Scranton Prep advances to the Finals with victory over Nanticoke

With Nanticoke having the momentum going into halftime and then continuing their run in the third quarter, Scranton Prep head Andrew Kettel knew his team would respond. "Really proud of our guys, we beat a really good Nanticoke team." Kettel said. Brycen Martin came up big in the fourth quarter with some big three pointers. "I felt really good. My teammates found me in the right spots and I just knocked down those shots." sophomore guard Brycen Martin said. Martin had 17 points and Daniel Santaniello had a team-high 18 points for Scranton Prep.

Chase Scanlan scored the first basket off the opening tip and took a 4-1 Cavalier lead but the Trojans answered as Jaiydn Johnson and Ibn Jordan-Thomas gave Nanticoke a 7-4 lead. It was a back and forth game throughout the first quarter ending with a Keith Pritchyk three pointer at the buzzer to make it 17-14 Scranton Prep at the end of the first quarter.

The Cavaliers went on a 10-4 run at the start of the second quarter to make it a nine point lead. The Trojans battled back a Johnson and Jordan-Thomas cut the lead down to 5. After Prithyk hit a pair of free throws, Liam Mullery hit a three pointer and Johnson hit a pair of free throws as we got to halftime with Scranton Prep leading 29-27.

Nanticoke took the lead in the first minute of the third quarter as Johnson hit a three pointer and then increased the lead with a jumper to make it 32-29. Gavin Turak increased the lead to five with a pair of free throws then another basket by Johnson made it a seven point lead. Johnson and Turak gave Nanticoke a nine point lead with back to back baskets but the Cavaliers went on an 8-2 run to cut their deficit to 44-41 at the end of the third quarter.

Johnson hit a pair of free throws to make it a five point game. However, Daniel Santaniello scored eight straight points to give Scranton Prep a 49-46 lead. Turak tied the game up as he hit a basket and a free throw. James Pettinato hit a three pointer to take back the lead for the Cavaliers. Johnson hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to one then tied the game up with 4:20 left as he hit one of two free throws. On the next Scranton Prep possession, Brycen Martin hit a three pointer to take a 55-52 lead. Jordan-Thomas hit a three point play with 3:29 left to tie the game. Caleb Butczynski hit 1 of 2 free throws to give the Trojans a 56-55 lead with 2:55 to go. Martin hit another three pointer with 2:32 to go to make 58-56. After a defensive stop, Martin hit one of two free throws to make it a three point game. Up 3 with 1:02 to go. Roman Valvano hit the first free throw then missed the second but Scranton Prep got the offensive rebound. Casey sunk both free throws to make it 63-57 and held on to take a 64-61 victory over Nanticoke to advance to the Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday aftenoon. Nanticoke will play on Tuesday to play for the right to play in the State Playoffs. Jaidyn Johnson scored a game high 27 points for Nanticoke and Ibn Jordan-Thomas added 16.

Wyoming Area girls advances to the District Finals for the first time in school history

WIth a chance to make history, Morgan Janeski was not going to miss the opportunity. "We knew coming in we had the opportunity to make history." Janeski said. Janeski scored 10 of her game high 17 points in the final frame to propel Wyoming Area to their first District Final in school history with a 35-31 victory over Valley View. "I knew it was time for me to lock in." the senior continued. "I knew I could do more, when they took the lead, I said to myself, now is the time, I have to start now. It kicked in and everyone else picked it up." Janeski continued. "This group has been playing together for a long time and they would not be denied tonight." said Wyoming Area head coach Mark Casper. "Our plan was to play 4 eight minute games. I think we won three of the four." Casper continued.

The Lady Warriors started off the game with a 9-0 lead with Jocelyn Williams scoring six of their nine points. Wyoming Area didn't allow a basket until there were three minutes to go in the first quarter. Wyoming Area lead 9-4 at the end of the first quarter.

