Southern Columbia found a second quarter spark and never looked back against Selinsgrove. After the Seals jumped out to a 6-0 lead, Olivia Jones and the Tigers put 10 straight points together and took a 16-8 lead into half. Jones continued her solid works in the second half, granting Southern Columbia victory.

On December 4th Delaware Valley High School hosts its 3rd annual law enforcement versus staff basketball game with all proceeds going to help local children in need. Admission is a toy or a five dollar donation. Lucas and his team will be calling the game live so whether you plan to tune in or stop by in person this is a great chance to support a meaningful community event.

One of District 2’s most dominant defenders is now off the board. After a whirlwind recruitment filled with national attention and major program pushes, Riverside standout Tavian Branch has planted his flag in the SEC. The Vikings senior has committed to Auburn, where the Tigers see him as a future force on their defensive front.

Selinsgrove brought the energy, the dunks, and the student-section chaos to tip off the season the right way. After Holy Redeemer’s quick punch, the Seals answered with a Mac DeFazio spark and not one but two slams from Xaivier Jackson sending the gym into orbit. Behind Jackson’s 21 and a whole squad chipping in, Selinsgrove strutted out with a 61-45 home-opener win and a whole lot of energy to build on.

The Lady Rangers exploded out of the gate, scoring the first 10 points of the game and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Fans rose to their feet as the scoreboard flashed a stunning 10–0 Northwest lead, while Wyoming Sem stood visibly stunned.

Two teams. Two communities. One early-season matchup that already feels bigger than December basketball. Riverside and Wilkes-Barre Area, both ranked inside the top five of the District 2 preseason Coaches Poll, have come out of the gate sharp and confident.

Southern Lehigh’s Sean Steckert isn’t just putting up numbers, he’s rewriting what it means to be a three-sport powerhouse in the Lehigh Valley. The senior star has bulldozed his way past 2,900 total yards, captained on the wrestling mat, sprinted his way to states on the track, and still finds time to serve communities from Pennsylvania to Jamaica. With a 3.9 GPA, a humble heart, and a motor that doesn’t quit, Steckert has become the pulse of the Spartans’ historic rise. Now, with the school’s first-ever State Championship game on deck, one of the Valley’s toughest athletes is writing a legacy in real time and everyone is watching.

A tie game at halftime turned into a statement finish. Southern Columbia used a smothering defense, a burst of back-to-back momentum swings, and a clock-draining ground attack to power past Lansdale Catholic, 24–7, and punch its ticket to a remarkable 23rd PIAA championship appearance.

On a holiday built on gratitude, the West Scranton Youth Center has shown our region what giving truly looks like. Over the past couple of weeks, youth wrestlers, artists, families, alumni, neighbors, and volunteers came together for two powerful food distribution nights, ensuring cupboards were full and spirits were lifted heading into Thanksgiving. What began as a simple idea to help a few families has grown into a community-wide movement of generosity and compassion, fueled by young athletes and supported by dozens of local partners. Today, as tables fill across NEPA, so does the pride in a neighborhood that refuses to let anyone go without.

Misericordia University used a blistering shooting performance and a wave of bench production to overpower Penn State Abington, 95–67, on Monday night at the Anderson Sports-Health Center. The Cougars improved to 4–2 on the season, while the Nittany Lions dropped to 0–8.

Our Wired Athlete of the Week, powered by Envy Electrical, is Northwestern Lehigh quarterback Shane Leh, who delivered one of the postseason’s sharpest performances 17-for-19, 222 yards, and 5 touchdowns in a 42–14 quarterfinal win over Scranton Prep. A driving force in the Tigers’ 30-game win streak, Leh’s calm leadership and team-first mentality continue to elevate everyone around him.

Nearly three decades after a group of Pittston friends bundled up for a casual Thanksgiving flag football game, the Greater Pittston Santa Squad’s “Thanksgiving Day Classic” has become one of the region’s most powerful holiday traditions. What started with a few laughs and a handful of toys now fuels a 501(c)(3) that delivers Christmas joy to more than 1,600 local children each year. This year’s game at Charlie Trippi Stadium brought out families, fierce rivals, and heart-of-gold volunteers and even delivered the emotional return of the long-lost MVP trophy. It’s a story of community, tradition, and the kind of hometown magic that only grows stronger with time.

The Misericordia University football team just wrapped up the kind of season that can change the direction of a program. Under first-year head coach Steve Cushing, the Cougars finished 7–4 overall and 7–2 in the MAC, earning a spot in the MAC–Centennial Bowl Series before falling 24–17 at Carnegie Mellon.

Lackawanna College’s Student Union turned electric as Coaches vs. Cancer NEPA welcomed teams from across the region for a media day that celebrated both the start of basketball season and a mission nearly two decades strong. Excitement, unity, and purpose defined a day that set the tone for what’s ahead this winter.

WHITEHALL TWP — North Pocono’s dream season came to a close Friday night, as the Trojans fell 28–6 to District 12 champion Cardinal O’Hara in the PIAA Class 4A state quarterfinals at Whitehall High School. Cardinal O’Hara scored on its opening 11-play drive and never trailed, leaning on a physical defense and a downhill run game to hand North Pocono its first and only loss of the year.