Crestwood take home opener over Nanticoke

Crestwood broke out a brand new starting five coming into the home opener against Nanticoke. All four senior starters have been waiting three years for this opportunity. They capitalized as they took down the Trojans 54-37. "These guys have been waiting and you can see all the energy coming out because it's their turn to play some varsity basketball." Crestwood Head Coach Mark Atherton. He also added how they support each other. "Best part about this group is that cheer for each other as you can see from our bench."

The Comets started off hot by going on a 10-1 run with baskets by senior Zayne Dunsmuir, three free throws by junior Drew Sechler and a three pointer by senior Adam Wood coming off the bench. A three point play by Chris Johnson and a three pointer by Payton Kepp cut the Comet lead to three. Crestwood answered with five straight points by Dunsmuir and back to back baskets by Sam Balliet to make the lead 19-7 as we head to the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was a back and forth affair with the Comets biggest lead being 17 points and led at halftime 30-15. Crestwood started the second half with a 9-2 run to build the lead to 21 and it was too much for Nanticoke to handle. Comets senior Zayne Dunsmuir had a game-high 17 points. "He was efficient when he was around the basket. He had a nice all-around game tonight." Atherton said. Drew Sechler and Adam Wood each added nine points. For the Trojans, Chris Johnson and Payton Kepp each had a team-high 11 points and Justin Spencer added eight points.

Crestwood 54 Nanticoke 37
 

Nanticoke

Chris Johnson 11

Payton Kepp 11

Justin Spencer 8

Jaidyn Johnson 7

Crestwood

Zayne Dunsmuir 17

Drew Sechler 9

Adam Wood 9

Sam Balliet 4

Nolan Dunnum 3

Joey Gzemski 6

Connor Murtha 3

Nanticoke escapes with big win over Pittston Area

Coming into the season, it looked like it was going to be a youth movement for Nanticoke after losing several starters last year. However, when it mattered the most tonight, the two seniors stepped up in a big way in the fourth quarter as Nanticoke pulled off the victory over Pittston Area 49-45 in front of an electric crowd at Nanticoke Area High School. Chris Johnson scored 8 of his 9 points in the fourth quarter and Owen Brown sank a pair of free throws to give Nanticoke the lead for good. "That's why they worked so hard in the off-season for moments like this. We always tell them they're going to lead us to water and we're gonna drink." Nanticoke Area Head Coach Zach Pientka said. "Everyone did their part tonight, from our seniors, juniors, sophomores, our bench, the crowd". Pientka added.

The first quarter ended up being a back and forth affair until Trojans sophomore Payton Kepp hit a pair of three pointers to make the Trojans lead 12-6. Pittston Area battled back to tie the game with a 6-0 run. Fueled by a free throw by Ethan Ghannam, a three by freshman Silvio Giardina and a buzzer beating jumper by Dominic Jannuzzi as the first quarter came to a close. Giardina hit another three pointer early in the second quarter to give Pittston Area a 15-12 lead. Biggest Patriot lead was four in the second and had a 21-18 lead to go into halftime. The Patriots' Anthony Cencetti helped build the lead up to 34-25 late in the third quarter, thanks to his 9 points in the quarter. However, Nanticoke cut into the deficit with Payton Kepp's five straight points as the third quarter came to an end. Four straight points by senior Chris Johnson and a basket by fellow senior Owen Brown gave the Trojans a 36-34 lead. The Patriots got the lead back and had the lead up to four. The Trojans battled back with a three by Kepp then Brown sank four free throws to give the Trojans the lead for good at 45-42. The Trojans looked to clinch the game on a pair of Jaidyn Johnson free throws to make it 47-42 and the final ended up being 49-45 in favor of Nanticoke. Kepp had a game-high 16 points, while Owen Brown added 11 points and Chris Johnson had nine. For the Patriots, they were without star sharp shooter JJ Walsh for the game. Anthony Cencetti added a team-high 14 points, Dominic Jannuzzi had 12 and Ethan Ghannam had eight. Pientka had nothing but praise for Pittston Area. "They're a great team, they were without their best guy, but they battled so hard. They're going to win alot of games this year."

 Nanticoke 49 Pittston Area 45 

 Pittston Area Dominic Jannuzzi 12 Jack Locker 2 Ethan Ghannam 8 Silvio Giardina 6 Anthony Cencetti 14 

 Nanticoke Owen Brown 11 Jaidyn Johnson 8 Payton Kepp 16 Gavin Turak 2 Caleb Butczynski 3 Chris Johnson 9

Welcome back to a new season!!!

All the preparation and hard work will come to fruition as Opening Night is upon us!!! After last season, let’s hope for a normal football season with very little postponements. Several teams are looking to defend their District titles and a bunch are looking for better results. With all that being said, let’s get into the WVC Previews. 

Valley View at Dallas

Friday 7 PM

Valley View is coming off a 3-2 season. Dallas is coming off a 4-4 season where they lost to Crestwood in the District 2 4A Championship game. Cougars Junior QB Adam Howanitz threw for 435 yards last season and three touchdowns. On the ground, he had 128 yards and three scores. Mountaineers senior RB Rocco Ormando rushed for 549 yards and five touchdowns. This matchup looks to be one of the better matchups in District 2 and a victory can go a long way en route to a potential home game late in the District playoffs. 