Anna Wisnewski hit a three pointer for Wyoming Area to make it 12-4. The Lady Warriors got the lead up to 17-7 but for the reminder of the second quarter, it was all Valley View. Isabella Rebar hit a three pointer then Ava Gazoo hit a pair of baskets to make it 17-14 as we got to halftime.

The third quarter was a back and forth affair with Wyoming Area holding the biggest lead of the quarter with five. Valley View got the lead down to at the end of the third quarter as Giada Costa got an offensive rebound off a miss and put it in at the buzzer to make it 23-21 Wyoming Area.

Costa tied the game up with a basket then Morgan Janeski hit a three pointer to give the Lady Warriors the lead once again. Valley View then took their first lead of the game off a basket by Maggie Pegula then the Lady Cougars got a quick steal and basket to get their first lead of the game at 27-26. Janeski then scored five straight points to make it 31-27 Wyoming Area. Emma Maddage cut the deficit down to one with a three pointer with a little over two minutes to go. The Lady Cougars had a chance to tie or take the lead with 1:09 left but missed a pair of free throws and Wyoming Area got the defensive rebound. Olivia Rome then sunk a pair of free throws to make it 33-30. After a Lady Warrior stop, Janeski went to the line with 26.8 to go. She hit both free throws to make it 35-30 and Wyoming Area advanced to the District 2 4A Finals on Thursday with a 35-31 victory over Valley View. With the win, they also clinched a spot in the state playoffs. It is the first time in school history they will play in a District Final and make the State Tournament. "This has been on our checklist since the beginning of the year. It doesn't get much better than that. Janeski said about getting to the District Final. Emma Maddage, Giada Costa and Maggie Pegula each had six points for Valley View.

Johnson's 32 propels Nanticoke to the District Semifinals

Down eight early in the third quarter and with two key players in foul trouble, Nanticoke head coach Zach Pientka called junior center Jaidyn Johnson over to tell him one thing. "You have to take over." Johnson scored 21 of his 32 points in the second half en route to a 58-51 over Wyoming Area at Greater Nanticoke Area High School. "I'm happy we got the win." said Jaidyn Johnson. "We were down 10 and eight really fast with their hot shooting. We got the lead down to two at half. We came out confident in the second half that we could win this." Johnson continued. Ibn Jordan-Thomas added 11 for the Trojans. Coming up big with several offensive rebounds an a big steal late in the game. "He's an absolute animal. He comes into the gym everyday. It's crazy, the energy he brings. He just wants it more than anyone else". Pientka said about his senior. Johnson on his teammate. "That's my guy, he's my bash brother. We wouldn't be in this situation if it weren't for him. He's an absolute monster on the offensive board. It's great to have a guy like him on the team."

Jaidyn Johnson started off the game by scoring Nanticoke's first two baskets to make 4-0 but Wyoming Area went on a 12-0 run, highlighted by big three pointers by Tyler Sciandra and Lucas Burakiewicz. Ibn Jordan-Thomas ended the scoring drought for Nanticoke to make it 12-6 but Burakiewicz sank another three pointer to make it 15-6 and the Warriors led 15-8 at the end of the first quarter.

Anthony DeLucca hit a three pointer early in the second quarter to make it a ten point Wyoming Area lead. Nanticoke got a basket from Johnson and a free throw from Gavin Turak. Dane Schutter got a basket to increase the lead to nine. Johnson scored five straight points but Burakiewicz hit his third three pointer of the half to get the lead to seven. The Trojans got a basket by Turak then a free throw by Jordan-Thomas. Just as the half was coming to an end, Nanticoke got a steal and Gavin Turak hit a layup just as the buzzer sounded to make it 23-21 Wyoming Area at the half.

Early in the third quarter, Johnson tied the game up but Schutter hit a pair of free throws to give the Warriors back the lead. Burakiewicz hit his fourth three pointer of the game and Matt Little hit another three to make it an eight point Wyoming Area lead. After a Johnson three pointer, Little answered with a basket to make it 33-26. The Trojans went on a run Jordan-Thomas started it with a basket then Johnson hit a three pointer then a basket to tie the game up. Liam Mullery then hit a three pointer as the Nanticoke crowd erupted with cheering to make it 36-33 as the third quarter came to an end.

