It wasn’t just loud, it was relentless. And when the game tightened and the pressure mounted, Riverside looked every bit like a team that’s been here before. Big shots. Calm at the line. Championship poise. In a game that demanded toughness, the Vikings delivered it possession by possession.

From the opening possession, it felt less like a semifinal and more like a reminder. Old Forge didn’t wait to see how the night would unfold, they dictated it. Threes fell, the paint was owned, and by the time the third quarter closed, the message was clear: the road to the 2A crown still runs through Old Forge.

When the nets start snapping early and often, confidence follows. And on this night at Scranton High, the Lady Knights turned a semifinal into a shooting clinic, raining threes and sending a clear message: they’re not done yet.

When the nets start snapping early and often, confidence follows. And on this night at Scranton High, the Lady Knights turned a semifinal into a shooting clinic, raining threes and sending a clear message: they’re not done yet.

Hazleton Area opened the District 2 Class 6A boys basketball playoffs with authority Wednesday night, defeating Scranton 58-40 behind a balanced offensive effort and a dominant third-quarter surge.

DALLAS — The No. 2 seed Dallas Mountaineers punched their ticket to the PIAA District 2 Class 5A semifinals Wednesday night with a commanding 45-22 win over No. 7 Wallenpaupack.

The Dallas Lady Mountaineers capped off an incredible 16–4 season with a historic milestone, earning the PIAA Sportsmanship Award for the first time in program history. Built on respect, resilience, and a strong team culture, this group proved that success is measured by more than just wins — it’s about the legacy they leave behind.

Lackawanna Trail High School set the tone early and never looked back, locking up Mountain View High School in the opening quarter and building a 34–17 halftime lead in a 66–53 district playoff win. Logan Seigle poured in 20 points as the Lions controlled the pace from start to finish, answering Mountain View’s late push at the free throw line to seal it. Defense first. Composure late. Trail moves on.

Engaging Excerpt: Tied at 40 and trading punches in a packed Holy War, it wasn’t about who started faster, it was about who finished stronger. Holy Cross owned the final stretch, turning a dead-even battle into a statement 53–42 quarterfinal win when it mattered most.

The 2025-26 District II high school basketball regular season wrapped up this past weekend, with all eyes now set on Mohegan Sun Arena. The district playoffs start Feb. 17 and will culminate with five district champions crowned and 11 state playoff teams decided. Here’s a preview of every classification and a prediction for each district championship game. Teams will be listed in order of seeding from highest to lowest.

The District II girls basketball regular season concluded on Feb. 14 with division and conference champions being crowned. Now all eyes are on the district playoffs. This is a preview of each class and a prediction for the championship game. Teams will be listed from highest to lowest seed.

Pittston Area opened the Class 5A district playoffs with a commanding 60 to 37 victory over Nanticoke Area, building a strong first half lead and riding a balanced scoring attack to advance to the semifinals.

For three quarters, it felt like a tug-of-war. Every bucket answered. Every stop matched. But when the fourth quarter arrived, the Lady Crusaders dug deep, locked in defensively, and found just enough separation to keep their season moving.

Eight minutes. That’s all it took for Dunmore to flip the switch from contender to controller. 23 straight points, relentless defense, and an intense home gym watching the defending champs hit cruise control early.

She wasn’t chasing a record. She was chasing the next dive. When Kate O’Hearn stepped onto the board at Pittston Area, the record book wasn’t on her mind. Focus was. Rhythm was. The next step forward was. And yet by the end of the day, the board beneath her feet told a different story. Five varsity sports. Honor roll academics. Year-round competition. At Old Forge, O’Hearn isn’t just busy, she’s essential. In small-school athletics, multi-sport athletes don’t just thrive. They carry programs. So when she broke Pittston Area’s diving record, and then broke it again, it wasn’t coincidence. It was confidence meeting preparation. “It goes so much faster than you think,” she said. And somehow, in a career packed with seasons, teammates, and milestones, she made every moment count, one leap at a time.