WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Michael Hughes was the top Holy Cross scorer March 1 when the Crusaders fell to Riverside 61-50 in the District 2 Class 3A boys basketball championship game at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.
The former Abington Heights player scored 15 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out two assists and made a steal. He was 6-for-14 from the floor, including 3-for-6 on 3-pointers.
The result left Holy Cross and Riverside even at two games apiece in their head-to-head meetings this season. They split in the regular season, each going 13-1 in Lackawanna League Division 2, setting up a playoff that Holy Cross won 60-57 Feb. 16 at Carbondale.
The teams are a combined 41-2 when not facing each other.
Hughes had 12 points in the division championship game.
Holy Cross reached the district final by beating Lakeland 86-47 and Lackawanna Division 3 champion Elk Lake 80-49.
Hughes scored 16 points to share the team lead on a night when the Crusaders had five players finish in double figures.
Hughes scored 15 points against Elk Lake.
The Crusaders, who moved up from Class 2A after last season, had been 7-0 in finals at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Hughes leads a balanced scoring attack with 15.1 points per game while Matt Lyons and Adam Badyrka are both over 14 points. He shoots 42.4 percent from the floor, 33.1 percent on 3-pointers and 70.7 percent from the floor while averaging 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.8 steals.
The Crusaders (22-4) are headed back to the state tournament, beginning with the March 8 game at District 4 champion Troy (24-2) at 4 p.m.
