By Tom Robinson
THURSDAY STATISTICAL LEADERS
(Posted, Friday, 1:11 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – These were the top statistical performances in Thursday’s four championship games at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza:
Points
20 – Addison Kilmer, Mountain View, Class A girls
20 – Gerry Rose, Riverside, Class 3A boys
20 – Nikolo Santiago, Hazleton Area, Class 6A boys
Rebounds
15 – Addison Kilmer, Mountain View, Class A girls
11 – Pedro Lugo, Scranton, Class 6A girls
9 – Zya Small, Scranton, Class 5A girls
Assists
7 – Luke Gennaro, Hazleton Area, Class 6A boys
5 – Kamryn Alers, Scranton, Class 5A girls
5 – Demaja Dunston, Mid Valley, Class 3A boys
5 – Chrissy Jacklinski, Scranton, Class 5A girls
5 – Gerry Rose, Riverside, Class 3A boys
Steals
8 – Ivy Bishop, Susquehanna, Class A girls
5 – Maggie Coleman, Abington Heights, Class 5A girls
4 – Chrissy Jacklinski, Scranton, Class 6A girls
4 – Connor McNally, Riverside, Class 3A boys
4 – Olivia Orner, Susquehanna, Class A girls
4 – Zya Small, Scranton, Class 5A girls
Blocked Shots
6 – Addison Kilmer, Mountain View, Class A girls
3 – Peyton Houlihan, Abington Heights, Class 5A girls
2 – Sammy Guzman, Hazleton Area, Class 6A boys
2 – Chrissy Jacklinski, Scranton, Class 5A girls
2 – Pedro Lugo, Scranton, Class 6A boys
2 – Paytyn Sellitto, Susquehanna, Class A girls
Field Goal Shooting
8-for-12 – Gerry Rose, Riverside, Class 3A boys
4-for-6 – Matthew Godlewski, Riverside, Class 3A boys
9-for-14 – Addison Kilmer, Mountain View, Class A girls
9-for-15 – Nikolo Santiago, Hazleton Area, Class 6A boys
3-Point Shooting
3-for-3 – Maggie O’Shea, Scranton, Class 6A girls
2-for-3 – Connor McNally, Riverside, Class 3A boys
4-for-10 – Tony Battaglia, Scranton, Class 6A boys
2-for-2 – Gerry Rose, Riverside, Class 3A boys
2-for-2 – Nikoli Santiago, Hazleton Area, Class 6A boys
3-Pointers Made
4 – Tony Battaglia, Scranton, Class 6A boys
3 – Maggie O’Shea, Scranton, Class 6A girls
2 – Addison Kilmer, Mountain View, Class A girls
2 – Connor McNally, Riverside, Class 3A boys
2 – Gerry Rose, Riverside, Class 3A boys
2 – Nathan Sadaka, Mid Valley, Class 3A boys
2 – Nikoli Santiago, Hazleton Area, Class 6A boys
Free Throw Shooting
5-for-5 – Dylan Stish, Hazleton Area, Class 6A boys
6-for-8 – Oliver Almonte, Scranton, Class 6A boys
4-for-6 – Tony Battaglia, Scranton, Class 6A boys
4-for-6 – Zya Small, Scranton, Class 5A girls
Free Throws Made
6 – Oliver Almonte, Scranton, Class 6A boys
5 – Dylan Stish, Hazleton Area, Class 6A boys
4 – Tony Battaglia, Scranton, Class 6A boys
4 – Zya Small, Scranton, Class 5A girls
FOUR IN A ROW
(Posted, Thursday, 10:04 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Scranton won its third straight District 2-4 Class 6A Subregional boys basketball championship a year ago by outlasting Williamsport in the highest-scoring high school title game ever played at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
The Knights made it four in a row Thursday night by racing past Hazleton Area in the second half for a 68-58 victory in the second-highest scoring final.
The game concluded the ninth year of championship games at the arena and was the 12th played over three quadruple-headers in the past five days.
Scranton scored 25 points in the fourth quarter and 45 in the second half to recover from trailing by nine with less than five minutes remaining in the third.
The Knights beat Williamsport, 69-64, a year ago.
Oliver Almonte was the co-scoring leader in a balanced attack in each of the last two title game wins by Scranton. He scored on three drives in a 58-second span in the early stages of the fourth quarter to put Scranton ahead to stay.
Almonte and Tony Battaglia, who hit four 3-pointers, scored 16 points each.
Pedro Lugo had 12 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots. Chris Chandler made all four of his shots while chipping in eight points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Scranton made five of its first six shots for an 11-2 lead.
Nikoli Santiago, who led Hazleton Area with 20 points, scored the next nine points to tie the game.
Scranton recovered for a 15-11 lead after one quarter, but Hazleton Area moved in front 32-23 at the half with the held of 10 Dylan Stish points in the second quarter.
The Knights then shot 60.7 percent (17-for-28) in the second half, including 66.7 percent (14-for-21) inside the arc.
Stish and Joe Marshall had 12 points each while Luis Guzman came of the bench to add 10 for Hazleton Area. Marshall led the team with eight rebounds and Luke Gennaro dished out seven assists.
Both teams advance into state play.
The games are done and we’ll take a break from the floor of the area, but we’ll add a few more details to the District 2 Championship Blog before closing it up for the year.
Check back for more.
FRESH FACES
(Posted, 7:52 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Scranton’s newcomers proved to be too much for the most-established residents of District 2 Basketball Championships at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
With freshmen Zya Small and Chrissy Jacklinski leading the way, the Lady Knights turned back Abington Heights, 46-34, in the District 2 Class 5A girls final.
Abington Heights has won six titles in nine years of championship games at the arena and is the only team, boys or girls, to have appeared here every year.
Small, a 6-foot-2 freshman center, took over in the second half. She had 10 of her 15 points and eight of her nine rebounds after halftime. She also had four steals and three assists.
Jacklinski also turned in a strong all-around performance. She had seven points, five assists, four steals and two blocked shots.
Maggie O’Shea went 3-for-3 on 3-pointers, all from the corners, while adding 10 points.
Small’s first basket on a breakaway off a steal and O’Shea’s consecutive 3-pointers produced an 8-0 run that broke away from the last tie and put the Lady Knights in front, 25-17, in a game in which they never trailed.
Canyah Randle chipped in seven rebounds coming off the bench.
Maggie Coleman, who had five steals, and Peyton Houlihan, who had three blocked shots, each scored 10 points for Abington Heights.
Both teams advance into state play.
The loss kept Abington Heights from joining Holy Cross and Scranton Prep as schools to win both boys and girls titles. The winner of the final game, between the Scranton and Hazleton Area boys in Class 6A, will join those two.
Paul Gerrity and Paul Ross are on the way with the broadcast of that game. Find it on the radio or here: NEPA’s ESPN – ESPN Radio (streamon.fm).
More to come.
By Tom Robinson
CORNER 3S
(Posted, 6:34 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Maggie O’Shea hit 3-pointers from opposite corners 27 seconds apart to cap an 8-0 run late in the second quarter, giving Scranton a 25-19, halftime lead over Abington Heights in the District 2 Class 5A girls basketball championship game.
Abington Heights ran off seven straight points and held Scranton to one field goal for a stretch of nearly nine minutes to force a pair of ties.
Scranton’s Finley Bittenbender and Abington Heights’ Maggie Coleman each had seven points in the half.
More to come.
ALL-ROUND EFFORT
(Posted, 5:50 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Gerry Rose led all players in points (20), rebounds (8) and assists (5) as Riverside won its second District 2 Class 3A boys basketball title in the last four seasons with a 49-29 victory over Mid Valley.
Rose was 8-for-12 from the floor. He was 2-for-2 on 3-pointers and 2-for-2 on free throws.
Riverside outscored Mid Valley, 14-2, over the final 10:11 to pull away.
Connor McNally and Matthew Godlewski added 10 points each while Brayden Rose had nine. McNally also had five rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Mid Valley was led by Ricky Vinansky with nine points, Kaleik Cook with eight points and seven rebounds and Damaja Dunston had five assists.
More to come.
ROSE BROTHERS
(Posted Thursday, 4:40 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – The Kilmer sister, Addison and Ryleigh, led Mountain View to the title in the Class A girls to begin the day.
Now, the Rose brothers, Gerry and Brayden, are trying to do the same for Riverside in Class 3A boys.
The Vikings lead Mid Valley, 25-13, at halftime.
Riverside scored on its first five possessions for a 10-2 start.