Johnson started the fourth quarter with a three pointer to make it a six point game. It was a back and forth for the early parts of the fourth. Matt Ruscinchak hit a three pointer to make it 46-43 then Schutter hit three of four free throws to tie the game up at 46. Johnson and Schutter traded a pair of free throws to make it 48-48. With 1:27 remaining in the game, Caleb Butczynski found Johnson who hit the basket off the glass to take a 50-48 lead. Jordan-Thomas then stole the ball and hit the layup to increase the lead to four. After a Nanticoke stop, Ethan Spencer then put back a missed shot to make the lead six. The Trojans then hit their free throws and advanced to the District 2 4A Semifinals with a 58-51 victory over Wyoming Area. Dane Schutter had a team-high 19 points and Lucas Burakiewicz added 12.

Nanticoke advances to the District Semifinals with a victory over Tunkhannock

Just before halftime, it looked like Tunkhannock could tie the game up. However, Caitlyn Majiros snuffed that out by blocking the potential tying shot to keep a three point lead at halftime. The 6'1 sophomore scored six points in the third quarter to give the Trojanettes a 10 point lead and advanced to the District 2 4A Semifinals with a 57-40 victory over Tunkhannock. "I thought it was good momentum going into half for us. Overall, our girls played really well. They perservered throughout the whole year." said Nanticoke head coach Ed Grant. Claire Aufiero had a game-high 14 points and Sophia Lukowski added 12 for the Trojanettes.

Shaylee Heffron and Lexi Corby each traded three pointers then the Trojanettes went on a 6-0 run to take a 9-3 lead early. Erin VanNess and Maci Iddings hit a three pointer each to tie the game at 9. The final minute of the first quarter ended with a bunch of three pointers. Claire Aufiero hit a three pointer to give Nanticoke back the lead then VanNess tied the game back up with a three and that was how the end of the first quarter ended.

Sable Stephens gave the Lady Tigers the early lead then Grace Reed tied the game back up with a pair of free throws. Stephens hit a three pointer to take back the lead. The Trojanettes were only able to cut the lead to one as the Lady Tigers answered with a basket of their own until Natalee Atkins scored four straight points to give Nanticoke a 22-21 lead. Noelle Alguire gave Tunkhannock back the lead with a basket at 23-22. It was a back and forth until Neaveh Baran stole the ball and got layup and Aufiero hit a pair of free throws to make it 28-25. In the final seconds, the Lady Tigers looked to tie the game but Caitlyn Majiros blocked the shot as we hit halftime with the Trojanettes leading 28-25.

Majiros scored the first basket of the second half to make it a five point game. After an Abby Williams basket by the Lady Tigers, Majiros hit a pair of free throws. Stephens hit a three point play to cut the Tunkhannock deficit to 2. The Trojanettes went on an 8-0 run to end the quarter and led 40-30. Nanticoke cruised throughout the fourth quarter to take a 57-40 victory over Tunkhannock. Sable Stephens scored a game-high 14 points. Lexi Corby and Erin VanNess each added nine points for the Lady Tigers.

Holy Redeemer wins the WVC Boys Basketball Championship

It was a big game atmosphere at Dallas High School. In the bright lights of the WVC Boys Basketball Championship, Jacob Hunter shined bright. He scored a game-high 30 points to give Holy Redeemer a 73-65 victory over Dallas to win the WVC Boys Basketball Championship. "It feels great, especially winning it in their home gym. This is a game we've all been waiting for. We've played in three tournaments, we won all three." said senior Jacob Hunter. Hunter talking the big game atmosphere. "It's loud, very loud. No matter who scores. Our fans, their fans especially in their gym." Hunter said. "Really proud of my guys, we talked before the game that we worked hard during the regular season to get this opportunity." said Head Coach Paul Guido.

