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.