In front of a roaring crowd and packed student sections, the Riverside Vikings outlasted the Old Forge Blue Devils in a nail-biting overtime battle, 63-58. Nico Antoniacci led the charge for Riverside with an incredible 28-point performance, including five three-pointers and a perfect 5-for-5 from the line. Despite a valiant effort by Old Forge’s Cameron Parker and Camren Krushnowski, Riverside’s clutch play down the stretch sealed the win in a game that will be talked about for weeks.

The latest District 11 rankings highlight both consistency and resilience among the top teams while showcasing the fierce competition across the district. Emmaus and Notre Dame Green Pond hold onto the #1 spots in their respective divisions, but rising stars like Liberty, Parkland, and Pen Argyl are shaking things up. Meanwhile, perennial contenders like Bethlehem Catholic and Executive Education face some challenges as they work to rebound.

In a thrilling Lackawanna Division III showdown, Carbondale Area secured their first win of the season, narrowly defeating Susquehanna 46-45. Cole Becchetti and Francisco Roman combined for 39 points, leading the Chargers to victory. Despite a strong effort from Griffin Fisk, who tallied 13 points, the Sabers fell just short in a game defined by clutch plays and missed opportunities.

Delaware Valley boys defeated Wallenpaupack, 53-29, in a commanding performance led by Sam Wood and Tyler Lombardo, who each scored 15 points. Justin Blanding paced Wallenpaupack with 15 points with a strong effort. The Lady Buckhorns defeated Delaware Valley 38-26, led by Ella Smiths 19 points and a key three-pointer. Sarah Decker added 9 points, while strong defense and free-throw accuracy secured the win. The games, a Coaches vs. Cancer event in Northeast Pa titled The Pretty in Pink Classic, celebrated basketball and community, honoring cancer survivors in a powerful halftime ceremony of both the boys and girls games.

On January 10, two of the three remaining unbeaten girls basketball teams in District 2 faced off. The Valley View Lady Cougars hit the road to take on their biggest rivals, the Scranton Prep Classics. The Lackawanna League Division One matchup marked the first meeting between these two teams since the PIAA District 2 4A championship game last season, where the Classics took home the gold by a final score of 55-31. This time around, the Classics picked up the win again by a final score of 59-34. The Classics improve to 11-0 and the Lady Cougars fall to 11-1.

The Hazleton Area Cougars delivered a commanding performance on Friday night, securing a decisive 76-47 victory over the Pittston Area Patriots in high school basketball action. The game, held at Hazleton Area’s home court, saw a balanced offensive attack from the Cougars, while Pittston Area struggled to keep pace despite strong individual efforts.

The Panthers set the tone early with sharp shooting from KJ Coles and powerful inside play by Adrian Brito, sparking a dominant first-quarter run. Strong defensive play by Jonathan Mateo and Brady Behr forced turnovers and stifled the Huskies offense, securing a commanding lead that Pocono Mountain West maintained throughout the game. With this dominant win, the Panthers continued to assert themselves as one of the top teams in the conference and look ready for a strong run at another District chip.

Elk Lake’s swim team made waves on Wednesday night, ending Scranton Prep’s 73-meet winning streak with a thrilling 98-84 victory. The Lady Warriors celebrated their milestone win with pure joy, even tossing their coaches into the pool during the post-meet festivities. The triumph was fueled by standout performances from Hannah Howell and a sweep in diving, solidifying Elk Lake as a team to watch this season.

The Sportzwire Team is collaborating with local schools hosting Coaches vs. Cancer events to provide free photo albums that hope to help amplify awareness and encourage donations. By partnering with these schools, they hope to raise funds and foster a united community effort in the fight against cancer.

Scranton Prep Stuns Top-Ranked Valley View with Second-Half Surge Scranton Prep with a 3 point halftime lead at the half over previously unbeaten Valley View, surged to a 50-36 victory, in a thrilling Lackawanna League Division I matchup. Packy Doherty led the Cavaliers with 15 points, while Brycen Martin added 11, both delivering clutch performances in the second half. The Cavaliers shot an impressive 46.3% from the field and 90% from the free-throw line, outpacing Valley View’s 35.6% field-goal percentage. Defensive adjustments and balanced scoring propelled Scranton Prep to a decisive 31-20 second-half run, handing Valley View (11-1, 3-1) its first loss of the season.

The Lake-Lehman Black Knights secured a commanding 51-41 victory over the Nanticoke Area Trojanettes in an intense girls’ basketball matchup held at Lake-Lehman High School. Consistent scoring performances from Kathryn Morgan and Kinley Purdy, who each tallied 14 points, powered the Black Knights to a well-earned win on their home court.

Montrose asserted their dominance with balanced scoring and a strong defensive showing. Connor Flynn and Jack Russell led the Meteors offense, while Paxton Pingerelli was a bright spot for Blue Ridge in a tough outing.

Tony Battaglias six three-pointers and 20-point performance powered the Scranton Knights to a 58-48 victory over the West Scranton Invaders at Lackawanna College. Nathan Schimelfenig shines for the Invaders with 18 points in a valiant effort.

Addison Kilmer led the charge with a stellar 23-point performance as Mountain View overwhelmed Lackawanna Trail, 61-20. With 7 three-pointers and strong contributions from Aubrey Sanders, Riley Turner, and others, the Lady Eagles showcased their depth and dominance. Lackawanna Trail, despite their effort, struggled to keep pace, making no three-pointers and scoring just one free throw.

Wilkes-Barre, PA — On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, the Dallas boys’ basketball team secured a 57-49 victory over Wilkes-Barre Area in a well-contested matchup. The game showcased Dallas’s offensive efficiency and balanced scoring, allowing them to maintain control despite a strong effort from the Wolfpack.