Riotto’s 3-pointer beats the buzzer to lift Bishop Shanahan over West Chester East

WEST GOSHEN >> Bishop Shanahan senior Ryan Riotto knew the clock was ticking down. He also knew his Eagles could force overtime with an inside basket.

But he also knew that after trailing all afternoon, it might be time for a dramatic exclamation point.

The sharpshooting Riotto drilled a game-winning three-pointer from the right corner with just one second left on the clock Saturday afternoon, and Bishop Shanahan finished off a wild, come-from-behind, 54-53 shocker on the road at West Chester East.

“We did not have any timeouts left,” Riotto said. “We just had to push the ball up the floor and hopefully get a good shot. I got it in the corner and it went in. This team fought all afternoon and in the second half we started to limit them on the offensive boards and that was a point of focus for us at halftime.”

Bishop Shanahan (2-0 Ches-Mont National, 2-0 overall) trailed by six points at halftime and five points at the end of three quarters. But the Eagles shot five for eight from the field in the decisive fourth quarter, and the Shanahan defense bothered the Vikings (1-2, 2-2), causing six fourth-quarter turnovers.

West Chester East had forged its lead by using its height advantage to get many second shots in the first half.

But still, with a little more than three minutes to play in the fourth quarter, the Vikings were up 49-42, and Shanahan looked to be going down to defeat. But after a Viking turnover, Zane Domsohn, who led Bishop Shanahan with 16 points, scored inside and it was a 49-44 game with 2:20 to play. Another Viking turnover, this one caused by Evan Kapcysnki, led to a driving layup by Domsohn, and it was a 49-46 game with 1:30 to play.

“We really stepped up our defense in the second half,” said Bishop Shanahan guard Ryan Smith, who tallied 15 points. “That was our focus at halftime and we never stopped believing. Last year we may have quit but not this team. We have real good chemistry and No. 3 (Kapcynski) hustled his butt off for us on defense.”

After a West Chester East miss, Riotto was fouled. He hit two free throws and it was a 49-48 West Chester East lead with 53 seconds to play. Mike Dedda was quickly fouled for West Chester East, and he hit one of two for a 50-48 Viking lead with 51 seconds to go.

Bishop Shanahan brought the ball up the floor and missed from inside. The Vikings pushed the ball and Jose Ramos was fouled and hit both free throws for a 52-48 Vikings advantage with 22 seconds to play. Smith then drained a three to cut the margin to 52-51 with 11.6 seconds to go.

The Vikings’ Jackson Kulp was fouled and he only hit one of two from the foul line, leaving the door open for the Eagles, down 53-51, with 11 seconds to play. Smith brought the ball up the floor quickly and spotted Riotto in the corner. The Eagles guard rifled a pass to Riotto, who drained the game-winner and Bishop Shanahan had a very big victory over the reigning District 1 Class 5A champions.

“We were without our point guard Cooper Jordan today,” Bishop Shanahan coach John Dougherty said. “We put in a new offense this season and these kids have been great. What a fun group of kids. They could have folded a few times today.”

Bishop Shanahan 54, West Chester East 53

BISHOP SHANAHAN (54): Riotto 2 3-4 9, Domshon 7 2-3 15, Smith 6 2-2 16, D’addezio 2 0-1 5, O’Laughlin 2 3-4 9, Deangelis 0 0-0 0, Kapcysnki 0 0-0 0, Dougherty 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 10-14 54.

W.C. EAST (53): Dedda 3 1-2 7, Ramos 2 2-2 7, Clark 0 0-0 0, Kushner 5 0-1 10, Porter 2 0-0 4, Dutton 2 0-0 4, Heferan 3 2-2 10, Kulp 3 1-2 7, Price 1 2-2 4. Totals 21 8-11 53.

Bishop Shanahan 10 11 15 18 – 54

WC East 15 12 14 12 – 53

3-point goals: Riotto 2, Smith 2, Ramos, Hefferan 2.