DUNMORE - A remarkable state championship run for the Holy Cross boys basketball team ended with a warm embrace and loud cheers from a throng of supporters gathered outside the high school Saturday night.
Family, friends and faculty ignored the chilly temperatures to form a long line alongside East Drinker Street near the school to greet the players and coaches before their bus arrived from the Giant Center in Hershey, where they had taken on Beaver Falls for the PIAA class AA boys championship game.
The Holy Cross team lost the game by six points, but parents and school officials said they were proud nonetheless. With the remnants of tears in her eyes, Ann Joyce waited patiently for her son Corey to return.
"They were outstanding. They were what a team should be," said Mrs. Joyce, who had a button picture of Corey in his basketball uniform pinned to her shirt. "I'm glad they have all these good memories."
Shortly before sunset, the blare of Dunmore police and fire sirens, the team's escort, signaled they had come home.
"We are H.C. We are H.C.," yelled cheerleaders and students as the bus pulled up to the curb.
At least 100 supporters broke out in a loud applause and whistles as the door of the bus swung open and the players began making their way outside. Tears fell from their eyes, yet amid the sadness were high-fives, hugs and pats on the back for a job well done.
"They played their hearts out. They played their best," said the school's principal, Ben Tolerico. "We'll do our best to make them realize how proud we are of them."
After winding their way through their fans, the players settled inside the school to have a couple of slices of pizza and cold cuts. Around the school hung banners welcoming them home.
More cheers of "We are Holy Cross" rang out from time to time in the auditorium.
"I'm so proud they went so far," said Leslie Nelson, whose son, Erik, is on the team. "They are an amazing group of kids. And they should be proud."
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