Cougars Clamp Down: Valley View Smothers Dallas, 51–26, to Reach District Final
By: Justin Bradley | Sportzwire | February 21, 2025 | Photo courtesy Jake Speicher
Dallas, PA -- Valley View’s boys basketball team punched its ticket to the Class 4A district championship with a decisive 51–26 win over Dallas on Friday night.
The Cougars’ scoring attack was led by Beyon McLean’s 16 points, while Aidan Smola added 12—fueled by three makes from beyond the arc. Valley View finished with four total three-pointers in the contest.
Dallas countered with three treys of its own, but the Mounts never found an offensive rhythm. Jude Nocito, typically the team’s top scorer, was held to nine points. Much of that was thanks to the relentless defensive effort by Nick Kucharski, who shadowed Nocito all game and forced the Mounts to look elsewhere for points. Pat Flanagan (8 points) and Kael Berry (6 points) chipped in for Dallas, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Cougars’ balanced offense and stifling defense.
Valley View will now face top-seeded Scranton Prep on March 1 for the district title, while Dallas hosts Wyoming Area for a chance to advance to the state tournament.
