Pittston Area Heading to the District Finals with a Comeback Victory Over Wallenpaupack
By: John Kotsko | Sportzwire | February 22, 2025 | Photo courtesy John Kotsko
Down eight in the fourth quarter, the Patriots have done what they have done all season, kept on fighting back. Silvio Giardina hit a big three pointer and Aidan Lynn hit key free throws during the fourth quarter to get to Pittston Area to the Mohegan Arena for the first time since 2022 with a 37-33 victory over Wallenpaupack. “I sat them down and I told them we got to keep fighting.” Said Patriots head coach Al Semenza.
The Buckhorns started with a 4-0 lead courtesy of four free throws. Pittston Area tied the game up with baskets by Lucas LoPresto and Matt Walter. The game stayed tied at 4 after one quarter. Both teams traded three pointers to start the quarter then traded two free throws. Nick Vanbuskirk gave Wallenpaupack the lead at 11-9 and that was the lead at halftime.
Aiden Lynn tied the game up with a pair of free throws. Both teams traded three pointers then Diego Adames and Vanbuskirk got baskets to make it 18-14. Walter cut the lead down to one but Adames and Justin Blanding got the lead to 22-17. Giardina cut the lead to two with a three pointer but Vanbuskirk made it 24-20 as the third quarter came to a close.
Drew Kiesendahl started with a basket and got fouled. He missed the free throw but the Buckhorns got the rebound and Vanbuskirk got the basket on the putback to make it an eight point game. Giardina scored five straight points for Pittston Area to make it a three point play. Lynn then got a three point play to tie the game at 28. Vanbuskirk gave Wallenpaupack the lead back with a basket. Lynn hit four straight free throws to give the Patriots their first lead of the game at 32-30. Kiesendahl hit a three pointer to give the Buckhorns the lead once again. Wallenpaupack got a stop on defense. The Buckhorns missed two free throws with 1:06 left. Giardina drew a foul and hit both free throws to give Pittston Area the lead at 34-33 with 45.5 seconds left. The Buckhorns three pointer to take the lead was just short and LoPresto grabbed the rebound. LoPresto hit one of two free throws with 24.7 seconds left to make it 35-33. Pittston Area got the stop on defense. LoPresto hit both free throws with 2.8 seconds to go to seal a 37-33 victory over Wallenpaupack. Giardina and LoPresto each had a team high 10 points for the Patriots. Aiden Lynn had 7 of his nine points in the fourth quarter. “Our bigs won us that game and our coaching staff won us that game. They deserve that one.” Said Giardina. Aidan Lynn after the game: “It feels really good, I’ve never been to the Arena before. We were down eight, I’m proud of our boys.”
Pittston Area 37 Wallenpaupack 33
Wallenpaupack
Nick Vanbuskirk 11
Justin Blanding 5
Diego Adames 9
Frank Church 3
Drew Kiesendahl 5
Pittston Area
Lucas LoPresto 10
Matt Walter 5
Paul Jordan McGarry 3
Aiden Lynn 9
Silvio Giardina 10
