Within minutes upon its conclusion, and likely as it was happening, the comparison was inevitable.

Riverside sophomore Nico Antoniacci put on a scoring display for fans at the Patrick C. Revello Gymnasium that those who witnessed it won’t soon forget. They also won’t stop talking about it without bringing up the legend of former Bishop Hannan great Gerry McNamara.

In Friday night’s season opener, Antoniacci scored 53 points, which alone would have generated a buzz throughout the state. Seeing that it happened in one half of basketball made it all the more remarkable.

According to sources, Antoniacci set a school record for points at Riverside, breaking the mark of 52 set by Jerry Kincel in an overtime loss to Holy Cross on Jan. 17, 2012. After examining the footage, he shot 19 of 24 from the field with 10 3-pointers and a 5-for-5 night at the foul line.

It reminded local basketball aficionados of one night in Pottsville at the historic Martz Hall. McNamara, who had a reputation for rising to the occasion beneath the spotlight, scored 55 points in a PIAA Class 2A semifinal win over Trinity in March 2002. He scored 41 points in the first half on 14 of 21 shots, including 9 of 14 from 3-point range, in an epic performance.

Arguably the greatest all-around boys basketball player to hail from Northeastern Pennsylvania, McNamara etched his name throughout the record books and in the memories of those who filled coach buses and followed his four-year tour across the state that continued for four more years at Syracuse and throughout the country.

During his career, McNamara had a cult-like following. He earned four consecutive all-state honors, was a two-time Pennsylvania Small School Player of the Year, and was the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state as a senior. He scored 973 points for a 30.4 points per game average as a senior and set the District 2 career scoring record with 2,917 points. Bishop Hannan had a record of 109-17 in his four seasons as a starter.

Almost 25 years before McNamara’s heroics, Elk Lake’s 6-foot-4 Bob Stevenson stole the show and led his team to a PIAA Class 1A championship in a different era. He scored 55 points on 24 of 34 shooting and 7 of 10 from the free throw line in a 94-60 win over Shanksville in March 1977 at the Hersheypark Arena.

That effort closed out a remarkable senior season where Stevenson scored 1,276 points in 36 games and finished his stay with the Warriors having scored 2,992 points to rank No. 2 in state history at the time behind Mansfield’s Tom McMillen, who went on to play in the NBA for the Buffalo Braves, New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks and Washington Bullets. Elk Lake had a 36-0 record in Stevenson’s magnificent final run.

It is still early in his career, but Antoniacci is certainly on track to leave a historic legacy at Riverside, in District 2 and across the state.

He has already built a strong resume while starring on the AAU circuit. Last season as a freshman, he led the Lackawanna League in scoring, averaging 20.4 points per game and finishing with 572 points, and he hit 86 3-pointers.

An unavoidable comparison, McNamara scored 580 points, averaging 18.7 points per game and making 77 3-pointers as a freshman. That season, McNamara led the Golden Lancers to the PIAA Class 1A final.

It is still early for Antoniacci, but he is worthy of carrying the mantle.

Finan tourney

The Jerry Finan Tournament tips off Monday night. West Scranton plays Honesdale at 6:30 p.m., and Forest City meets host Carbondale Area in the 8 p.m. game.

Last season, Honesdale captured the championship when Gavin Briggs made eight 3-pointers and scored 26 points in a 74-32 win. Anthony Passaro added 14 points for the Hornets.

The Mountain View Tip-off Tournament will also hold consolation and championship games Monday.

Marquee matchups

In an early-season showdown, No. 6 Valley View travels to play No. 2 Dunmore in a nonleague girls basketball game Monday at 7:15 p.m.

Last season, Ava Gazoo scored 20 points, and Cora Castellani had three 3-pointers and 15 points to lead the Cougars to a 55-33 win over the Lady Bucks.

Also Monday, No. 5 Scranton will host Crestwood, last season’s District 2 Class 5A champion, at 6:45 p.m.