Gerry Rose went 4-for-6 with 11 points and three rebounds. Brayden Rose converted two alley-oops, including one that he turned into a three-point play with 4.9 seconds left, on the way to seven points.
More to come.
REPEAT PERFORMANCE
(Posted Thursday, 3:42 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Addison Kilmer provided the offense in the first half, then turned to defense and rebounding in the second half.
The all-state center finished with 20 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots Thursday afternoon to lead Mountain View to a District 2-11 Class A Subregional girls basketball title repeat with a 42-17 victory over Susquehanna at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Both teams continue into the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament.
Kilmer had 14 points in the first half, which ended with Mountain View in front, 19-8. She had 11 rebounds and five blocked shots in the second half when she took just three more shots.
The 6-foot-1 sophomore finished 9-for-14 from the floor, including 2-for-5 on 3-pointers.
Ryleigh Kilmer, her older sister, added 10 points and three steals.
Mountain View finished with a 43-20 rebounding advantage, including 26-11 in the second half.
Addison Kilmer had five offensive rebounds while Lillian Sedlak and Claire Getz adding four each.
Ivy Bishop had eight steals for Susquehanna, but none of the Lady Sabers were able to manage more than four points.
More to come.
FINAL DAY STARTED
(Posted Thursday, 2:37 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – The third and final day of District 2 Basketball Championships at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza is underway.
Mountain View held Susquehanna scoreless for the first 4:54 of the first quarter and the first 4:10 of the second quarter to take a 19-8 halftime lead in the District 2-11 Class A Subregional girls final.
Addison Kilmer is 6-for-9 from the floor with two 3-pointers for 14 points.
Ryleigh Kilmer has three steals and Lillian Sedlak has three assists.
Ivy Bishop with four steals and two assists for Susquehanna.
More to come.
THURSDAY PREVIEWS
(Posted Thursday, 12:43 p.m.)
Some quick facts on the matchups in Thursday’s four title games at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza:
Class A Girls – Mountain View vs. Susquehanna
Lackawanna League Division 4 champion Mountain View, the defending District 2-11 Class A Subregional champion, and Susquehanna already knew they were playing for the District 2 title in Thursday’s opener.
A little after 7 p.m. Wednesday night, it became official that they also would be playing to decide the subregional championship. That developed because both beat District 11 teams in subregional semifinals Wednesday.
Mountain View’s path to the division title included two wins over Susquehanna, 49-29, Jan. 17 in Susquehanna and, 45-25, Feb. 9 at Mountain View.
The Lady Eagles (19-4) have won nine straight and 17 of 18.
A year ago, they advanced all the way to the state semifinal where they suffered a one-point loss to Shamokin Lourdes Regional.
Addison Kilmer, a 6-foot-2 sophomore center who was selected first-team Class A all-state after that state run last season, already has 876 points, 637 rebounds, 112 steals and about 250 blocked shots in her career. She has begun asserting herself more recently, including 29 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocked shots Wednesday night against Pottsville Nativity.
This year may represent the best opportunity on the state level for Kilmer and the Lady Eagles because they are about to make the move back up to Class 2A for the next two-year cycle.
Sisters will be prominent in this game.
Ryleigh Kilmer, Addison’s older sister, is third on the team in scoring behind Claire Getz, the team’s leading 3-point threat.
Ivy Bishop is Susquehanna’s leading scorer, including 19 points Wednesday against Bethlehem Christian. Bella Bishop, Ivy’s older sister, and the Orner twins, Olivia and Jaydin are the team’s top four scorers.
Class 2A Boys – Riverside vs. Mid Valley
Top-seeded Riverside and Mid Valley split their Lackawanna League Division 3 regular-season meetings.
Mid Valley won at home, 60-57, Jan. 15.
Riverside has won 11 of 12 since, including seven straight. The only loss in that stretch was to division champion Holy Cross, which claimed the District 2 Class 2A title Tuesday night.
Mid Valley is making its fifth arena appearance and fourth straight, but is seeking its first win in that time. Riverside is 1-2 in finals at the arena.
Gerry Rose (17.3), Connor McNally (15.0) and Brayden Rose (12.2) all average in double figures in scoring for Riverside, which scores more than 61 points per game. They combine to hit almost five 3-pointers per game.
McNally, a 42.5-percent shooter from long distance, opened the postseason with eight 3-pointers and 28 points in the first half of the quarterfinal against Wyoming Seminary.
Brayden Rose, a freshman, leads the team with 7.7 rebounds per game. Gerry Rose leads in steal (4.1) and assists (3.2).
Demaja Dunston leads Mid Valley in points (15.0), assists (2.4) and steals (2.0).
Four-year starter Ricky Vinansky is a 1,000-point career scorer. Also the team’s leading rebounder, he is second in scoring with 12.6 per game.
Class 5A Girls – Scranton vs. Abington Heights
Top-seeded Scranton, which won two out of three from Lackawanna League Division 1 and District 2 Class 4A champion Scranton Prep, looks for a season sweep against its other top Division 1 rival.
Abington Heights is a regular here. The Lady Comets are the only team to play in the arena finals all nine years. They won six of their first seven before falling just short against Pittston Area in last year’s finals.
The Lady Comets defeated Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 champion and state tournament qualifier Dallas in overtime on the road to get back to the final.
Both teams have multiple offensive weapons.
Maggie Coleman, who hit the winner against Dallas, is joined as a double-figures scorer at Abington Heights by Emily McDonald and Madison Zalewski.
Zya Small already has multiple major National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I scholarship offers. The top scorer in Division 1 of the Lackawanna is joined in double figures by fellow Scranton freshman Chrissy Jacklinski.
They get plenty of scoring support from veterans Finley Bittenbender, the school’s all-time leader in 3-point baskets, and Maggie O’Shea.
Scranton won the two regular-season meetings, but had to overcome a double-figures deficit at home to prevail in the league opener, 52-43, Jan. 3. The Lady Knights won at Abington Heights, 49-38, Feb. 6.
Class 6A Boys – Scranton vs. Hazleton Area
Scranton, the top seed, looks for its fourth straight title in a District 2-4 Class 6A Subregional championship game, which only includes District 2 teams because the Knights already took out District 4’s Williamsport in the semifinals.
Only Scranton Prep has appeared in more boys finals at the arena than Scranton. The Knights join Holy Cross with seven appearances, one fewer than Scranton Prep.
Hazleton Area is 2-1 in its trips to the finals.
Scranton’s last seven games are six wins by an average of more than 20 points and a loss to unbeaten, District 2 Class 5A champion Abington Heights.
Oliver Almonte leads the Knights in scoring, followed by point guard Tony Battaglia, son of head coach Tony Battaglia.
Hazleton Area’s Joey Marshall and Luke Gennaro, who each average more than 10 points per game, were named first-team Division 1 all-stars by WVC coaches.
Luis Guzman leads the Cougars with 13.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
Marshall shoots a team-high 52 percent from the floor while Gennaro leads in assists and steals.
In addition to the blog, NEPA’s ESPN radio will have live broadcasts of all four games, starting with Mike Slusser and Joe Ross on the Mountain View-Susquehanna opener.
Headed to the arena. Much more to come from there.
IN ACTION ELSEWHERE …
(Posted Thursday, 9:12 a.m.)
SOUTH CANAAN TWP. – During the two days away from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, there was basketball being played elsewhere by District 2 teams.
The Lake-Lehman, Dallas, Mountain View and Susquehanna girls on Wednesday, along with the MMI Prep boys on Tuesday, qualified for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament with victories. The Susquehanna boys played well on the road in defeat.
Molly Jenkins hit the game-winner from the low post with a second remaining to lift visiting Lake-Lehman over Western Wayne, 36-34, in the District 2 Class 3A girls third-place game.
Ella Wilson had 19 points, 15 rebounds and three steals in the win.
Western Wayne’s Emily Romanowski had tied the game with 18.9 seconds left by converting her eighth steal into a layup. She also had 16 points and seven rebounds.
The district also had a third-place game in Class 5A girls, the other classification where it sends three teams into state play.
Sophomore Molly Walsh scored 16 points to lead Dallas past visiting Crestwood, 42-35, in a meeting of two teams loaded with young talent.
Speaking of young talent …
Addison Kilmer, a first-team all-state selection last season as a freshman, had 29 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocked shots as host Mountain View handled Pottsville Nativity BVM, 56-37, in a District 2-11 Class A Subregional girls semifinal.
The Lady Eagles are the top seed and defending champions.