Darius Wallace started the scoring the Dallas but Jacob Hunter ended up scoring the next five points to give the Royals a 5-2 lead. Darryl Wright scored four straight points to make it 9-2 Holy Redeemer. Michael Bufalino and Zach Perta each traded three point plays. After a Hunter basket, Bufalino scored five straight points to cut the Royal down to three. Wallace hit a basket and Nick Farrell hit a pair of free throws to make it 15-14 after one quarter of play.

The second quarter was a back and forth affair. With Holy Redeemer up 21-18, the Mountaineers went on a 6-0 run to take a 24-21 lead. Hunter tied the game up on a three pointer then Jeff Kozerski hit one of two free throws. Perta hit a three pointer to make it 28-24. Farrell broke the Dallas scoring drought with a basket to make it a two point game. In the final seconds, Mark Atherton hit a three pointer at the buzzer to make it 31-26 as we reached halftime.

The Royals ended up scoring the first four points courtesy of Hunter to make it a nine point lead. The Mountaineers attempted to cut the lead down but the lowest they were able to cut the lead to was four courtesy of a three pointer by Jude Nocito. Holy Redeemer took a 48-39 lead into the fourth quarter.

Darryl Wright got the lead up to ten early in the fourth quarter. The Mountaineers cut the Royal led to three with a 16-6 run. Hunter hit a three pointer to make it a six point game. After both teams traded buckets. Dallas went on a 5-0 run to make it a one point game with a basket by Williams and a three pointer by Nocito. Atherton hit a free throw and Hunter hit another three pointer to make it a five point game. A pair of free throws by Wallace hit the lead to three. Wright hit three of four free throws to make it a six point lead. The Royals pulled away to win the WVC Boys Basketball Championship with a 73-65 victory over Dallas. Darius Wallace had a team high 16 points and Michael Bufalino added 14 for Dallas.

The Wyoming Valley Conference Trophy is sponsored by the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame.

Lake-Lehman wins WVC Girls Basketball Championship

When you watch a Lady Knights basketball, you see one player who seems to always be in the mix where the ball is. That player is Breanna Hunt. She came big tonight when needed. She scored a game-high 16 points including a steal that insulted in a buzzer-beating layup to end the third quarter to give Lake-Lehman a 45-34 victory over Holy Redeemer to win the WVC Girls Basketball Championship. She came up with several defensive stops. Molly Jenkins added 11 points for the Lady Knights.

The first quarter was a defensive battle as Lake-Lehman outscored Holy Redeemer 8-2 in the frame. The Lady Knights scored the first six points of the second quarter to make it a 14-2 lead. They held the Lady Royals without a field goal until there was three minutes remaining in the quarter. Holy Redeemer outscored Lake-Lehman in the final three minutes of the second 7-2 and the Lady Knights led 16-9 at halftime.

The Lady Royals cut the lead to two and had chances to tie or take the lead but the shots did not fall their way. Lake-Lehman went on a 10-3 run to end the third quarter, highlighted by a Breanna Hunt basket buzzer beater to end the third quarter and had a 28-18 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Lady Knights cruised through the fourth quarter to take the 2023 Wyoming Valley Conference girls basketball championship 45-33 over Holy Redeemer. Jillian DelBalso scored a team-high 14 points for Holy Redeemer and Meghan Albrecht added 11.

