With the game tied just before halftime. Tony Battaglia found Jayden Burrell in the corner and Burrell hit the three at the buzzer. “It was momentum building going into half.” Said Scranton head coach Tony Battaglia. The Knights used that momentum to propel them to their fifth straight District 2 6A Championship 44-35 over Hazleton Area. Tony Battaglia had a game high 15 points and Jayden Burrell added nine.
The PTFCA Indoor State Championships saw some outstanding performances from District 2 athletes, as they made their mark against Pennsylvania’s best. With multiple top-10 finishes and personal bests, the championship meet proved that District 2 talent is ready to make noise as the outdoor season approaches.
Elk Lake has been a problem for Mountain View this season. Defeating them twice in the regular season. Mountain View played one of their best games on defense all season as they held Elk Lake to 17 points as the Eagles took the District 2 2A Championship 34-17 over Elk Lake. Brooklyn Anderson had a game high ten points and Addison Kilmer had all nine points in the fourth quarter. “I thought our defense was great. To get this type of effort, I could not have imagined a better effort.” Said Mountain View Head Coach Corey Gesford.
Late in the fourth quarter, Scranton pushed Hazleton Area’s lead down to six. The Lady Cougars ended up pulling away to win the District 2 6A Girls Basketball Championship 62-47 over Scranton. Kaitlyn Bindas had a team high 18 points and Sophia Benyo added 14. “We took the press off with 5 minutes to go and we did very good.” Said Hazleton Area head coach Joe Gavio of the change he made on defense.
Abington Heights trailed for most of the game. When it mattered the most, the Comets came up big. Billy Johnson got a basket to give them the lead and Jordan Shaffer had a big three point play with 2:21 left to make it a four point game as Abington Height won it’s third straight District 2 5A Title 53-48 over Pittston Area. It was the first District title for Head Coach JC Show, who replaced Ken Bianchi. “I said to the team before the game, we’ve endured some storms on the basketball court and we’ve gone underwater but we got here and we’re competing for a Championship.”
After MMI took the lead on a buzzer beating three pointer, Susquehanna head coach Jeff Baldwin sat his team down. “I told them you gotta really work hard, you gotta work this next quarter to win this, they aren’t going away.” The Lady Sabers got six straight points from Lauren Huyck to build a five point lead and held on to defeat MMI Prep to win the District 2 Single-A Championship 37-34. Huyck scored a game high 17 points and Kiera Burke added 10 for the District Champions.
Scranton Prep wins 4A Girls District 2 Championship in Convincing Fashion When Valley View cut the lead down to eight in the third quarter, Scranton Prep needed to right the ship. Maya Jenkins got a three point play to stop the run and Jenna Hillebrand got a basket before the end of the quarter and pulled away in the fourth quarter to take a 62-36 victory over Valley View to win another District 2 4A Championship. Jenna Hillebrand had a game high 21 points and Maya Jenkins added 15 points. Even though the game was close in the third Classics head coach Bob Beviglia knew his team wouldn’t be denied. “I thought when we are able to get out and run. That’s when we are at our best. When we were able to get out in transition and outnumbered situations. That was the difference in the game.”
This was the fourth time that Riverside and Holy Cross played this season. Both split their regular season matchups and the Crusaders winning the Division Title. “I think we provided Northeast Pennsylvania basketball community with a great season of basketball.” Said Vikings head coach Josh Aniska. Riverside took the District 2 3A Title for the second straight year with a 61-50 victory over Holy Cross. Gerry Rose had a game high 21 points and Brayden Rose added 14 points for Riverside.
In the land of five mountains, nestled in the heart of Shickshinny, a small town with a big heart, the Northwest Rangers etched their names in history by capturing the District 4 2A Boys Basketball Championship, a title they hadn’t won since 1992. The road to the championship was not an easy one, but the Rangers overcame every challenge in their path, culminating in a 58-34 victory over the Muncy Indians in the District final.
Wyoming Area pulled off a stunning upset Tuesday night, defeating Dallas 69-61 on the road to claim the third seed from District 2 in the Pennsylvania 4A state playoffs. The victory avenged a 69-42 loss to the Mountaineers in the Wyoming Valley Conference playoffs earlier this season and marked a major milestone for the Warriors’ program.
This game marked the last for two key seniors, #14 Shamonie Rose and #11 Jaidyn Kotch. Their leadership and commitment over the years were evident as they gave it their all in the final moments of their collegiate careers.
On Friday, February 21st, Penn State Wilkes-Barre wrapped up their regular season with a strong 79-58 win against Penn State Lehigh Valley. The victory was crucial for the team, as it not only secured a solid ending to their regular season but also broke a 2-game losing streak. The win gives them the momentum they need heading into the postseason, where they\'ll face Penn State Mont Alto in the PSUAC quarterfinals on Monday night.
Despite a valiant effort, Wilkes-Barre struggled offensively throughout the fame, unable to find consistent scoring. Mont Alto\'s defense was stifling, and Wilkes-Barre couldn\'t keep pace with their high-scoring attack. However, two players from Wilkes-Barre stepped up with impressive performances. #3 Christopher Killings led the team with 19 points, showcasing his scoring ability despite the tough circumstances. #20 Anton Berga also contributed significantly with a 12-point effort, providing some offense for the team during crucial moments.
Wilkes-Barre, PA – In a thrilling overtime showdown, the Hazleton Area Cougars avenged their regular-season losses to Wilkes-Barre Area, securing a 65-55 victory in the District 2-6A semifinals on Monday night. The win propels Hazleton into Saturday’s championship game against Scranton.
This win is significant for Muncy, as it serves as a form of revenge after their recent Conference Championship defeat. Muncy’s victory in this semi-final has sent them to the District Championship game, where they will look to capture the title next week. For Northwest, it’s a tough loss, but the Lady Rangers will undoubtedly look to build on the experience and improve for next year. The Lady Rangers will play Canton for 3rd place in the District and a chance to advance to State playoffs.