Mountain View’s Thursday 2 p.m. game against Susquehanna at the arena is now a subregional championship game in addition to a district final because the Lady Sabers also won their subregional semifinal.
Susquehanna routed Bethlehem Christian, 54-24.
MMI Prep held off a Bethlehem Christian comeback Tuesday night for a 59-55 victory in a District 2-11 Class Subregional boys semifinal.
Top-seeded East Stroudsburg Notre Dame downed Susquehanna, 59-52, in the other semifinal, which was tied after three quarters.
Colton Stone had 21 points and nine rebounds for Susquehanna in the loss.
MMI Prep will play East Stroudsburg Notre Dame for the subregional title Friday while Susquehanna meets Bethlehem Christian for the third state berth.
More coverage to come throughout the third and final day of championships at the arena.
HIGHEST-SCORING TEAMS
(Posted Wednesday, 9:15 a.m.)
When Holy Cross defeated Blue Ridge, 73-42, Monday night, it became the fifth team ever and the first in four years to score at least 70 points in a District 2 basketball championship game at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
A look at each and how they did it:
The only girls team to reach that mark did so in the first year of championships at the arena.
Hazleton Area ripped Pittston Area, 70-32, in the 2016 Class 4A girls final that is still the biggest blowout ever at the arena. At the time, that was the largest classification.
Mackenzie Yori hit the team’s only two 3-pointers while scoring 23 points.
Much of the other scoring came off pressure defense as Hazleton Area opened leads of 23-11 after one quarter and 39-18 at halftime.
That was one of two 70-point games in 2016.
Scranton Prep defeated Berwick, 70-45, in the Class 3A boys final.
Logan Bailey had 17 points, five assists, three steals and three blocked shots by halftime to help the Cavaliers build a 42-22 lead.
The highest-scoring effort came a year later when Abington Heights fired away from 3-point range to overwhelm West Scranton, 77-41, in what remains the biggest boys blowout at the arena.
The Comets led 30-11 after one quarter and 52-28 at halftime of a game in which they hit 13 shots from beyond the arc.
Trey Koehler finished with 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. He did most of the damage early, going 4-for-4 from long range and scoring 17 points by the midway point in the second quarter as the Comets opened a 40-17 lead with 4:20 remaining in the half.
Scoring slowed a bit from there, but Holy Redeemer pounded Riverside, 72-44, in the Class 3A boys final in 2020.
The Royals were already in control before breaking loose for 40 points in the second half.
After scoring 24 points in the third quarter, they added 14 in the first 5:08 of the fourth quarter, outscoring the Vikings, 38-18, in that time.
Justice Shoats finished with 21 points and Mason Mendygral added 17.
Holy Cross routed Blue Ridge Monday for the second straight time. Those two meetings, in the last two Class 2A boys finals, are among the six times a team has won by more than 30 points at the arena.
For more details on how the Crusaders did it, scroll down in this blog for the recap of their Monday night win.
In addition to the two recent Holy Cross boys victories, the 2016 Hazleton Area girls and 2017 Abington Heights boys, the other big romps were Pittston Area over North Pocono, 59-26, in the 2022 Class 5A boys game and Scranton over Hazleton Area, 56-25, in the 2017 Class 6A girls game.
More coverage to come with the frequency of the updates, of course, picking up when action resumes at the arena Thursday.
SUBREGIONAL INCONSISTENCIES
(Posted Tuesday, 6:43 p.m.)
District 2 and District 11 of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association have had difficulty in finding any consistency with the way they handle their Class A basketball subregional tournaments.
The inconsistency exists from year-to-year and, at times, such as this year, within the same season.
An example is the placement of the District 2 championship game at the arena as it relates to the District 2-11 Subregional bracket.
While all the other District 2 qualifiers for the state tournament are about to deal with long layoffs because of the earlier schedule of championship games at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, the Class A teams are facing a series of games in a short period of time.
On the boys side, Susquehanna and MMI Prep could play each other twice in five days because their district title game, played Monday at the arena, does not count within the subregional. On the girls side, Susquehanna and Mountain View could need a game against each other in the subregional, but if they do, they only have to play once because their game Thursday at the arena will count in that bracket.
The situation even confuses the teams and schools involved at times.
District 11 runs the subregional because it has more of the Class A teams.
It has created a tournament schedule in which it does not start the subregional semifinals until after District 2’s available date to play its Class A boys game. It also created a schedule where the subregional girls semifinals do not begin until less than 24 hours before the District 2 final.
MMI Prep is playing Bethlehem Christian in one subregional semifinal. That game started at 6 at Easton.
Susquehanna is playing top-seed East Stroudsburg Notre Dame at East Stroudsburg South. We’ll have in-game updates on our Twitter account.
The top three in the subregional advance to the PIAA state tournament, so both MMI Prep and Susquehanna have to play again Friday, regardless of Tuesday’s outcome.
If both teams win, they meet in a championship game at a neutral site.
If both teams lose, they meet in a third-place game at MMI Prep, because it is the higher seed.
Cooperation between the districts could have allowed for the District 2 title game to be played after the subregional semifinal, but such cooperation does not exist. It is the reason Class A teams from District 2 have been scheduled to play on back-to-back days, sometimes in a night game, followed by an early afternoon game, since the subregional began.
The girls brackets are different, but still include unnecessary confusion.
Mountain View and Susquehanna know they will play Thursday at 2 p.m. at the arena, but will not know until after both finish Wednesday games what they will be playing for Thursday.
Mountain View hosts Pottsville Nativity BVM Wednesday at 5:30 in one subregional semifinal while Susquehanna goes to Northern Lehigh to face Bethlehem Christian at 6 in the other.
If both the Lady Eagles and Lady Sabers win, they will be playing for the subregional title as well as the district title.
If both lose Wednesday, they will be playing for the subregion’s third state berth along with the district title.
If one wins and the other loses Wednesday, they will play in separate games against different opponents Saturday.
More coverage to come before and during Thursday’s last set of championship games at the arena.
MONDAY STATISTICAL LEADERS
(Posted, Tuesday, 2:22 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – These were the top statistical performances in Monday’s four championship games at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza:
Points
20 – Brendon Brobst, MMI Prep, Class A boys
20 – Mario Matrone, Holy Cross, Class 2A boys
19 – Michael Hughes, Holy Cross, Class 2A boys
Rebounds
13 – Sophia Benyo, Hazleton Area, Class 6A girls
10 – Matt Lyons, Holy Cross, Class 2A boys
9 – Bella Dennebaum, Scranton Prep, Class 4A girls
Assists
9 – C.J. Thompson, Holy Cross, Class 2A boys
5 – Claire McGrath, Scranton Prep, Class 4A girls
5 – Ryan Sones, MMI Prep, Class A boys
5 – Ella Wilson, Williamsport, Class 6A girls
Steals
6 – Brendon Brobst, MMI Prep, Class A boys
5 – Sophia Shults, Hazelton Area, Class 6A girls
4 – Payton Baney, Williamsport, Class 6A girls
4 – Sophia Benyo, Hazleton Area, Class 6A girls
4 – Maya Jenkins, Scranton Prep, Class 4A girls
4 – Claire McGrath, Scranton Prep, Class 4A girls
4 – Ashlyn Moore, Scranton Prep, Class 4A girls
Blocked Shots
4 – Payton Baney, Williamsport, Class 6A girls
3 – Sophia Shults, Hazleton Area, Class 6A girls
2 – Joel Decker, Susquehanna, Class A boys
2 – Reed Floryshak, MMI Prep, Class A boys
2 – Jaelynn Helmrich, Williamsport, Class 6A girls
2 – Matt Lyons, Holy Cross, Class 2A boys
Field Goal Shooting
7-for-8 – Matt Lyons, Holy Cross, Class 2A boys
5-for-6 – Nick Pantages, MMI Prep, Class A boys
8-for-11 – Brendon Brobst, MMI Prep, Class A boys
3-Point Shooting
3-for-3 – Maya Jenkins, Scranton Prep, Class 4A girls
2-for-3 – Mario Matrone, Holy Cross, Class 2A boys
2-for-5 – Reed Floryshak, MMI Prep, Class A boys
3-Pointers Made
3 – Maya Jenkins, Scranton Prep, Class 4A girls
2 – Reed Floryshak, MMI Prep, Class A boys
2 – Carson Gallagher, Blue Ridge, Class 2A boys
2 – Mario Matrone, Holy Cross, Class 2A boys
2 – Ryan Scott, Blue Ridge, Class 2A boys
Free Throw Shooting
4-for-4 – Maya Jenkins, Scranton Prep, Class 4A girls
4-for-5 – Ryan Sones, MMI Prep, Class A boys
5-for-7 – Nadirah Tutler, Williamsport, Class 6A girls
Free Throws Made
5 – Nadirah Tutler, Williamsport, Class 6A girls
4—Maya Jenkins, Scranton Prep, Class 4A girls
4 – Mario Matrone, Holy Cross, Class 2A boys
4 – Ryan Sones, MMI Prep, Class A boys
More to come.
