Nanticoke&#8217;s 72-61 win over District 1 champ Pottstown in the opening round of the 1992 Class 2A state playoffs. He was a guard on that Nanticoke team.</p><p>&#8220;I was a guard. The best player on that team was Shawn Hrivnak, who had like 30 points,&#8221; Beggs said. &#8220;We had a bunch of other guys, a bunch of role players. It was very similar to this team.&#8221;</p><p>The 1992 team made it to the state quarterfinals, where it lost to Bishop Hoban, which has since merged into Holy Redeemer.</p><p>For this version of the Trojans to make the quarterfinals, it will need to win Wednesday against D12 fourth seed West Philadelphia (13-4). West Philly defeated D3 champ Lancaster Catholic 87-65.</p><p>Kreitzer finished with 15 to pace Nanticoke. Luke Butczynski and Justin Casey added eight apiece.</p><p>Nanticoke limited Bethlehem Catholic 6-foot-9 center Ryan Young to 11 points.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>PIAA Class 4A First Round</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Nanticoke 58, Bethlehem Catholic 56</strong></p><p><strong>NANTICOKE (58) &#8212;</strong> Nate Kreitzer 4 4-4 15, Rich Wiaterowski 2 2-2 6, Cody Piestrak 3 3-3 12, Luke Butczynski 3 0-0 8, Zach Cardone 0 0-0 0, Justin Casey 4 0-0 8, Trahjan Krupinski 1 3-4 5, Alec Divers 0 0-0 0, Tyler Thomas 1 0-0 2, Colby Butczynski 0 0-0 0. <strong>Totals 18 12-13 56.</strong></p><p><strong>BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC (56) &#8212;</strong> DeAndre Burstine 0 0-0 0, Ryan Young 4 3-5 11, William Melson 5 0-0 13, Amir Detti Ford 0 1-4 1, Scott Kuna 0 0-0 0, Jordan Odle 3 2-2 8, Justin Paz 5 4-4 16, Dameon Robinson 3 1-2 7. <strong>Totals 20 11-17 56.</strong></p><p><strong>Nanticoke`14`8`6`30`&#8212;`58</strong></p><p><strong>Beth. Cath.`12`15`13`16`&#8212;`56</strong></p><p><strong>Three-point goals &#8212;</strong> NAN 8 (Kreitzer 3, Piestrak 3, L.Butczynski 2); BC 5 (Melson 3, Paz 2)</p><p><ins>For other sports stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/sports" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By John Erzar</p><p>jerzar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Nanticoke rallies to defeat Bethlehem Catholic