WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Todd Phillips did not need long to make an impact on Wyoming Seminary’s District 2 Class 3A boys basketball championship game March 1 at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

The 6-foot-3 sophomore forward from Dallas made his first five shots in the first 13 minutes, keeping Wyoming Seminary in the game until his teammates could join in offensively and carry the Blue Knights to a 56-39 victory over Holy Redeemer.

Phillips finished as the game’s leading scorer with 16 points, 11 of which came in those first 13 minutes when the rest of the Blue Knights managed just 10.

Another basket by Phillips was an early part of a 12-3, third-quarter run that erased Holy Redeemer’s last lead and got Wyoming Seminary started toward breaking the game open.

“We played good solid team defense and we shared the ball on offense,” said Phillips, who finished 7-for-9 from the floor while contributing on the defensive end with two steals and a blocked shots.

Phillips hit a foul line jumper 20 seconds in for the game’s first points. He turned a rebound into a 14-footer in the lane for a 4-2 lead just 45 seconds later.

The first quarter ended in an 11-11 tie with the last points coming when Phillips hit a 10-footer from a tough angle on the left baseline with 1:35 left.

The five first-half baskets by Phillips put the Blue Knights in the lead three times and tied the game twice.

Phillips scored in transition for a 16-15 lead with 4:15 left, then hit a 3-pointer from the right corner for a 21-21 tie with 3:10 left. He added a third-quarter basket and both a field goal and free throw in the fourth.

“My main goal this season was just us winning the championship here like we did today,” Phillips said.

Phillips was not the only Back Mountain player for the champions.

Jake Koretz, a freshman guard from Dallas, did not play in the championship game, but contributed key minutes during Wyoming Seminary’s Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3 championship season.

Back Mountain residents Derek Answini, Jake Adonizio, Devin Dougherty and Jake Kester all saw playing time in the game coming off the bench for Holy Redeemer, which also qualified to return to the state tournament.

Wyoming Seminary’s Todd Phillips, right, drives the base line against Holy Redeemer’s Collin Cook in the District 2 Class 3A boys basketball championship at Mohegan Sun Arena on March 1.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_TTL030218HSBB-Sem-Redeemer_4.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary’s Todd Phillips, right, drives the base line against Holy Redeemer’s Collin Cook in the District 2 Class 3A boys basketball championship at Mohegan Sun Arena on March 1. Bill Tarutis file photo | For Dallas Post

By Tom Robinson

For Dallas Post

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