Crestwood gets Convincing Win over Nanticoke

 

After a slow start where the game was tied at 4, Crestwood went on a 8-0 run to end the quarter and didn’t look back as they took a 64-28 victory at home over Nanticoke. Jackie Gallagher had a game high 26 points for the Lady Comets while Charlie Hiller added 10. 

It was a slow start to the game as each team made one of two free throws and each hit a three pointer. Crestwood went on an 8-0 run and Jackie Gallagher scored 6 during the run to make it 12-4 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Comets scored the first nine points of the second quarter to make it 21-4. The run between the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter was a 17-0 run. Crestwood led 34-15 at halftime. 

Nanticoke cut the lead down to 15 but Crestwood’s defense did not allow a basket until the final seconds of the game. The Lady Comets cruised through the second half to take a 64-28 victory over the Nanticoke Trojanettes. Kate Reed had a team high eight points for Nanticoke. Navaeh Baran, Natalee Atkins and Caitlyn Majiros each added six points for the Trojanettes. 

Johnson scores 31 as Wilkes-Barre Area takes a convincing win at Nanticoke

 

After a back and forth first quarter, Wilkes-Barre Area head coach Jim Lavan challenged his team on defense. They held Nanticoke to a two field goals in the second quarter and three points total in the second quarter to build a 13 point lead at halftime. They then built up a 31 point lead at the end of the third quarter to take a 80-42 victory at Nanticoke. “All five of our guys were engaged defensively. We were able to get some stops and get out in transition which was really effective.” Lavan said. Jacob Johnson had a game-high 31 points. Mike Keating added 20 and David Januzzi had 12. 

The first quarter was a back and forth affair with nine lead changes and the game tied up twice. The Wolf Pack had seven different players score during the quarter. Nanticoke got three 3 pointers from RJ Brogan and two three point plays from Matthias Mitchell as Wilkes-Barre Area lead 22-19 at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw Wilkes-Barre Area go on a 10-3 run to start and build a 12 point lead. A three pointer by Ethan Ball cut the lead down to nine but the Wolf Pack got baskets by Donte Robinson and Januzzi. A basket by Mitchell at the buzzer made it 36-25 Wilkes-Barre Area at halftime. 

Baskets by Mitchell and Ethan Yendrzeiwski cut the lead down to 10. However, the Wolf Pack went on a 26-2 run to end the third quarter. Johnson scored 15 points during the quarter and led 65-34 at the end of the third quarter. With a running clock, Wilkes-Barre Area cruised through the fourth quarter to take the 80-42 victory at Nanticoke. Mathias Mitchell scored a game-high 16 points and RJ Brogan added 10 points. 

A team effort as Crestwood gets past Pittston Area

 

Crestwood head coach Mary Mushock-Namey told her team that they needed to give their best defensive game all season. The Lady Comets held Pittston Area to four points in the second quarter and built a 10 point lead at halftime and got a 55-42 victory at home over the Lady Patriots. “I honestly think they had their best defensive effort tonight.” Mushock-Namey said. “To hold them to four points in the second quarter and to shut down one of the best scorers in our league in the first half. We stuck to the gameplan.” Charlie Hiller had a team-high 17 points for the Lady Comets. Kendall Petrosky added 13 and Jackie Gallagher got 12 in the victory. 

Crestwood got off to an early 5-0 lead but Pittston Area answered with a 9-2 run to end the first quarter to lead 14-11. After some back and forth to start the second quarter. The Lady Comets went on a 14-2 run to end the quarter. Holding the Lady Patriots to 4 points in the quarter and Crestwood led 28-18 at halftime. 

Crestwood continued the momentum as the third quarter started. The Lady Comets went on a 9-2 run to make it a 17 point lead. Down 18 points after a basket by Petrosky. Pittston Area went on a 7-0 run to cut down the Crestwood lead to nine. The Lady Comets ended the quarter with a 7-0 run to lead 46-28 at the end of the third quarter. Crestwood led by 21 to start the quarter with a Hiller three pointer. The Lady Patriots cut the lead down to 10 but were unable to mount a comeback as the Lady Comets took a 55-42 victory on their home court. Daniela Raineli scored a game high 22 points and Maddie Karp added 15. 

Thornton scores 35 as Wilkes-Barre Area gets past Nanticoke

As Emily Barrouk tied the game with a three pointer, Diamond Thornton got the steal off the inbounds pass and scored to give Wilkes-Barre Area the lead. Thornton scored a game-high 35 points as the Wolf Pack took a 62-59 home victory over Nanticoke. “I’ve told people around the valley Diamond Thornton’s one of the premier players in the District.” Said Wilkes-Barre Area head coach Dale Rapson. “She does everything, she rebounds, defends, scores. She’s the team leader and I’m very fortunate to coach her and I’m very proud of her.” Rapson continued. Jaida Underwood added 13 points in the win for the Wolf Pack. 