HIGH SCORING
(Posted, 9:54 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Holy Cross made more than 57 percent of its shots Monday night on the way to the second-highest scoring effort in the nine-year history of finals at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, routing Blue Ridge, 73-42, in a District 2 Class 2A final between Lackawanna League divisional boys champions.
The Crusaders went 31-for-54 from the floor.
They were locked in a 15-14 battle through 10 minutes before scoring 14 in the final six minutes of the second quarter, 24 in the third and 20 in the fourth quarter – 18 in the first six minutes before going deep into the bench.
The point total ranks second to Abington Heights, which scored 77 against West Scranton in the 2017 Class 5A boys final.
Mario Matrone led the way with 20 points, going 2-for-3 on 3-pointers, hitting two for the first six points by the Crusaders.
Michael Hughes made his last six shots and scored 19 points.
Matt Lyons was 7-for-8 from the floor with the help of three dunks. He had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
C.J. Thompson had nine assists.
The win improved Holy Cross to 7-0 in eight years of Class 2A finals since the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association switched from four to six classifications in basketball. The only year they missed was when COVID knocked the team out of the 2021 tournament.
The title was also the first since Al Callejas Jr. replaced Al Callejas Sr. as head coach in the offseason.
Connor Cranage, Blue Ridge’s all-time leading scorer, had 10 points, five rebounds and three assists in his final game for the Lackawanna Division 4 champions.
Holy Cross is the Lackawanna Division 3 champion.
More coverage to come between now and the start of Thursday’s quadruple-header. Check back for more.
TURNAROUND
(Posted Monday, 8:30 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – The Hazleton Area girls found the perfect solution for a poor shooting night.
Layups.
Many of them uncontested.
The Cougars used layups to produce 16 of their last 17 baskets while wiping away a 10-point halftime deficit on the way to a 49-33 victory over Williamsport in the District 2-4 Class 6A Subregional championship game.
Only the Lady Cougars continue into Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state play.
Hazleton Area used a combination of transitions off steals from its press and some offensive board work to set up the series of layups, which erased a 26-16 deficit over the game’s final 14 minutes.
The Lady Cougars outscored the Millionaires, 33-5, before the game’s final basket.
Freshman Kaitlyn Bindas led the offense with 14 points to go along with three steals.
Kayla Lagowy added 13 points. Sophia Benyo had eight points, 13 rebounds and four steals. Alexis Reimold finished with eight points and seven rebounds. Sophia Shults led the defense, finishing with seven points, five steals and three blocked shots.
Williamsport’s Nadirah Tutler had 11 points and seven defensive rebounds. Ella Wilson dished out five assists while Payton Baney had four blocked shots and four steals.
When the teams met in December, Hazleton Area opened a 46-20 halftime lead on the way to a 33-point rout. This time, Williamsport shut down Hazleton Area’s offense in the halfcourt and took a 24-14 halftime lead.
Neither team made a 3-pointer in the game. Williamsport tried just one, in the fourth quarter. After going 0-for-8 in the first half, Hazleton Area shot only two more.
Last game of the night is underway. Mike Slusser and Joe Ross have the radio call.
More to come.
CLASSIC PERFORMANCE
(Posted Monday, 5:36 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Valley View scored the first six points of the District 2 Class 4A girls basketball championship game, but Scranton Prep rendered that meaningless with a much longer streak spanning both halves.
The Classics scored 18 straight points while running away with a title repeat, 55-31, at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Scranton Prep had 17 steals, including four each by Maya Jenkins, Claire McGrath and Ashlyn Moore.
Jenkins and McGrath also joined Bella Dennebaum in leading the offense. They produced 17, 16 and 15 points respectively.
Dennebaum created a spark with her work on the boards, grabbing nine rebounds, including five on the offensive end.
Jenkins made all three of her 3-point attempts and all four of her free throws while McGrath dished out five assists.
The game was tied when Scranton Prep went on its run, which swelled to 28-2 to create a 42-16 lead.
There is more basketball ahead. Up next are the only two games in which the loser is done for the season – the District 2-4 Class 6A Subregional girls game between Hazleton Area and Williamsport, then the District 2 Class 2A boys game between Holy Cross and Blue Ridge.
The broadcasts on radio and online continue with Paul Gerrity on play-by-play and Joe Ross on color for the next game. Listen in at: NEPA’s ESPN – ESPN Radio (streamon.fm).
More to come.
GAME-CHANGER
(Posted Monday, 4:44 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Led by two early Ava Gazoo baskets and the hustle of Ella Cooper, Valley View got off to an inspired start, scoring the first six points on the way to an 11-10 lead after one quarter.
Scranton Prep, however, took control by scoring the last 14 points of the first half for a 28-14 lead.
The Classics forced 15 turnovers with all six players getting at least one steal.
Scranton Prep followed up a 25-percent first quarter by shooting 50 percent in the second.
Bella Dennebaum leads the way with 11 points and four rebounds.
Claire McGrath has eight points, three assists and two steals while Maya Jenkins has seven points and two steals.
More to come.
PLAYING OWN SIZE
(Posted Monday, 3:41 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – MMI Prep does not get many chances to play schools its own size.
Given that opportunity Monday at the arena, the Preppers were impressive, beating Susquehanna in the 52-39 for the District 2 Class A boys basketball championships.
The Preppers compete in the smallest of the Pennsylvania Intersholastic Athletic Association’s six classifications, based on enrollment, and they are a small school even within that group.
During the regular season, however, they posted a winning record playing nothing but Class 4A and 3A opponents in their Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 schedule.
The Preppers never trailed against the Sabers, forcing seven first-quarter turnovers on the way to a 12-3 lead.
Brendan Brobst led the way with 20 points, six rebounds, six steals and three assists.
Nick Pantages was 5-for-6 while adding 13 points.
Ryan Sones had 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals
Colton Stone led Susquehanna with 13 points and six rebounds.
MMI Prep used a 14-2 run to end the first half and start the second half, opening a 32-15 lead in the process.
Susquehanna cut an 19-point deficit to 11 in the fourth quarter before MMI Prep broke away for good.
Three games left. Terry Deitz and Kevin Clark ready to begin the game broadcast at 3:45.
Check back for more coverage on the radio and online, including social media.
DAY TWO STARTED
(Posted Monday, 2:38 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – We’re back at courtside at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Where else would we be when the District 2 Basketball Championship games are being played?
The first of today’s four games has reached the half.
MMI Prep leads Susquehanna, 21-13, at halftime of a Class A boys championship game that has no bearing on the District 2-11 Class A boys tournament where they have both advanced to the semifinals. Still promising more on that convoluted situation later.
Susquehanna struggled through first quarter with more turnovers (seven) than shots (six) as MMI Prep ended the quarter on a 10-1 run to a 12-3 lead.
The Sabers got as close as five points twice in the second quarter.
Brendan Brobst, who had four of his five steals in the first quarter, hit a 3-pointer to close the first-half scoring and give the Preppers their eight-point advantage.
Brobst also has nine points on 3-for-5 shooting from the floor, 1-for-2 on 3-pointers and 2-for-2 at the line.
Ryan Sones has four rebounds and two assists.
Colton Stone has four points and three rebounds while J.T. Burke has four rebounds and two assists for Susquehanna.
More to come throughout the day.
MONDAY PREVIEWS
(Posted Monday, 12:12 p.m.)
Some quick facts on the matchups in Monday’s four title games at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza:
Class A Boys – MMI Prep vs. Susquehanna
The Class A Boys are back again at the arena after being out of the mix in recent years.
And, the Preppers and Sabers are back to renew their meetings here after splitting routs in the 2017 and 2018 championship games.
Both teams played better late in the season and have already won District 2-11 Class A Subregion quarterfinals (more on that bracket later).
MMI Prep is 7-1 in its last eight. The Preppers impressively went 7-5 to tie for third in Division 2 of the Wyoming Valley Conference where their six rivals are all Class 4A and 3A teams.
