Nico Antoniacci didn't just start his season—he announced it with authority. On opening night, the Riverside guard dropped a jaw-dropping 53 points, hitting 19 of 25 shots in just 14 minutes of play. That performance sent shockwaves across Pennsylvania and set the tone for one of the best seasons in Riverside history.
Antoniacci's sophomore campaign was nothing short of spectacular. He scored 30 or more points in 14 games, including a 36-point outburst in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals against West Catholic. He finished the season averaging 30.0 points per game, adding 5.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 3.3 steals. The Vikings went 25-2, capturing the Lackawanna Division II title and the District 2 Class 3A championship. Over two seasons, Antoniacci has led Riverside to a 50-5 record and already has 1,383 career points.
His coach, Josh Aniska, praised not just the scoring but the growth. "The best part of his game is his decision-making," Aniska said. "He's known as an outside shooter, but he developed the ability to read double-teams and make the right play. His explosiveness improved with weight room work, and his competitiveness is unmatched."
Antoniacci is already a major NCAA Division I prospect, holding scholarship offers from Syracuse, Penn State, Marquette, and Manhattan.
Meanwhile, Old Forge coach JJ Thomas took a different path to the top. He put his team through a brutal nonleague schedule, preparing them for a tough Lackawanna Division II slate and the postseason. The gamble paid off in a big way as the Blue Devils reached the PIAA Class 2A championship game. Their performance against powerhouse Sewickley Academy was so impressive that it sparked discussions about reshaping public vs. private school rules.
On Thursday, the Pennsylvania Sports Writers honored both Antoniacci and Thomas for their standout seasons. Antoniacci was named Class 3A Player of the Year, while Thomas shared Class 2A Coach of the Year honors with Sewickley Academy's Mike Iuzzolino.
"I'm very proud of Nico as a player and a person," Aniska said. "This was a goal he wrote down years ago, and he worked tirelessly to achieve it."