TAYLOR – It took a little while to shake off the rust of a lengthy layoff from intense competition, but Riverside and its arsenal of scorers kept the team charging in the state playoffs.

Nico Antoniacci, in his PIAA postseason debut, scored 23 points, Gerry Rose scored 18, and Connor McNally scored 15 as the Vikings defeated Southern Columbia, 77-54 , in the Class 3A boys basketball first-round game Saturday at Riverside High School.

Riverside (24-2) advanced to the second round for the second straight season and will play the winner of the MaST Charter and Overbrook game on Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.

“I am happy with how we played,” Antoniacci said. “We are having a lot of fun. To make it far in the state playoffs, it takes a team effort, and we are enjoying every second of this.”

While getting back up to speed in their first competitive action since Feb. 27, when it beat Holy Cross for the District 2 championship, Riverside built an imposing lead. Brayden Rose got off to a fast start and scored six of his 11 first-half points, and his brother Gerry Rose also had six points, four of which came from the free-throw line. At the end of the first, the Vikings had a 21-9 lead.

Riverside also celebrated the return of Matthew Godlewski, who has missed most of the season with an injury. The senior hit a 3-pointer as part of the first-quarter success.

Southern Columbia played even with the District 2 champions in the second. Will Swank knocked down two 3-pointers and had eight points in the quarter for the Tigers. Riverside’s lead grew to 28-11 and 33-17 at two points of the second, but Southern Columbia took advantage of turnovers to outscore the Vikings 5-2 late and close the gap to 39-27.

Antoniacci scored six points, Brayden Rose hit for five in the quarter, and Gerry Rose had nine in the half to pace Riverside, which capitalized on 10 turnovers by Southern Columbia in the half.

“We wanted to get out and pressure and force turnovers,” Gerry Rose said. “Once we did that, we wanted to knock down some shots.”

In the third quarter, Antoniacci broke out.

The flashy freshman drilled three 3-pointers and scored 13 points to fuel a 20-10 advantage in the quarter and built the margin to 59-27.

“These are the games you work for all season,” said Antoniacci, who also contributed four assists.

McNally, a senior, playing his final game at home, continued his strong play in state playoff games. He scored seven points in the fourth quarter and had two steals. He gave the Vikings a 69-48 lead with a breakaway layup and three-point play conversion with 3:45 to play in the game.

Riverside received plenty of contributions from the seniors. Richie Kostoff had eight rebounds and two blocks. Gerry Rose had six rebounds, three assists, and four steals; Godlewski scored five points, had three rebounds, and three steals in his return.

“We know they were going to go on runs at times, but we keep that downhill mentality and get to the free throw line,” McNally said. “Winning the district championships and getting a home game meant a lot to us. It was great for the seniors to get to play here one last time. We built some momentum to keep going and make a run here.”

Will Swank paced Southern Columbia (15-11) with 17 points, Nate Gallagher scored 13, and Jace Malakoski pulled down 11 rebounds.

Holy Cross 72, Troy 68: Michael Hughes scored four of his 21 points in overtime to lift Holy Cross to a first-round win over Troy in the PIAA Class 3A playoffs.

Hughes scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and teamed with Matt Lyons, who had five in the quarter as the Crusaders (23-4) kept their season alive by beating the District 4 champions on their home floor.

Lyons finished with 17 points. Adam Badyrka and CJ Thompson, who missed the District 2 final because of an illness, each scored 12 points for Holy Cross.

Holy Cross advanced to play Audenreid Charter, the runner up in District 12, on Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.

Troy (22-3) recovered from a 10-point deficit after the first quarter. Lincoln Chimics scored 20 points, Trey Teribury had 15, Evan Woodward added 13 and Jack Burbage scored 12.

Burbage and Teribury each scored five points in the second as Troy started its comeback. The Trojans sent the game to overtime when Woodward had a putback of a missed shot at the end pf regulation.