Susquehanna also went 7-5 to tie for third in Division 4 of the Lackawanna League, but there they are joined by the district’s other Class A team, Forest City, and five Class 2A schools. The Sabers are 6-3 in their last nine and have won three straight, beating two opponents they had lost to previously and one that they went to overtime with in the first meeting, by a total of 47 points.
Ryan Sones was a first-team, all-star selection by WVC Division 2 coaches and Brandon Brobst made the second team.
Sones averages 17.4 points per game with the help of almost two 3-pointers. Brobst hits more than 75 percent of his free throws while averaging 11.9. Nick Pantages chips in 7.8 per game.
Colton Stone, a 6-foot-5 NCAA Division II scholarship football commit to Bloomsburg University as a tight end, has been a division all-star since his sophomore season and has more than 1,000 career points. He has 36 3-pointers while averaging 20.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Stone scored 41 points in a win over Montrose.
J.T. Burke has made 45 shots from beyond the arc while adding 15.1 points and 2.2 steals per game. Rykin Hobart averages 7.0 points and 7.0 rebounds while Cooper Payne contributes 7.0 assists and 1.3 steals.
Class 4A Girls – Scranton Prep vs. Valley View
Scranton Prep has lost just one league game while winning seven straight Lackawanna League Division 1 titles and has won five of the last six District 2 Class 4A championships.
Maya Jenkins received third-team, all-state recognition for her role on last season’s state semifinalist.
Jenna Hillebrand is the team’s top scorer, but Jenkins and Bella Dennebaum, an undersized, but fierce competitor underneath, join her in averaging in double figures.
Valley View rallied on the road to upset Nanticoke in the semifinals on a 3-pointer by freshman Cora Castellani with less than 20 seconds remaining.
The Cougars have won three of their last four with the only loss in that stretch coming, 70-57, against Scranton Prep.
Castellani leads the team in scoring (14.1 points per game), free throw percentage (67), 3-pointers made (52), 3-point percentage (31), assists (3.6) and steals (3.5).
Giada Costa averages 10.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals.
Emma Maddage adds 7.5 points while Ella Cooper averages 6.1 and Ava Gazoo 6.0. Isabella Rebar contributes 4.5 points off the bench. Gazoo also leads in rebounds with 6.0 while Maddage adds 5.4. Cooper averages 2.9 assists.
Class 6A Girls – Hazleton Area vs. Williamsport
This game is actually a District 2-4 Subregional.
WVC Tournament champion Hazleton Area pummeled Williamsport, District 4’s only Class 6A team, 67-34, Dec. 12.
The Millionaires are 3-1 against WVC Division 1 teams, 3-2 against WVC opponents and 3-3 against District 2 teams with losses to Class 3A champion Holy Redeemer and Class 5A top-seed Scranton.
Williamsport is, however, playing much better down the stretch. It comes to the arena on a nine-game winning streak that includes a 76-55 victory over Dallas, the team that beat Hazleton Area in a playoff for the WVC Division 1 championship.
Hazleton Area is one of the many District 2 girls teams blessed with young talent.
Freshman Kaitlyn Blindas and junior Sophia Shults were first-team, all-star picks by WVC Division 1 coaches and sophomore Alexis Reimold made the second team.
Bindas averages 15.3 points with the help of nearly two 3-pointers per game. Shults averages 12.7 and Reimold combines with Sophia Benyo for another 18 more.
Expect a fast-paced game with Hazleton Area’s constant, full-court pressure leading to its offense averaging a WVC-best 63.7 points per game and Payton Baney leading a Williamsport offense that went for more than 60 points six times in its current winning streak.
Class 2A Boys – Holy Cross vs. Blue Ridge
Holy Cross has won this title the last six times it entered the postseason with the only interruption – and the only time the school has ever missed the state tournament – coming when the Crusaders sat out the 2021 postseason because of COVID cases in the program.
Blue Ridge waited more than six decades to win its first regular-season division title in 2023 and now has won two straight in Lackawanna League Division 4. The Raiders have never been to the state tournament.
Only the winner of this championship rematch moves into Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state play.
Last year’s championship game meeting went about like what might be expected between teams with these histories.
Holy Cross posted the second-largest rout ever in a championship game at the arena, winning 61-26. Matt Lyons, the second-leading scorer on this year’s team, came off the bench to score 16 points and grab eight rebounds.
Michael Hughes, the Crusaders scoring leader this season, is the only returning starter from that Holy Cross team.
Al Callejas Jr. is in his first season as head coach after replacing Al Callejas Sr. following the team’s trip to the 2023 state semifinals.
Blue Ridge returns more players from last year’s matchup, including Connor Cranage, a 1,000-point career scorer who has been Division 4’s top player since he was a sophomore.
The gap between the Lackawanna Division 3 and 4 champions has apparently closed.
When they met in a December non-league game at Blue Ridge, the Raiders had a chance to win the game at the line in the final second only to fall, 58-57.
During a late-season, four-game stretch, Cranage scored 37, 34 and then a school-record 48 points.
The high-flying senior, an all-state player on the school’s championship volleyball team, is averaging 25.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.3 steals. Cranage hits 54.2 percent of his shots from the floor, 34.3 from 3-point range and 69.4 percent from the line. He had 15 points in last year’s district final, Blue Ridge’s first-ever appearance at the arena.
Carson Gallagher is the team’s top 3-point threat, hitting at 35.9 percent while also making a team-high 3.5 steals per game.
Dylan Bradley leads the team with 7.9 rebounds and adds 3.8 assists and 2.8 steals.
Gehrig Dibble runs the 68.7-points per game offense with 5.0 assists a game while also making 2.5 steals.
Bradley and Gallagher both average in double figures in scoring while Ryan Scott frequently gets to that level.
Holy Cross has won four straight and 15 of its last 16. Blue Ridge has won eight of its last nine.
More to come, including updates once game action gets underway today.
GAME BROADCASTS COMING
(Posted, Monday, 9:35 a.m.)
Live broadcasts from the arena begin Monday with the Class 4A girls game, which is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Terry Deitz and Kevin Clark will have the call on that game and our broadcast team will stay on the air through the last three games of the Monday schedule.
Listen on the radio or here: NEPA’s ESPN – ESPN Radio (streamon.fm).
Check back for more news.
SUNDAY STATISTICAL LEADERS
(Posted, Monday, 9:20 a.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – These were the top statistical performances in Sunday’s four championship games at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza:
Points
21 – Ryan Nealon, Abington Heights, Class 5A boys
18 – Robby Lucas, Abington Heights, Class 5A boys
18 – Sophia Talutto, Dunmore, Class 3A girls
Rebounds
10 – Brooke Kroptavich, Holy Redeemer, Class 3A girls
10 – Robby Lucas, Abington Heights, Class 5A boys
9 – Tristan Canavan, Dunmore, Class 3A girls
Assists
5 – Mason Fedor, Abington Heights, Class 5A boys
4 – Amanda Dempsey, Dunmore, Class 3A girls
4 – Carly Frey, Montrose, Class 2A girls
4 – Robby Lucas, Abington Heights, Class 5A boys
Steals
5 – Bella Boylan, Holy Redeemer, Class 3A girls
3 – Sadie Jones, Montrose, Class 2A girls
3 – Brooke Kroptavich, Holy Redeemer, Class 3A girls
3 – Will Marion, Abington Heights, Class 5A boys
3 – Brycen Martin, Scranton Prep, Class 4A boys
3 – Ava Schmidt, Holy Cross, Class 2A girls
3 – Sophia Talutto, Dunmore, Class 3A girls
Blocked Shots
5 – Ava Schmidt, Holy Cross, Class 2A girls
4 – Mason Fedor, Abington Heights, Class 5A boys
3 – Brooke Kroptavich, Holy Redeemer, Class 3A girls
3 – Ambrose Rossi, Scranton Prep, Class 4A boys
Field Goal Shooting
3-for-5 – Beyon McLean, Valley View, Class 4A boys
3-for-5 – Daniel Santaniello, Scranton Prep, Class 4A boys
5-for-9 – Ryan Nealon, Abington Heights, Class 5A boys
5-for-9 – Chase Scanlon, Scranton Prep, Class 4A boys
3-Point Shooting
3-for-4 – Chase Scanlon, Scranton Prep, Class 4A boys
4-for-6 – Ryan Nealon, Abington Heights, Class 5A boys
2-for-3 – Daniel Santaniello, Scranton Prep, Class 4A boys
3-Pointers Made
4 – Ryan Nealon, Abington Heights, Class 5A boys
3 – Peyton Graboske, Holy Cross, Class 2A girls
3 – Chase Scanlon, Scranton Prep, Class 4A boys
Free Throw Shooting
4-for-4 – Jackie Brown, Dunmore, Class 3A girls
4-for-4 – Mikey Cumbo, Dallas, Class 5A boys
4-for-4 – Ambrose Rossi, Scranton Prep, Class 4A boys
8-for-10 – Robby Lucas, Abington Heights, Class 5A boys
10-for-13 – Sophia Talutto, Dunmore, Class 3A girls
More to come.
