Red Land Boys Basketball look to make school history in State Playoffs

I had the opportunity over the last few weeks to cover my alma mater, Red Land High School, as they played their way through District III and PIAA Class AAAA State Playoffs.

During the regular season, I was able to shoot one home game at Red Land's new gym, which I must say, the lighting is much better!

Below, Red Land Patriots' Dominick Antonelli (4) attempts to block his Lower Dauphin opponent during a regular season game at home

Red Land Patriots' Mike Zangari (34) drives the ball to the net

Of course, we can't forget the Red Sea, who kept the crowd entertained during the time-outs

During the game against Lower Dauphin, Mike Zangari would reach and surpass the 1000 point mark. Below, he is congratulated by teammates during a timeout after reaching his personal milestone

The Red Land Patriots would take on the Lebanon Cedars in the PIAA District III Class AAAA Quarterfinals at the Giant Center.

Below, Red Land Patriots' Dominick Antonelli (4) moves the ball down court as his Lebanon Cedars oppenent looks on from the hardwood

Red Land Patriots' Nick Diller (3) is knocked backwards by Lebanon Cedars' Kyle Thomas (34)

Red Land Patriots' Nick Diller (3) calls a play while moving the ball down court

Red Land Patriots' Mike Zangari (34) attempts to drive around Lebanon Cedars' Tyler Antal (3)

Lebanon Cedars' Jesse Thomas (23) is blocked by Red Land Patriots' Steve Zach (44) and Mike Zangari (34)

Red Land Patriots' Steve Zach (44) attempts a shot

Red Land Patriots head coach Scott Slayton reacts to a call from the bench

Red Land Patriots' Steve Zach (44) takes a shot from within the paint

Lebanon Cedars' Alex Trautman (32) tries to block Red Land Patriots' Dominick Antonelli (4)

Red Land Patriots' Nick Diller (3) drives to the basket

The Red Land Patriots would easily defeat the Lebanon Cedars 70-28 to advance to the semifinals. Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to cover Red Land again in District III playoffs. The Patriots were able to defeat Reading 71-68 in the semifinals, which enabled them to play York in the District III Class AAAA Finals. However, Red Land would fall to York 69-58. 

Since Red Land played strong throughout the District III Class AAAA playoffs, they earned a high seed in state playoffs. I was given the opportunity of covering Red Land as they played their way throughout state playoffs. Conveniently enough, the first round of PIAA Class AAAA playoffs were played close to home at Milton Hershey High School in Hershey against Bartrum.

Below, Red Land Patriots' Duke Antonelli (33) high-fives a teammate prior to the game

Red Land Patriots' Mike Zangari (34) attempts a shot

Red Land Patriots' Mike Zangari (34) dunks the ball

Red Land Patriots' Dominick Antonelli (4) and Steve Zach (44) try to block their Bartrum opponent from taking a shot

Red Land Patriots' Mike Zangari (34) puts up another shot.....

.........and another

Red Land Patriots' Steve Zach (44) drives around his Bartrum defender

Red Land Patriots' Nick Diller (3) defends his Bartum opponent

Red Land Patriots' Nick Diller (3) scrambles for possession of the ball

Red Land Patriots' Nick Diller (3) moves the ball down court

Red Land Patriots' Bret Niederreither (32) puts up a shot

Red Land Patriots' Rhett Baker (20) looks for an open teammate

Red Land Patriots' Tanner Hubbard (30) attempts a shot from within the paint

The Red Land Patriots easily defeated Bartum 69-47 to advance to the second round of the state playoffs, where they would play Lower Merion. For those of you that may not know, Lower Merion is the alma mater of NBA player Kobe Bryant and usually compete in the state championship game.

The venue, the Geigle Center in Reading, was the halfway point for this particular game.

Below, Red Land Patriots' Nick Diller (3) passes the ball within the paint 

Red Land Patriots' Duke Antonelli (33) drives around Lower Marion Aces' Raheem Hall (34)

Red Land Patriots' Mike Zangari (34) drives around a Lower Marion Aces defender

Red Land Patriots head coach, Scott Slayton (center), chats with his players during a time out 

Red Land Patriots' Nick Diller (3) moves the ball up the court

Red Land's Steve Zach (44) is fouled by Lower Marion's Darryl Reynolds (31) 

Red Land Patriots' Mike Zangari (34) shoots the ball as Lower Marion Aces' Eric Green (32) tries to block

Now this is where the game got really exciting. The Patriots trailed by four points, with over a minute left in the game. The Patriots would get the breaks they needed when Nick Diller was fouled under the Aces' basket with 4.3 seconds left in the game.

Below, Red Land Patriots' Steve Zach attempts to roar up the crowd with 4.3 seconds left in the game

Red Land Patriots head coach Scott Slayton looks on as Nick Diller steps to the line to shoot two free throws

The Red Sea celebrates as Nick Diller sinks both free throws with 4.3 seconds left in the game.

Red Land Patriots' Nick Diller shots would give the Patriots the lead with a score of 40-38. The Aces were never able to get the shot off once they got the ball back, giving Red Land the victory.

Below, Mike Zangari (34) celebrates with the Red Sea following their 40-38 victory over the Lower Merion Aces

With the Red Land Patriots 40-38 win over the Lower Merion Aces, they would advance onto the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2003 when the Agnone brothers (Robbie and Vinnie) led the Patriots to their first ever appearance in the state quarterfinals. As fate would have it, the Patriots would be playing Plymouth-Whitemarsh, the team that sent the Patriots home in a crushing, season-ending game last season by defeating them by a whopping 43 points in the first round of state playoffs. 

Again, the venue for the PIAA Class AAAA State Quarterfinals game was the Geigle Center in Reading.

Below, Patriot teammates Nick Diller, left, and Steve Zach, right, both look on during warmups

Red Land Patriots' Steve Zach is announced prior to the game

Red Land Patriots' Duke Antonelli (33) shoots a 3-point jumper 

Red Land Patriots' Dominick Antonelli (4) drives around Plymouth-Whitemarsh Colonials' Marcus Badger (3)

Red Land Patriots' Mike Zangari (34) grabs a rebound

Red Land Patriots' Mike Zangari (34) breaks through the Plymouth-Whitemarsh Colonials defense

Red Land Patriots' Steve Zach (44) is double-teamed while looking for an open teammate

Red Land Patriots' Nick Diller (3) drives in for a layup

Red Land Patriots' Dominick Antonelli (4) listens to coach Scott Slayton

Red Land Patriots head coach Scott Slayton, left, chats with Steve Zach following his personal foul on Plymouth-Whitemarsh's Jaylen Bond late in the fourth quarter

Red Land Patriots' Dominick Antonelli (4) reacts after fouling out late in the fourth quarter

Below, Red Land Patriots' Mike Zangari hugs teammate Dominick Antonelli (4) late in the fourth quarter

In the end, Plymouth-Whitemarsh was too much for Red Land as the Colonials defeated the Patriots 56-45 in the PIAA Class AAAA State Quarterfinals.

Below, Red Land Patriots Nick Diller and Mike Zangari look on following their 56-45 loss

Red Land Patriots' Nick Diller (3) reacts following the teams 56-45 loss to Plymouth-Whitemarsh

Even though the loss meant the end of the season, the Patriots have no reason to hang their heads, as the team came back to match it's best season since 2003. While the Patriots will lose many key players, including Diller, Zach, and Niederreither, they should be back in playoff form for next season.