The Wyoming Valley Conference Trophy is sponsored by The Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame

Dallas pulls away in the fourth quarter to defeat Nanticoke

Coming into halftime trailing by four, Dallas got a spark from Mikey Cumbo in the third quarter as he scored nine points in the quarter then Darius Wallace put the game away as he scored seven straight points to give the Mountaineers a 61-51 victory over Nanticoke at Wilkes-Barre Area High School. "Mikey came up big and we played well in the second half. We played Dallas basketball in the fourth quarter." Dallas Head Coach Mark Belenski said. "We got together in the second half, we started playing more as a team. We started excecuting plays and made big shots." said Dallas junior Mikey Cumbo

Nanticoke started off by scoring the first five points of the game with a basket by Ibn Jordan-Thomas and a three pointer by Jaidyn Johnson. Dallas then went on a 5-0 run to tie the game up with a three point play by Michael Bufalino and a basket by Jude Nocito. Liam Mullery then hit a three pointer to take back the lead. They went on a 7-0 run followed by baskets by Johnson and Gavin Turak to make 12-5 in favor of the Trojans. The Mountaineers then went on an 10-0 run to take a 15-12 lead. With the first quarter coming to an end, the Trojans got a steal and passed the ball to Johnson to hit a basket to beat the buzzer and Nanticoke only trailed 15-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Nanticoke tied the game up as Gavin Turak hit one of two free throws. Nocito then gave the Mountaineers the lead. The Trojans took back as Johnson and Jordan-Thomas hit baskets to make it 19-17. Nocito hitting a basket tying back up the game. Mullery then hit a three pointer then Jordan-Thomas hit a basket and Turak hit a basket to make it 25-19. Dallas went on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to one. Just before halftime, Mullery hit a three pointer at the top of the key to beat the buzzer to make it 28-24 Nanticoke.

Mikey Cumbo scored five straight points to give Dallas a 29-28 lead. The Trojans took back the lead as they went on a 7-0 run to make it 35-29. They built the led up to seven but just before the third quarter with the Mountaineers trailing by four. Cumbo and Wallace hit a pair of baskets to tie the game at 40 as the third quarter came to a end.

Both teams traded baskets and Nanticoke took a 44-43 lead but the Mountaineers down the stretch outscored the Trojans 18-7 as Dallas advanced to the WVC Championship Game with a 61-51 victory over Nanticoke. The Mountaineers will take on Holy Redeemer on Saturday night on their home floor. Dallas coach Mark Belenski and Holy Redeemer coach Paul Guido go back as Guido was an assistant under Belenski for 13 seasons.

Holy Redeemer pulls away to defeat Pittston Area and advance to the WVC Championship Game

Pittston Area's gameplan was to limit Holy Redeemer's possessions and the Patriots were working their gameplan well in the first quarter. However, Royals coach Paul Guido decided to go to a more guard oriented lineup in bringing his top reserves, junior guard Mark Atherton and junior center George Sabatini. Sabatini scored eight points in the quarter and the Royals pulled away in the second half to advance the WVC Championship game with a 48-35 victory over Pittston Area. Zach Perta and Jacob Hunter each scored 12 points for the Royals and George Sabatini added 10. "We went smaller to combat their style. George was great. He gave us a huge boost." Holy Redeemer Head Coach Paul Guido said. "Everytime I go out there, I'm just gonna play 100 percent no matter what. I try to help out on the boards. We have the best guards in the conference. Royals junior center George Sabatini said

Zach Perta started off the scoring for Holy Redeemer but a pair of Silvio Giardina three pointers gave Pittston Area a 6-3 lead. Pittston Are spent most of the first quarter with the ball and led 7-4 after the end of the first quarter.

Early seconds of the secod quarter, Jacob Hunter tied the game up with a three pointer. The Royals ended up going on a 7-0 run to lead 11-7 but Jack Long hit a basket and Giardina hit a three pointer to give Pittston Area a 12-11 lead. George Sabatini gave Holy Redeemer back the lead with a three point play. Long answered with a three point play to make it 15-14 Patriots. The first half ended with a Zach Perta three pointer and a Sabatini basket to take a 19-15 lead at halftime.

Pittston Area cut the lead down to one with a basket by Anthony Cencetti and a free throw by Giardina. Holy Redeemer went on a 7-2 run to make it a nine point lead. The Patriots got a three pointer by Cencetti and a basket by Giardina to make it a four point deficit. After Darryl Wright hit one of two free throws. Cencetti hit a pair of free throws to make it a three point game. Just before the buzzer sounded, Jacob Hunter hit a three pointer to make it 33-27 after three quarters of play.