THE WINNER … AND STILL UNDEFEATED
(Posted, Sunday, 8:57 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Ryan Nealon and Robby Lucas led the way as Abington Heights remained undefeated by handling Wyoming Valley Conference Tournament champion Dallas, 59-40, Sunday night in the District 2 Class 5A boys basketball championship game at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Nealon made four of his first five 3-point attempts, including two from beyond the NBA 3-point line in the third quarter. He finished with 21 points and eight rebounds.
Lucas went 8-for-10 from the line on the way to a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.
The game got rough at times with three players fouling out and three technical fouls issued in the second half.
Mason Fedor and Will Marion also contributed well-rounded games.
Fedor had eight points, six defensive rebounds, five assists and four blocks. Marion had seven points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots.
Abington Heights used a run in each of the first three quarters to take control.
The Comets started 11-0 with Fedor scoring twice, Nealon made a 3-pointer and Marion followed up the game’s first basket with two assists.
Dallas closed to within 20-17 before Abington Heights closed the half on a 10-3 run. Lucas scored twice in that run and Jordan Shaffer finished it with a 3-pointer with five seconds left to make it 30-20 at the break.
Nealon showed his range while scoring nine points in a 13-4 run to break away for good 44-28 with 1:34 left in the third quarter.
Mikey Cumbo led Dallas with 12 points and four assists.
That’s it for the live updates from the arena, but there will be more postings between now and the start of play Monday at 2 p.m.
Keep checking back.
NIGHTCAP
(Posted Sunday, 7:42 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Abington Heights scored the game’s first 11 points and went into halftime leading Dallas 30-20 in the District 2 Class 5A boys basketball championship game.
The unbeaten Comets got at least six points from four different players.
Mason Fedor led the way with eight points, three assists and two blocked shots.
Dallas got within 20-17 before Abington Heights closed the half with a 10-3 run that included a 3-pointer by Jordan Shaffer with five seconds left.
Jude Nocito led Dallas with six points and four rebounds.
More to come.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE
(Posted, 6:40 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Paige Kroptavich led a balanced attack as Holy Redeemer defeated defending state champion Dunmore, 51-46, in the District 2 Class 3A girls basketball championship game.
Kroptavich finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, three blocked shots and two steals. Five teammates contributed at least six points.
Megan Albrecht had 12 points.
McKenzie Chimock came off the bench to provide eight points and three steals.
Bella Boylan, Lucie Racicky and Angelina Corridoni added six points each. Boylan had six defensive rebounds and five steals. Racicky had seven rebounds.
Sophia Talutto scored her 1,000th career point late in the first half and had 18 points and three steals before fouling out.
One more game ahead. Unbeaten Abington Heights faces Dallas in Class 5A boys.
Save the link and return for more coverage.
GETTING CLOSER
(Posted, 5:42 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Holy Redeemer was in control most of a first half in which momentum swung back and forth, but Dunmore had the last surge of the first half to close within 22-19 at the break in Class 3A girls.
The Lady Royals led by as many as nine points, including into the final half minute of the second quarter.
Sophia Talutto surpassed 1,000 points for her career with a three-point play with 23 seconds left, then Dunmore teammate Sophia Talutto dribbled three-quarters of the length of the floor and just timed her release to beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer from nearly 30 feet.
Holy Redeemer ran off the first six points and held Dunmore scoreless for 6:38 during an 11-0 run to an 18-9 lead.
The Lady Royals have a 20-11 rebounding advantage with five each from Bella Boyland and Brooke Kroptavich.
More to come.
FEELS LIKE HOME
(Posted, 4:45 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Scranton Prep is now 8-0 at Mohegan Sun Arena after rallying from 11 points down to complete a three-game sweep of Valley View with a 41-39 victory in the District 2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Sunday afternoon.
After the lowest-scoring game in the nine-year history of arena finals to begin the quadruple-header, the Cougars and Cavaliers were on pace for the lowest-scoring boys game well into the third quarter.
Valley View was on a 14-1 run and led 27-16 when Daniel Santaniello, who did not have a field goal to that point, hit a 3-pointer with 1:22 left in the third quarter. The Cavaliers scored 25 points over the final 9:22.
Scranton Prep had been held under 50 points just once this season, when they scored 32 against Philadelphia Roman Catholic.
The Cougars held the Cavaliers to one field goal for more than 12 minutes to start the game before Chase Scanlan came off the bench to give Scranton Prep a spark with a 3-pointer.
Scanlan wound up 3-for-4 from long range and 5-for-9 from the floor while scoring a game-high 14 points.
Santaniello had eight points in the last 9:22 to finish with 10.
Ambrose Rossi had eight points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots, one of which came in the closing seconds.
Valley View also got a boost from its bench with Beyon McLean providing 10 points and two blocked shots.
Aiden Smola had 10 points and Kyle Rupp grabbed seven rebounds.
The Cavaliers led for just 21 seconds until going ahead on a Kellen Casey 18-footer from the left side with 40 seconds left to break a 38-38 tie.
Up next in the Class 3A battle from two of District 2’s best girls programs, defending state champion Dunmore and top-seed Holy Redeemer, both of which are division champions.
Terry Deitz and Kevin Clark will have the call on radio and at NEPA’s ESPN – ESPN Radio (streamon.fm).
Keep checking for updates. We’re only halfway through Day One.
FAMILIAR FACES
(Posted Sunday, 3:30 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Valley View is trying to spoil the best record in the eight-plus year history of District 2 Basketball Championships at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
The Cougars lead 13-11 over Scranton Prep at halftime of their Class 4A boys rematch.
The Scranton Prep boys are making their eighth appearance in nine years and have won each of the previous stops for a record seven championships at the arena.
Only the Abington Heights girls have been here more. They have qualified again, extending their streak of playing all nine years.
Four teams are unbeaten through at least five appearances.
The Holy Cross boys and Susquehanna girls are each 6-0 while the Abington Heights boys are 5-0.
Holy Redeemer (4-2) and Scranton (3-3) each had six boys appearances before this year. Scranton, which has won three straight, is back for its seventh appearance.
Abington Heights is 6-2 to tie Susquehanna for the most girls wins.
Scranton Prep (5-2) and Dunmore (5-1) are close behind and playing again this year.
With their win in the opener, Holy Cross girls are 4-2.
Old Forge is 3-3 and Holy Redeemer 2-4 in their six appearances.
More to come. Check back.
DEFENSIVE BATTLE
(Posted Sunday, 2:46 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP – Holy Cross never trailed and held on to win the lowest-scoring championship game in the history of District 2 basketball finals at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
The fourth-seeded Lady Crusaders followed up an overtime win over top-seed Lackawanna Trail by knocking off defending champion Montrose, 22-20.
Montrose scored nine straight points while holding Holy Cross scoreless for nearly eight minutes from late in the second quarter until late in the third to force a 13-13 tie.
Peyton Graboske then hit two 3-pointers for the Lady Crusaders in the last 2:50 of the third quarter for a 19-13 lead.
Graboske hit three 3s total to finish as the high scorer with nine points.
Ava Schmidt led the way for Holy Cross with seven points, five rebounds, five blocked shots and three steals. Giving up six inches in the post, she did all the Holy Cross scoring in a 5-2 first quarter and drew two early fouls on Montrose center Paley Adams, sending her to the bench for the last 11:37 of the first half.
Adams led Montrose with six points and six rebounds.
Up next: Scranton Prep vs. Valley View in Class 4A boys in a rematch of last year’s final that Scranton Prep won. Terry Deitz and Bob Beviglia will have the live broadcast.
More to come with three more finals today.
CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDERWAY
(Posted Sunday, 1:30 p.m.)
WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP – We’re live from the floor of the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza where the ninth year of District 2 Basketball Championships got underway almost exactly on time – at 1:01 p.m.
Offense was hard to come by early.
Ava Schmidt did all the scoring for Holy Cross in the first quarter, which ended with the Lady Crusaders on top, 5-2.
More importantly, Schmidt drew two early fouls on Paley Adams, the leader of Montrose’s championship game win here a year ago.
