Patriots force three way tie for first in Division with home victory over Crestwood

The Pittston Area Patriots played host to the Crestwood Comets on Friday night. The Comets came in with an undefeated record in Division play at 5-0 and are coming off an overtime victory to Wilkes-Barre Area. The Patriots are 4-1 and are coming off a road victory over Berwick.
 Crestwood would take an early 6-5 lead on three pointers by Paul Feisel but the Patriots would go on a 7-1 run to take a 12-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Comets would go on a 5-0 run to start the second to tie the game at 12. However, a basket by Joe Cencetti and a pair of free throws by JJ Walsh would make it a four point Pittston Area lead. The lead would be short lived as Ryan Petrosky and Mike Zaleski would get baskets to tie the game. Mike George would sink a pair of free throws to give the Patriots the lead. It would look like the Comets would enter the locker room with the lead after a Jake Zaleski three pointer but George would heave up a shot from 61 feet and make it to give the Patriots a 21-19 lead at halftime.
Brennan Higgins would score four straight points to give Pittston Area a six point lead. The Comets would cut the lead to 2 but a basket by Andrew Krawczyk would make it a four point lead and would lead 31-27 at the end of the third quarter. Krawczyk would make it a six point lead again with a basket. Petrosky and Zaleski would make it a two point game with baskets. A three pointer by JJ Walsh, a pair of free throws by Logan Booth and free throws by Walsh gave the Patriots a nine point lead. A three pointer by Ryan Petrosky would cut the lead to six but the Patriots would sink their free throws and the Patriots would take the home victory over the Crestwood Comets 45-34. It would result in a three way tie for first place with Hazleton Area, Crestwood and Pittston Area as the Cougars lost to Wilkes-Barre Area 73-63. Crestwood and Hazleton Area face off at Crestwood and Pittston Area travels to Nanticoke on Tuesday.

Thoughts on the game: It was another impressive home victory for Pittston Area. JJ Walsh led all scorers with 10 points. Brennan Higgins and Joe Cencetti each had nine points for Pittston Area. For Crestwood, Ryan Petrosky and Jake Zaleski each had nine points.

Pittston Area 45 Crestwood 34
Crestwood
Paul Feisel 6
Mike Zaleski 4
Ryan Petrosky 9
Marcus Vieney 4
Jake Zaleski 9
Brandon Nieminski 2

Pittston Area
JJ Walsh 10
Joe Cencetti 9
Brennan Higgins 9
Logan Booth 4
Mike George 7
Andrew Krawczyk 6