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The junior forward scored seven straight points in a critical third-quarter stretch as the Golden Hawks captured the school’s first home playoff win by knocking off Abington on Friday.
HOLLAND — For most of the night, all of the momentum resided with the home team, Council Rock South.
But for a moment in the third quarter, that all looked to be slipping away, as the Golden Hawks fell behind visiting Abington by two points.
Luca Baratta was having none of that however, as he scored seven straight points in a critical run that helped South regain command and go on to a 62-41 win in a District One Class 6A first round game on Friday.
“It’s crazy,” said Baratta, who finished with 11 points. “It’s the first home playoff win in South history. It’s really great that we got it.”
Second-year Golden Hawks coach Chris Clark wasn’t surprised that Baratta stepped up in that situation.
“He’s got a temperament for playing,” Clark said. “He just believes he’s going to be able to score, whether he doesn’t have the ball or he does. He just keeps playing that way. He’s got a great temperament for understanding that he believes in himself to take the shot whenever.”
On a senior-dominated team, Baratta, a 6-foot-3 junior, has fit in just fine.
He didn’t grow up playing with his current teammates, as he attended St. Bede’s Catholic School, but basketball has been his sports since a very young age.
“Probably like grade school, maybe,” he said. “My dad was a baseball player and he wanted me to play baseball, but I’ve always been more of a basketball player.”
Baratta finished with 11 points on Friday and he and his teammates are now on to the second round on Tuesday against the tournament’s No. 1 seed, Methacton.
And they’re going there with a ton of confidence in themselves.
“We’re a family here,” Baratta said. “We play with a little bit of swagger and we execute.”
As for Baratta’s influence on the team, Clark said he’s a tireless worker.
“It’s awesome,” Clark said. “He’s a great kid. He’s just someone who is a worker. He’s the first one here, and the last one here. With the shooting machine, he’s always here. I’m really glad that kids like that do well. He deserves it.”