The Lady Meteors went 10:17 without scoring after their first basket and the Lady Crusaders went on an 8-0 run to a 10-2 lead.
At halftime, Holy Cross leads 13-6.
More to come as action continues.
REMATCHES
(Posted Sunday, 12:59 p.m.)
Eight of the 12 championship games are rematches of games from this regular season and three are rematches of title games from a year ago.
Two games fit both categories.
Highlighting the rematches are Scranton Prep vs. Valley View in Class 4A boys in Sunday’s second game and Holy Cross vs. Blue Ridge in Class 2A boys to wrap up the Monday schedule.
Even though Valley View is the top seed, it has lost twice to Scranton Prep this season and three straight times overall.
A year ago, Valley View had won the two regular-season meetings in Division 1 of the Lackawanna League, but Scranton Prep won, 51-43, when they met at the arena in the district final.
Scranton Prep won this year’s games, 61-50 at home Jan. 15 and 54-52 on the road Feb. 12.
Holy Cross routed Blue Ridge, 61-28, in last year’s final, but won just 58-57 at Blue Ridge Dec. 21.
Dunmore beat Holy Redeemer, 50-30, in last year’s Class 3A girls final. The teams meet again in Sunday’s third game.
The results of other meetings this season between teams that will face off again for this year’s title:
Holy Cross won, 48-44, Dec. 16 at home against Montrose, the team it will face in the Class 2A girls final to get the championship series started Sunday.
The Scranton Prep girls also swept Valley View during their Lackawanna League matchups. The Classics beat the Cougars, 58-43, at home Jan. 17 and closed the regular season Feb. 12 with a 70-57 win at Valley View.
The biggest blowout between teams that will meet for a title came Dec. 12 when Hazleton Area pounded visiting Williamsport, 67-34.
Mountain View pos8ted a pair of 20-point wins over its Class A girls opponent, winning 49-29 on the road Jan. 17 and 45-25 at home Feb. 9.
Class 3A boys opponents Riverside and Mid Valley split their Lackawanna Division 3 meetings. Mid Valley won at home, 60-57, Jan. 15 while Riverside won on its court, 40-35, Feb. 8.
The Scranton girls defeated Abington Heights, 52-43, at home in the Jan. 3 Lackawanna Division 1 opener and then again on the road, 49-38, Feb. 6.
Action is about to get underway. Check back often for updates on what happens in these rematches and the other championship games.
SUNDAY PREVIEWS
(Posted Sunday, 12:48 p.m.)
Some quick facts on the matchups in Sunday’s four title games at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Class 2A Girls – Montrose vs. Holy Cross
Montrose seemed to be at risk of having a special season derailed in 2023 when point guard and defensive leader Aspen Smith suffered a torn ACL.
Instead, the Lady Meteors regrouped, made it to the arena for the first time ever, held Old Forge to a record-low 15 points while winning the title an went all the way to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state semifinals, matching the best run in program history.
No longer the best team in Lackawanna League Division 4, the Lady Meteors went through a similar setback this season when, after a difficult rehab from reconstructive surgery, Smith reinjured her knee. A team that started 1-4 and went through a 1-3 stretch in January is back trying to defend its title by once again playing tough defense, holding its last 10 opponents to an average of 27.3 points per game while winning eight times to move above .500 overall.
The Lady Meteors are led offensively by the inside presence of Paley Adams and the perimeter shooting of freshman Sadie Jones, who hit more than two 3-pointers per game.
Holy Cross is in its final season under Barry Fitzgerald, the only coach in the history of the program that was formed with the school’s creation from a merger of Bishop Hannan and Bishop O’Hara in 2007. The Lady Crusaders extended Fitzgerald’s career and qualified for another state tournament trip when they upset Lackawanna Trail in overtime in the semifinals.
Abby Thompson leads Holy Cross at 11 points per game. Peyton Graboske adds 7.2 points. Ava Schmidt averages seven points and eight rebounds while leading a defense that gives up 42 points per game by averaging five blocks.
Class 4A Boys – Valley View vs. Scranton Prep
Scranton Prep will look for a three-game sweep of the season series with Valley View while also trying to extend its record as the most successful boys program in the arena championship era.
Not only are the Cavaliers playing at the arena for the eighth time in its nine seasons hosting District 2 basketball championships, but they have won all seven of their previous appearances. No other boys or girls teams have won as many titles.
Brycen Martin, this season’s top scorer, led Scranton Prep to a 51-43 victory in last year’s final with 14 points and eight rebounds. Daniel Santaniello, another returnee, added 13 points in that game.
Martin averages 13.6 points, Santaniello 12.4 and Packy Doherty 9.6 this season.
Valley View opened the season with 10 straight wins, lost three in a row, then won nine of its last 11 to get back to the arena.
Post player Kyle Rupp is the leading scorer on a deep and balanced Cougars team.
Class 3A Girls – Holy Redeemer vs. Dunmore
Division champions meet, continuing a rivalry that has built through repeated playoff meetings in recent seasons.
The top-seeded Lady Royals won Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2.
Dunmore, the defending state champion, won its 11th straight Lackawanna League Division 3 championship.
Holy Redeemer is one of the examples of talented young girls players around District 2.
Sophomore Bella Boylan was voted by coaches as the WVC Division 2 Most Valuable Player. Juniors Megan Albrecht and Brooke Kroptavich are first-team division all-stars and sophomore McKenzie Chimock is a second-teamer.
The Lady Royals do not have a double-figures scorer, but all four all-stars average between 8.3 and 9.1.
Dunmore has won 18 straight, holding eight opponents to fewer than 20 points during that time.
The game is a rematch of last year’s final that Dunmore won, 50-30.
Sophia Talutto had 21 points and five steals in that game.
Talutto had 25 points in a 62-41, semifinal romp over Western Wayne, moving her to within six points of 1,000 for her career.
The senior guard averages 18.1 points and 2.8 baskets from 3-point range despite sitting out a quarter of each game with Dunmore often well in front. She shoots 44.1 percent from long range and 77.4 percent on free throws while averaging 3.4 assists and 3.4 steals.
Tristan Canavan adds 10.1 points and a team-high 6.2 rebounds.
Sophia Summa averages 3.4 assists and Amanda Dempsey chips in 1.4 3-pointers while hitting 32.3 percent from long range.
Class 5A Boys – Abington Heights vs. Dallas
The best it gets in District 2 is when the top teams from the Lackawanna League and Wyoming Valley Conference square off.
Unbeaten Lackawanna Division 1 champion Abington Heights and WVC Tournament champion Dallas go head-to-head in a meeting of teams on winning streaks, but coming off semifinal games in which they had to fight off upset bids.
Abington Heights trailed in the third quarter against Wallenpaupack, a team it had crushed 63-30 just two weeks earlier.
Dallas was down 12 at halftime and five with six minutes left against Pittston Area, a sixth seed that it had defeated by 20 and 18 points during the regular season.
While Abington Heights has won 23 straight, Dallas has won 12 in a row.
The Comets went to the state quarterfinals last year after Dallas made the semifinals in 2022.
Mason Fedor, Will Marion, Ryan Nealon and Robby Lucas all average in double figures in scoring for Abington Heights and sophomore sharpshooter Jordan Shaffer is not far behind.
Mikey Cumbo, a first-team division all-star choice by WVC Division 1 coaches, led Dallas in its fourth-quarter comeback against Pittston Area. He averages 17.6 points per game.
Second-team all-stars Zach Paczewski and Nick Williams as well as Jude Nocito join him to also give the Mountaineers four double-figures scorers.
Coverage coming throughout the day on how these matchups play out.
CRASHING THE PARTY
(Posted Sunday, 11:57 a.m.)
The top seed will play in the last 11 District 2 championship basketball games at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, but not the first.
The Holy Cross girls were the only team to prevent a number-one seed from getting to the arena.
The Lady Crusaders went on the road Thursday and defeated Lackawanna Trail 42-36 in overtime in the Class 2A semifinals.
Ava Schmidt and Abby Thompson got Holy Cross out to the lead in the first half.
Then, after Lackawanna Trail rallied to force overtime, Holy Cross got points from four different players in the extra session.
Schmidt had 10 of her 14 points in the first half and Thompson had eight of her 10 in the second quarter.
Lackawanna Trail led 10-8 after one quarter.
Mackenzie Schirg, who scored a game-high 16 points, had four points and Ayla Seigle hit a 3-pointer for the Lady Lions.
Schmidt had six of the eight Holy Cross points in the first quarter.
