Marian and Nativity proved once already this season that they can put on a stellar show. On Friday, the Colts and Hilltoppers sequel may have been better than the original.

The two teams traded blows throughout, but once again it was Nativity that was able to make the game-deciding plays down the stretch, utilizing its size inside to come away with a 58-54 Schuylkill League Division 3 victory.

“That was a great team win tonight. With our two bigs (Kegan Hertz and Marquis Ratcliff) out there together we’re a different team,” said Nativity head coach Mike Walborn. “We had to play the majority of the first half with Marquis out because he was in foul trouble.

“I’ve been on the losing end of close games up here before, but tonight we were able to come away with the win. It was a fun game. A great Friday night game. Kegan and Marquis were big for us down the stretch on both offense and defense.”

Marian (11-2) took advantage of Nativity’s early foul trouble, leading by four after one quarter(14-10.) Brendan Lonergan was big for the Colts in the opening quarter, finding success in the short corner, scoring eight of his game-total 13 points.

The Hilltoppers (15-3) would go to their shooters in the second quarter to take away the Colts’ momentum and score an impressive 24 points in the frame. Nativity went 4-for-5 from beyond the arc in quarter, and at one point had a seven-point lead.

Marian guard Dante Agosti kept the Colts in the game, however, hitting two of his five triples in the quarter to answer Nativity’s barrage, allowing Marian to cut the deficit to 34-31 at halftime..

“Our shooters stepped up and made some big shots, especially in transition, which was huge. We hung in there even being in foul trouble,” said Walborn. “Teams really focus on our bigs, so we have to shoot it. Make or miss we have to shoot and our guards are starting to believe in their ability and good things are happening.”

Led by Agosti and Dewin Concepcion, Marian made a run in the third to take a 44-42 lead, heading into the fourth. Two more treys from Agosti and seven points from Concepcion paired with a strong defensive effort where the Colts allowed just eight points put Marian back on top.

The fourth was as entertaining as expected, with both teams taking turns throwing knockout blows. That’s when Nativity’s size would become a factor, with the 6-6 twin towers of Hertz and Ratcliff making plays down the stretch. Ratcliff scored 11 of his game-high 17 points in the fourth and Hertz’s impact on the boards and the defensive end helped Nativity finish out the contest.

With the score knotted at 52-52, and 3:36 remaining, back-to-back buckets by Ratcliff and Hertz put Nativity up four. Marian would get back within two and it had a chance to tie or go ahead in the final seconds as it got a good look on the left block, but before the shot could go up, the play was waved off and called an offensive foul, giving the ball back to Nativity with just three seconds remaining.

“Hey, we battled. But due to the circumstances happening in the game and them hitting a bunch of threes in that second quarter, we had to go man and that was an issue for us, because of their size,” said Marian head coach John Patton. “In the end, they made the plays down the stretch and I think their size wore us out a bit.”

LEADERS ... Ratcliff led Nativity with 17 points, Hertz added 13 and Cody Miller scored 13. For Marian, Agosti and Concepcion scored 15 apiece and Lonergan added 13.

THE BIGS ... Ratcliff and Hertz combined for 30 points. Ratcliff was huge in the second half, scoring 15 of his 17 points.

DIVISION 3 ... The Hilltoppers are 10-0 in division play with three games remaining. The Colts fall to 9-2 in the division. Nativity needs just one victory or one Marian loss to clinch the division title.

NATIVITY

Walborn 1-0-0-3, Brennan 1-5-8-8, Hoffman 1-0-0-2, Miller 4-1-2-13, Sipes 1-0-0-2, Ratcliff 6-6-5-17, Hertz 5-3-8-13. TOTALS: 19-14-24-58.

MARIAN

Fritz 0-0-0-0, Concepcion 6-2-2-15, Agosti 5-0-0-15, Cerullo 0-1-2-1, Malarkey 0-2-2-2, Valente 2-2-2-8, Lonergan 6-1-3-13. TOTALS: 19-8-11-54.

Nativity 10 24 8 16 - 58

Marian 14 17 13 10 - 54

Three-pointers: Nativity: Miller 4, Walborn 1, Brennan 1; Marian: Agosti 5, Valente 2, Concepcion 1.