Riverside’s Brayden Rose moves the ball during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Riverside’s Nico Antoniacci hangs from the hoop during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Holy Cross’ Jack Alpert defends Riverside’s Jared Jackson during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Riverside’s Kyle Connor controls the ball during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Riverside’s Brayden Rose defends Holy Cross’ Adam Badyrka during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Holy Cross’ Finn Kennedy takes a shot during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Riverside’s Michael Schmilfenig high fives teammates as he runs onto the court during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Holy Cross’ CJ Thompson lines up for a free throw during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Riverside’s Nico Antoiacci takes a shot during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Riverside’s Brayden Rose takes a shot during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Riverside’s Max Jackson follows Holy Cross’ Finn Kennedy during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Holy Cross’ Colin Farrell takes a shot at the hoop during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Riverside fans cheer on their team during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Riverside’s Brayden Rose moves the ball during the basketball game at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
DUNMORE — Nico Antoniacci and Brayden Rose were relentless and put on a show to earn an emphatic victory.
Riverside’s one-two punch attacked the basket, had a couple of dunks, swished some long-range shots and displayed an abundance of athleticism and skill. Antoniacci, the much-coveted collegiate prospect in only his sophomore season, had 43 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals. Rose, a talented junior, had 27 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
Their efforts fueled the second-ranked Vikings in an overpowering, 95-81 win over No. 9 Holy Cross on Thursday night in an entertaining boys basketball game to start the second half of the Lackawanna Division II schedule.
Riverside earned its first win at Holy Cross since Jan. 5, 2016, and improved to 15-1 overall and 7-1 in the division.
“We were very motivated coming in here,” Antoniacci said. “We took everything very seriously when getting ready. We played really well. We got many deflections on defense and made a bunch of shots.”
Holy Cross (8-8, 4-4), which battled injuries throughout the majority of the season, played at full strength. Junior guard Adam Badyrka scored 32 points, and junior CJ Thompson added 20 for the Crusaders.
However, the two standouts could not counter Antoniacci and Rose.
In addition to combining for 70 points, Antoniacci made 17 of 23 shots from the field, and Rose connected on 12 of 18 shots.
“Nico and I just got downhill, and Coach (Josh Aniska) always tells us that he has the utmost confidence in us,” Rose said. “We showed up tonight.”
With Antoniacci and Rose leading the way, Riverside also got valuable contributions from Mikey Schimelfenig, Jared Jackson and Kyle Connor.
Schimelfenig, a scrappy guard and defender, chipped in seven points. Connor had two assists and four points, and Jackson, who found himself on the receiving end of several no-look passes from Antoniacci and Rose, finished with 14 points.
“We all hustle and play defense,” Jackson said. “This was a huge game. This is a tough place to play. It was hot in here, and we all did what we could for the win.”
A victory in this showdown was important to the Vikings, who lost the Lackawanna Division II championship playoff game to Holy Cross last season.
Earlier in the season, Riverside defeated the Crusaders, 64-46. Badyrka, however, did not play in that one.
In the first 5 minutes, the Vikings seized a 10-0 lead with Antoniacci and Rose totaling eight points in the surge. Holy Cross stormed right back. Badyrka scored seven points, and Jack Alpert drilled a late 3-pointer as the quarter ended with Riverside ahead, 18-15.
Racing up and down the floor at a frantic pace, Riverside stayed in front, 25-21, then went on a 10-3 run that established a 35-24 lead that wasn’t threatened the rest of the half. Antoniacci and Rose closed the second quarter with 10 points, and the Vikings took a 45-31 advantage into the half.
“It is crucial to get points and get on a run,” Rose said. “Those can be game killers.”
Holy Cross started fast in the third quarter, but every time it stoked some momentum, Antoniacci and Rose were there to stamp out the flames. Antoniacci got hot from beyond the arc and drilled three 3-pointers, and Rose scored five points. Despite Holy Cross’ Finn Kennedy scoring the final five points, it still trailed, 72-59.
“No matter how good a team is, and the runs they make, we just reset and get back to doing what we do,” Rose said.
Finishing strong, Antoniacci scored 10 points in the fourth quarter. Jackson scored six points on layups, and Rose had five points, as the Vikings held off all the Crusaders’ charges.
“We knew that it was going to be really loud in here, and when they made some shots, it would create energy,” Antoniacci said. “Coach told us to stay composed and get back to getting downhill to the basket.”
Holy Cross kept fighting. Badyrka had 10 points, and Colin Farrell and Alpert each made 3-pointers as the Crusaders scored 22 points in the fourth quarter.
Riverside’s victory allowed it to stay within one game of Dunmore (15-1, 8-0) in the Division II standings. The Vikings, however, maintained a lead over the Bucks in the District 2 Class 3A power rating standings.