Thompson then led a 15-2 second quarter to put the Lady Crusaders in front 23-12.
Lackawanna Trail held Holy Cross to one field goal in the third quarter and closed to within 26-22 going into the fourth.
Seigle hit another 3-pointer and scored five points in the fourth to complete the comeback to a 32-32 tie at the end of regulation.
Schirg had the only four Lackawanna Trail points in overtime.
Peyton Graboske hit a 3-pointer for Holy Cross, Trista Chickeletti also scored three points, Jenna Luciani made both her free throws and Schmidt had a basket during overtime.
The highest seed made the final in the other 11 games.
Technically, MMI Prep and Susquehanna are the third and fourth seeds in the District 2-11 Class A Subregional boys tournament, but they were first and second among the three teams in a concurrent District 2 competition to determine who would play at the arena.
More to come, including a look at the first day’s matchups and the many rematches that will be contested throughout the three days of title games.
SCHOOL PRIDE
(Posted Sunday, 8:44 a.m.)
Seven schools bring both of their basketball teams to Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza for championship games this week, trying to accomplish something than only one school managed a year ago.
Scranton Prep won both Class 4A championships last season, the third time in the last four years and the fourth time in eight previous years of championships at the arena that only one school was able to complete the title double.
Scranton High School has a rare opportunity, with its teams playing back-to-back to wrap up the championship series Thursday.
The Knights and Lady Knights play in different classifications and, in the predetermined scheduled, Class 5A girls play the third game Thursday, right before the showcase game of Class 6A boys to conclude the schedule. The two Scranton teams advanced to those games after earning top seeds in the regular season.
The other six schools looking to sweep titles all have their teams in the same Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association enrollment classification and, therefore, playing on different days.
Hazleton Area is playing in both Class 6A finals and Abington Heights is in both 5A games. Scranton Prep is facing Valley View for both Class 4A championships. Holy Cross is in both Class 2A games and Susquehanna is in both A games.
Scranton Prep has completed the double the most times with the boys and girls winning titles in the same year five times. Because of the success of the Cavaliers and Classics, Class 4A has had the five title sweeps, matching or exceeding the totals of any other two classes combined.
Abington Heights has swept four times.
Class A has been the most difficult to sweep, in part because it does not always have two championship games. Susquehanna accomplished the only Class A sweep in 2017.
This year’s group of teams has the chance to match or exceed 2019, the only year in which four schools captured both boys and girls titles.
The complete list of boys-girls title sweeps:
2016 – Abington Heights (4A boys, 3A girls in old four-class system)
2017 – Abington Heights (5A), Holy Redeemer (3A), Susquehanna (A)
2018 – Hazleton Area (6A), Abington Heights (5A), Scranton Prep (4A)
2019 – Hazleton Area (6A), Abington Heights (5A), Scranton Prep (4A), Holy Cross (2A)
2020 – Scranton Prep (4A)
2021 – Scranton Prep (4A), Riverside (3A)
2022 – Holy Cross (2A)
2023 – Scranton Prep (4A)
Soon, we will be moving from what has happened in championship games at the arena to what is happening. Check back often for updates.
PREDICTIONS
(Posted Sunday, 7:35 a.m.)
Over the past five seasons, I have successfully predicted the winner of 83.3 percent of the District 2 basketball championship games at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
During that time, my record is 45-9, including going 10-1 in 2019, 2020 and 2022. The record slipped to 7-3 in 2021 and was 8-3 last year.
Here’s my attempt to improve on last year’s mark.
The predictions for the games in the order they will be played.
Class 2A Girls – Montrose by 4 over Holy Cross
Class 4A Boys – Scranton Prep by 3 over Valley View
Class 3A Girls – Dunmore by 4 over Holy Redeemer
Class 5A Boys – Abington Heights by 10 over Dallas
Class A Boys – MMI Prep by 5 over Susquehanna
Class 4A Girls – Scranton Prep by 20 over Valley View
Class 6A Girls – Hazleton Area by 7 over Williamsport
Class 2A Boys – Holy Cross by 8 over Blue Ridge
Class A Girls – Mountain View by 21 over Susquehanna
Class 3A Boys – Riverside by 6 over Mid Valley
Class 5A Girls – Scranton by 7 over Abington Heights
Class 6A Boys – Scranton by 2 over Hazleton Area
More to come. Check back often for more reports as we get closer to the start of action, beginning at 1 p.m.
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
(Posted Sunday, 7:04 a.m.)
Picking off the top teams in District 2 basketball is not an easy feat.
The top seed in the bracket will be in action in 11 of the 12 championship games at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza Sunday, Monday and Thursday. More on that later.
Each of Sunday’s four games and eight of the 12 games total will feature a defending champion trying to repeat.
There are four defending champions back in boys and four in girls.
The boys teams trying to repeat are Scranton (Class 6A), Abington Heights (5A), Scranton Prep (4A) and Holy Cross (2A).
The girls teams back to defend titles are Scranton Prep (4A), Dunmore (3A), Montrose (2A) and Mountain View (A).
Scranton is seeking a fourth straight boys title.
The Holy Cross boys and Dunmore girls are trying to make it three championships in a row after missing the 2021 tournament for COVID reasons. The first Dunmore title in the streak came on a higher level, in Class 4A. The Crusaders have won the last six and the Lady Bucks the last five tournaments in which they were cleared to compete.
Getting it started Sunday will be, in order, the Montrose girls, Scranton Prep boys, Dunmore girls and Abington Heights boys.
The Dunmore girls are also defending state champions while the Abington Heights boys will be putting the district’s only perfect record on the line.
The games have not even started and we’re just getting started. More to come.
LET’S GET STARTED
(Posted Sunday, 12:27 a.m.)
Welcome to my blog, reporting on the entirety of the series of District 2 basketball championship games from Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
This is the ninth year of championships at the arena.
And, while the blog has been an annual part of my coverage from the arena, it is in a new location this season, hosted here on the website for NEPA’s ESPN Radio. I first worked with the folks at WEJL 630 AM, hosting the Athlete of the Week Show, in the late 1980s and I served as an analyst or host on a few basketball shows and game broadcasts in recent years.
This, however, is the first venture into writing/reporting for the station’s website. Thank you to station management for agreeing that this would be a good, new home for the blog this season.
Enough of that.
On to the basketball.
We promise to get much more detailed and analytical in the many reports coming over the rest of the championship days at the arena, but first let’s take care of the basics. It’s not easy to remember the schedule and order of games for the three tripleheaders so here it is, with seeds listed first and records in parentheses:
Sunday
1 p.m. – Class 2A Girls – 2, Montrose (13-9) vs. 4, Holy Cross (9-15)
3 p.m. – Class 4A Boys – 1, Valley View (19-5) vs. 2, Scranton Prep (15-9)
5 p.m. – Class 3A Girls – 1, Holy Redeemer (20-5) vs. 2, Dunmore (21-3)
7 p.m. – Class 5A Boys – 1, Abington Heights (23-0) vs. 2, Dallas (20-6)
Monday
2 p.m. – Class A Boys – 1, MMI Prep (14-9) vs. 2, Susquehanna (12-11)
4 p.m. – Class 4A Girls – 1, Scranton Prep (18-5) vs. 3, Valley View (13-11)
6 p.m. – Class 6A Girls (District 2-4 Subregional) – 1, Hazleton Area (22-4) vs. 3, Williamsport (17-6)
8 p.m. – Class 2A Boys – 1, Holy Cross (20-3) vs. 2, Blue Ridge (19-4)
Thursday
2 p.m. – Class A Girls – 1, Mountain View (18-4) vs. 2, Susquehanna (7-15)
4 p.m. – Class 3A Boys – 1, Riverside (21-3) vs. 3, Mid Valley (16-8)
6 p.m. – Class 5A Girls – 1, Scranton (22-2) vs. 3, Abington Heights (18-6)
8 p.m. – Class 6A Boys – 1, Scranton (19-4) vs. 3, Hazleton Area (16-8)
Much more to come. Please check back often.
ORIGINAL FRIDAY POST (COMING SOON)
Editor’s Note: NEPA’s ESPN Radio has arranged with veteran local sports writer Tom Robinson to provide written web coverage, in addition to our live game broadcasts, throughout the three days of District 2 basketball championships at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Robinson is the only reporter who has covered every second of every game in the previous eight years of championship games at the arena.
Check back Sunday, Feb. 25 for live updates from the floor of the arena, then any time during or after the championship games each day. There will be news, updates, statistics, historical notes and more as part of the coverage in the blog.