Prediction: Valley View 28 Dallas 20

Pittston Area at North Pocono

Friday 7 PM

Pittston Area is coming off an 0-4 season. North Pocono is coming off a 2-3 season. Patriots Junior wideout Robby Barbieri had six catches for 43 yards and had two interceptions on defense. Trojans senior QB William Soma threw for 472 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran for 96 yards and a touchdown. Pittston Area is looking for their first win since 2019. North Pocono is looking to improve on their record from last season.

Prediction: North Pocono 35 Pittston Area 14

Lakeland at Lake-Lehman

Friday 7 PM

Lakeland is coming off a 4-0 season and winning the District 2 3A Championship and lost to Wyomissing in the PIAA State 3A Quarterfinals. Lake-Lehman went 7-1 last season and lost to Lakeland. What a way to start the season for both team with a rematch of the District 2 3A Final. Chiefs junior QB Domenico Spataro threw for 796 yards and 12 total touchdowns. Black Knights junior Gavin Wallace had two interceptions on defense. Lakeland returns a good core of players from last season. The Black Knights lost quite a bit of skill players from last season and will need a few players to step up early. 

Prediction: Lakeland 28 Lake-Lehman 7

Hanover Area at Athens

Friday 7 PM

Athens went 5-2 a season ago. Hanover Area went 0-5 last season. Hawkeyes senior wideout JC Wilder had three catches for 42 yards last season. Athens junior QB Mason Lister threw for 786 yards and eight total touchdowns in 2020. The Hawkeyes lost quite a bit from last season. Athens looks to improve on their 5-2 record from last year. 

Prediction: Athens 35 Hanover Area 7

Williamsport at Crestwood

Friday 7 PM

Williamsport went 6-2 last season. Crestwood went 8-1 and won the District 2 4A District Title and lost to Jersey Shore in the PIAA 4A State Quarterfinals. Millionaires senior QB Frankie Morrone threw for 1,082 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Comets junior QB Noah Schultz threw for 259 yards and three touchdown. He rushed for 355 yards and five touchdowns. Both teams are the favorite in their respective WVC Divisions. This is looking to be one of the best WVC matchups this week. 

Prediction: Crestwood 24 Williamsport 21

Berwick at Southern Columbia

Friday 7 PM

Berwick went 1-5 last year. Southern Columbia went 12-0 last season and won their 4th straight PIAA 2A State Championship. Bulldogs senior Benjamin Knorr rushed for 294 yards and five touchdowns. Tigers senior RB Gavin Garcia rushed for over 1,900 yards last season en route to another State Championship. The Tigers are on a 60 game winning and are seven straight wins away from breaking the record set by Clairton from 2009 to 2013. Will the Bulldogs be able to break the streak?

Prediction: Southern Columbia 42 Berwick 7

Wyoming Area at Hazleton Area

Friday 7 PM

Wyoming Area had a 4-3 record last season. Hazleton Area went 4-2 last year. Warriors junior RB Drew Mruk rushed for 577 yards and 11 touchdowns. Cougars junior RB Matthew Buchanan rushed for 561 yards and four touchdowns last season. The Warriors are looking to be the favorite for winning the WVC 3A and start off with two 6A schools. The Cougars are looking to get back to the District final after falling to Delaware Valley last season.

Prediction: Wyoming Area 28 Hazleton Area 27

West Scranton at Valley West

Friday 7 PM

West Scranton went 0-5 last season. Valley West had a 2-3 record last year and won the District 2 5A Title. Invaders RB Joe Harris rushed for 69 yards last season. Spartans senior Defensive Back Conor Olisewski had two interceptions last year. West Scranton is looking for their first win since 2019 and the Spartans are bringing several new starters at the skill positions but return several offensive linemen. 

Prediction: Valley West 20 West Scranton 6

Tunkhannock at Abington Heights

Friday 7 PM

Tunkhannock went 3-4 in 2020. Abington Heights did not play last season. Tigers senior RB Ty Konen rushed 417 yards and four touchdowns a season ago. The Comets had a year off and only return one starter from the 2019 season. I’d consider this to almost be a toss up with the Tigers replacing several starters and Abington Heights playing their first game since 2019. 

Prediction: Tunkhannock 27 Abington Heights 20

Nanticoke at Scranton Prep

Friday 7 PM at Dunmore High School

Nanticoke went 2-6 in 2020. Scranton Prep had a 4-1 record last season. Trojans sophomore Payton Kepp had two interceptions and returned a kick for a score. Cavaliers junior RB London Montgomery rushed for 868 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Nanticoke looks to be a huge underdog and looks to be one in their first few games of the season. The Cavaliers look to get another District title after missing the last two years.

Prediction: Scranton Prep 42 Nanticoke 7

Holy Redeemer at Holy Cross

Saturday 1 PM

Holy Redeemer went 1-4 last season. Holy Cross had an 0-5 record in 2020. Royals junior receiver Zach Perta had 11 catches for 200 yards and three touchdowns last season. Crusaders senior Defensive Back Sean Herbert had three interceptions last season. The Royals have taken most of the games in this series and Holy Cross is looking to get their first win since 2018. 

Prediction: Holy Redeemer 42 Holy Cross 13

Scranton at Wilkes-Barre Area

Saturday 2 PM at Spartan Stadium

Both teams each had a 2-3 record in 2020. Knights senior QB Arvel Chandler threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown. Wolf Pack Junior Athlete Javan McClary threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed for 94 yards and a touchdowns and he had two catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. Both teams lost quite a bit and it will be a tough one for both teams. 

Prediction: Wilkes-Barre Area 24 Scranton 14