After a back and forth first quarter which Nanticoke lead 9-8 as Caitlynn Majiros scored five points in the quarter. Wilkes-Barre Area took the lead on a Thornton three pointer. The Trojanettes went on a 7-0 run to take a 18-13 lead. A free throw and three pointer by Thornton cut the lead down to one. The Wolf Pack took back the lead with a pair of free throws from Thornton. A basket by Majiros gave Nanticoke back the lead. However, Barrouk and Thornton hit three pointers to make it 27-22. Navaeh Baran hit a basket for Nanticoke. Just before halftime, Thornton hit a three pointer then Kate Reed hit a halfcourt court at the halftime buzzer to cut the Wilkes-Barre Area lead to 30-27 at halftime. 

Jaida Underwood got the lead to five with a basket to start the third quarter. The Trojanettes tied the game with a free throw by Amiah Ceruti and baskets by Ceruti and Baran. Thornton gave the Wolf Pack the lead once again with a three pointer. Reed tied the game at 36 with a basket but a pair of free throws by Thornton gave Wilkes-Barre Area back the lead at 38-36. Reed gave Nanticoke the lead with a three pointer. Hannah McAfee made it 40-39 Wolf Pack as the third quarter came to an end. 

A basket by Majiros and a three pointer by Natalee Atkins made it a 44-40 Trojanette lead early in the fourth quarter. Wilkes-Barre Area started a run by McAfee hit a basket, Barrouk hit a three pointer to tie the game then a steal by Thornton gave the Wolf Pack a 51-49 lead. A basket by Underwood made it 53-49. Majiros hit two free throws to make it a two point game. Underwood hit a three pointer then Thornton hit a basket. After Nanticoke called timeout, a technical foul was assessed on the bench. Thornton hit the technical free throws to have Wilkes-Barre Area a nine point lead with 2:15 to go. Nanticoke attempted to catch up as they got baskets by Baran and Reed to make it a five point game. Thornton got a basket to increase the lead to seven. Ceruti hit back to back baskets to make it a three point game. Nanticoke had a chance to tie the game with 7.1 seconds to go. The Trojanettes last shot at overtime came up just short as Wilkes-Barre Area took a 62-59 victory over Nanticoke. Caitlynn Majiros had a team-high 19 points while Navaeh Baran and Kate Reed each added 12.

  

Holy Cross pulls away in second half for decisive road victory over Holy Redeemer

 

The game was back and forth for almost three quarters until late in the third quarter when Holy Cross went on to score 10 straight points and make the game out of reach as the Crusaders took a 65-52 victory at Holy Redeemer. 

The Crusaders started off leading 7-2 but the Royals got a three pointer by Logan Shrader and a basket by David Popson to tie the game at 7. Shrader gave the Royals the 9-7 lead with a basket. Adam Bodyrcka and Austin Bicking got baskets to make it 11-9 Holy Cross. A Colin Farrel three pointer made it 14-9 Brayden Sock hit a three pointer for Holy Redeemer to make it 14-12 at the end of the first quarter. A three point play by Popson gave the Royals the 15-14 lead early in the second quarter. However, the Crusaders got another three pointer by Farrell made it 17-14. A pair of technical free throws made it 19-14. Holy Redeemer got five straight points by Popson to make it 20-19. Mario Matrone hit a three pointer then Evan Lacari hit a three. Popson hit a free throw to make it a 24-22 Royals lead. A Bodyrka three and a basket by Matt Lyons before halftime made it 27-24 Crusaders at the half. 

The third quarter was a back and forth affair with Holy Redeemer’s deficit only being two points. However, Holy Cross went on a 10-2 run to end the third quarter to make it 44-34. The Crusaders cruised through the fourth quarter to take a 65-52 victory at Holy Redeemer. 

Selinsgrove gets past Holy Redeemer in non-conference matchup

 

With Selinsgrove trailing most of the game until the fourth quarter, Jace Diehl came up big. Diehl scored 6 straight points as the Seals got the road victory over Holy Redeemer. Xavier Johnson had a game high 17 points, Gavin Bastion added 15 and Jace Diehl had 10 points in the victory for Selinsgrove. 

Holy Redeemer started the game on an 11-3 run. However, the Seals went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead down to 11-9. The Royals got a three pointer by Cody Quaglia and four straight points from David Popson. Josh Piecuch got a basket and Xavier Johnson got a three pointer to end the first quarter as Holy Redeemer led 18-14. The Royals lead in the second quarter was as high as six but before the half, Johnson scored four straight points as Holy Redeemer led 29-27 at halftime. 

