Lady Knights Edge Out North Pocono in a Thriller, 55-51
By: Doug Noldy | Sportzwire | January 23, 2025 | Photo courtesy WWW.BLSPORTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
At Scranton High School, the Lady Knights held off a determined North Pocono team to secure a 55-51 victory in a thrilling matchup. The win not only completed a season sweep over the Lady Trojans—having previously defeated them 53-43 on December 19—but also highlighted Scranton’s balanced scoring and late-game composure.
The game opened with both teams battling for control. Scranton managed to grab a slim 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. Maggie O’Shea was the standout in the first half, scoring 12 of her game-high 17 points, including three three-pointers. Her efforts propelled the Lady Knights to a commanding 30-19 halftime advantage, shooting an impressive 50% from the field in the first half.
North Pocono, however, refused to back down. The Lady Trojans chipped away at the deficit, outscoring Scranton 12-10 in the third quarter to cut the lead to 40-31 heading into the final frame. Julia Biko and Anna Clementoni led the charge, with Biko knocking down two three-pointers and Clementoni going 3-for-4 from the free-throw line.
The final quarter turned into a nail-biter as North Pocono made a strong push, narrowing the gap to 45-40 with just over four minutes left. Trading baskets in the closing minutes, North Pocono trimmed the score to 52-49 with 55.4 seconds remaining. Despite the pressure, the Lady Knights stayed focused. Scranton converted a crucial free throw in the final seconds to seal the game and hold off the surging Lady Trojans.
Scoring Breakdown
• Scranton Lady Knights:
• Maggie O’Shea: 17 points, including 3 three-pointers (7-of-12 FG, 58%)
• Jaelyn Akers: 9 points (4-of-8 FG, 50%)
• Chrissy Jacklinski: 8 points (3-of-6 FG, 50%)
• Madelyn O’Shea: 6 points (2-of-4 FG, 50%)
• Catherine Hill: 6 points (2-of-3 FG, 67%)
• Rylee Bell: 5 points (2-of-5 FG, 40%)
• Eyinah Smith: 4 points (2-of-4 FG, 50%)
• Team totals: 55 points, 43% shooting from the field (21-of-49)
• North Pocono Lady Trojans:
• Julia Biko: 12 points, including 2 three-pointers (4-of-10 FG, 40%)
• Anna Clementoni: 11 points, 3-of-4 FT (44% FG, 4-of-9)
• Ella Clementoni: 8 points (3-of-7 FG, 43%)
• Celia DeCesare: 6 points (3-of-6 FG, 50%)
• Alexis Silva: 6 points (2-of-5 FG, 40%)
• Amaya Monacelli: 3 points
• Kayli McHugh: 3 points
• Cameron Forgione: 2 points
• Team totals: 51 points, 41% shooting from the field (20-of-49)
Key Moments
Scranton’s balanced offensive attack played a crucial role in their victory, with six players scoring five or more points. The Lady Knights were efficient from beyond the arc, knocking down five three-pointers as a team. Maggie O’Shea alone accounted for three of those, shooting 50% from deep.
North Pocono excelled in the second half, cutting the double-digit deficit to just three points late in the game. Despite their efforts, the Lady Trojans were unable to capitalize on key opportunities down the stretch, finishing just 2-of-4 from the free-throw line as a team compared to Scranton’s 80% (8-of-10) performance at the stripe.
Next Matchups
Scranton (now 10-5 overall) will head to Scranton Prep on January 27 for a highly anticipated matchup. North Pocono (8-7 overall) will host Valley View on the same night, hoping to rebound from this narrow loss.
This game showcased the competitive spirit of both teams, with Scranton’s ability to remain steady in crunch time proving to be the deciding factor.