The Royals pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat the Pittston Area Patriots 48-35. Holy Redeemer will play Dallas on Saturday night at Dallas High School. Anthony Cencetti had a game-high 15 points and Silvio Giardina added 12 points for the Patriots.

Holy Redeemer pulls off upset of Pittston Area to advance to the WVC Championship Game

Holy Redeemer came in as a heavy underdog tonight in their matchup against WVC Divison 1 Champion Pittston Area. The Lady Royals took it to heart. When the Lady Patriots fought back to tie the game to force overtime. Holy Redeemer came through and pulled off the big upset by defeating Pittston Area 63-59. "I'm just so proud of our girls effort. Every single one of them gave everything they had. Everyone did a great job." Holy Redeemer Head Coach John Jezorski said. "It was a big game and a big team win said Lady Royal senior Jillian DelBalso. "Everyone underestimated this game and everyone just worked together and pulled through." said senior Mia Ashton. "I think we just had that underdog mentality and that really pushed to win this." said junior Lucie Racicky. Mia Ashton had a team-high 21 points. Jillian DelBalso scored 19 points and Meghan Albrecht added 14.

The Lady Royals started off with three straight three pointers. Back-to-Back threes by Mia Ashton then a three by Jillian DelBalso to make it 9-0. The Lady Patriots did not score a basket until 2:05 remaining in the first when Taylor Baiera scored to make it 10-4. Holy Redeemer built up a 14-6 to end the first quarter.

The second quarter saw both teams at the free throw line. The first basket of the second ended up being a three pointer by Daniella Raineli to make it 18-12. Ashton hit back to back baskets to make it a ten point game. A pair of free throws by Baiera and a basket by Raineli cut the lead to six. After a DelBalso bucket, Grace Callahan made a three point play to make it a five point deficit. The Lady Royals answered with a basket by DelBalso. After a pair of free throws by Raineli, Meghan Albrecht hit a basket to give the Royals a 28-21 lead heading into halftime.

Albrecht started off the scoring with a basket to make it a nine point game. A Baiera bucket, a three pointer alongside a pair of free throws by Kallie Booth cut the Lady Royal lead to two. Holy Redeemer answered each time and held a four point lead but free throws by Maddie Karp and a basket by Raineli tied the game up at 36. DelBalso answered with a basket to take back the lead. Booth tied the game back up with a basket. A pair of free throws by DelBalso gave the Lady Royals a 40-38 lead as we heading to the fourth quarter.

Mia Ashton started the fourth quarter with a three point play to make it a five point game. The Lady Royals held a 46-41 lead but Pittston Area tied the game up with a three point play by Booth and two free throws also by Booth. The Lady Patriots took their first lead of the game with a pair of free throws by Raineli with 2:24 left. DelBalso tied the game up with a pair of free throws with 1:42 left then gave the Lady Royals a 52-50 lead with a basket with 1:11 remaining. The back and forth continued. Booth hit a pair of free throws with 46.4 to go to tie up the game. Ashton gave the Lady Royals the lead with 34.5 remaining or a 54-52. With 12.1 seconds to go, Raineli drove to the basket and tied the game up. The Lady Royals had one last chance but the attempt fell short and we went to overtime.

Tessa Cegulka scored her first field goal of the game with a three pointer to give Holy Redeemer a 57-54 lead. Grace Callahan hit a pair of free throws to make it 57-56. Albrecht hit one of two free throws to bring the lead back to three. Ashton made a pair free throws to increase the lead to four. Raineli hit a three pointer with 1:28 to go in overtime to make it a one point lead but that was as far as the Lady Patriots would get as the Royals hit 3 of four free throws to pull off the upset victory over Pittston Area 63-59. Kallie Booth and Daniella Raineli each scored a game-high 21 points and Taylor Baiera added six points.