The Royals got a basket by Popson and a three by Sock to increase the lead to seven. Piecuch scored back-to-back baskets to cut the lead down to three. Sock and Popson got baskets to get the lead back to seven. A three point play by Johnson made it 38-34 at the end of the third quarter. A pair of free throws by Bastion cut the lead down to two. Diehl got a putback of a free throw to tie the game at 38. Popson gave Holy Redeemer the lead. Back-to-back threes by Bastion gave the Seals a 44-40. However, after the second 3 pointer, a technical foul was accessed and Quaglia hit both technical free throws and then hit a three pointer to make it 45-44 Royals. Sock hit 1 of 2 free throws to make it a two point game. Diehl tied the game with a basket then hit four straight free throws to make it a 50-46 Seals lead with under a minute to go. After a defensive stop by Selinsgrove, Johnson hit both free throws and Noah Walter hit a free throw as the Seals got the 53-46 road victory over Holy Redeemer. Brayden Sock had a team high 13 points and David Popson added 12 points. 

Pittston Area gets past Nanticoke

 

For their season opener in a tough environment, Pittston Area wanted to get off to a good start led by star guard Daniela Raineli. Several players stood out in the Lady Patriots 50-37 victory at Nanticoke. Raineli had a game high 24 points. Lili Hintze added 11 in the victory. “Thought our kids made great effort, especially on the defensive end. They followed the game plan we tried to put together. We made some big plays at big times.” Said Pittston Area head coach Jeff Gregory. 

The Lady Patriots started with a 4-0 lead with a pair of free throws by Raineli and a field goal by Giuliana Latona. Nanticoke tied the game up with baskets by Amish Ceruti and Caitlynn Majiros. Pittston Area went on a 9-0 run with a three pointer by Raineli, baskets by Lili Hintze, Julia Long and ended with Raineli to make it 13-4. The Trojanettes cut the lead down to five at the end of the first quarter with baskets by Majiros and Kate Reed. 

Navaeh Baran cut the lead down to three with a pair of free throws. Neither team hit a field goal until halfway through the second quarter when Raineli got a basket. A three point play by Raineli and a three pointer by Hintze made it a 10 point lead but a basket by Majiros made it 23-15 at halftime.

Majiros kept Nanticoke within striking distance with a basket and a pair of free throws to make it a five point game. A basket by Long and a pair of free throws from Raineli made it a nine point lead for Pittston Area. A three pointer by Reed made it a six point game. However, the Lady Patriots went on a 7-1 run and had a 35-27 lead at the end of the third quarter. Pittston Area cruised through the fourth quarter to take a 50-37 victory at Nanticoke. Caitlynn Majiros had a team high 16 points and Navaeh Baran added eight points for Nanticoke. 

Scranton gets Overtime Road Victory at Crestwood

 

Scranton was down 10 points and didn’t score a single point until midway through the fourth quarter. Enter freshmen Rhylee Bell. Bell started the scoring in the fourth quarter that started the rally to force overtime then Bell came up big in overtime with two clutch three pointers and two key free throws as Scranton won an overtime road game 65-60 at Crestwood. “Last year, she was playing junior high basketball and tonight, she came up with two big free throws and a three pointer to ice the game.” Said Lady Knights head coach PJ Hughes.  Bell scored 15 points, including eight points in overtime. Chrissy Jacklinski scored a team high 21 points. 

The first quarter was a back and forth affair until late in the quarter when the Lady Comets went on an 8-0 run after the Lady Knights tied the game up with a Jacklinski three pointer. Crestwood led 20-12 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Comets increased their lead to 11 with baskets by Charlie Hiller and Kendall Petrosky. However, Bell hit a three pointer to start a 12-2 run for Scranton to cut Crestwood’s lead to one. After a pair of free throws by Hiller and a free throw from Jordan Andrews. The Lady Comets lead was four but just as the halftime buzzer was about to ring, Maggie O’Shea made a shot just around the half court line to cut down to 30-29 at halftime. 

The third quarter was a back and forth affair with Jacklinski scoring eight points in the quarter to take a 37-36 lead but Crestwood went on an 8-0 run with baskets with from Hiller, Kate Gallagher and Jackie Gallagher to make it 43-37 but a three pointer from Gyinah Smith cut the lead down to 43-40 to end the third quarter. The Lady Comets built the lead to ten with five straight points by Kendall Petrosky and a basket by Hiller. The Lady Knights did not score a point until midway through the fourth quarter. Scranton got on the board as Bell got a steal and basket then Maggie O’Shea hit a three pointer to cut the lead down to five. A basket by Hiller made it seven. Jacklinski hit three of four free throws to make it a four point game. After another Hiller basket, Jacklinski hit another three pointer to cut the lead down to three. After the Lady Knights got a stop on defense, Alers tied the game up at 54 with a deep three pointer with 8.7 seconds to go. The Lady Comets last chance was stopped as we headed to overtime.

Crestwood got the lead first in overtime with a pair of free throws by Hiller. Bell then hit a three pointer to give Scranton the 57-56 lead. Jackie Gallagher gave the Lady Comets back the lead with a basket. Jacklinski got Scranton the lead once again with a pair of free throws making it 59-58. Crestwood had a chance to tie or take the lead on a pair of free throws but missed both. Bell then hit a three pointer to make it 62-58 then hit a pair of free throws as Scranton got the overtime win 65-60 in Mountain Top.