Blue Ridge Red Raiders

When the clock is bleeding out and everything is on the line, the Blue Ridge Raiders don’t flinch. They lean in. Twice in one week, Blue Ridge stared down last-second chaos and twice, they walked away winners. A Paxton Pingarelli turnaround jump hook to sink Carbondale. A freshman, Jack Parks, burying a buzzer-beating three against Montrose moments after the game was tied. Why belief, not luck, keeps showing up for Blue Ridge!

What started as a back-and-forth opening quarter turned quickly once Abigail Gelinger caught fire. The Blue Ridge junior poured in 17 second-quarter points to flip the game on its head, sparking a decisive run that put the Lady Raiders firmly in control. Gelinger’s scoring surge fueled a complete road performance and showcased why she’s becoming one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the division.

Holy Cross wasted no time setting the tempo Tuesday night. A blistering first quarter created instant separation, and from there the Lady Crusaders stayed in control, rolling to a 61–38 nonleague victory over visiting Blue Ridge.

Blue Ridge setter McKenna Zick recorded her 1000th career assist and led the top seeded Lady Raiders to a 3-0 sweep over Elk Lake in the District 2 Class 2A quarterfinals. Zick finished with 28 assists and 13 service points, while teammate Abigail Gelinger added 13 kills, including the 500th of her career.

“Limits exist only in the mind.” For Matt Marcinek, these aren’t just words—they’re a way of life. Born with cerebral palsy, Matt could’ve let the world define him by his condition. Instead, he forged a path no one saw coming. Through sweat, science, and sheer will, he became a respected grappling coach, a mental performance expert, and the founder of No Limits Grappling Academy—Scranton’s powerhouse of No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu. His journey isn’t just about martial arts. It’s about refusing to be boxed in. About transforming pain into purpose. About proving that greatness isn’t reserved for the lucky or the able-bodied—it’s earned by those who keep showing up, even when it’s hard. In every class he teaches, every student he guides, and every story of struggle he helps rewrite, Matt’s message rings loud and clear: You are not your limitations. You are your mindset.

The Warriors erupted for seven runs in the third inning, which included three hits. Braydon McMicken drew a walk to score one, Brayden Miller’s single brought in another run, and Felker's sacrifice fly plated two more. Sherman followed with a two-run single, and an error allowed one additional run to score.

Hot shooting and balanced scoring helped Wyoming Seminary secure a spot in the Class 2A semifinals, while Blue Ridge struggled to find consistency from deep. Kraus and Hansen’s combined 30 points proved too much to handle and now advance for a dance with the Devils on Saturday in Old Forge.

The Montrose Meteors secured a hard-fought 71-65 victory over the Blue Ridge Raiders in a meaningful matchup that extended beyond the scoreboard. Hosted as Blue Ridge’s Coaches vs. Cancer awareness event, the night was dedicated to supporting Blue Ridge graduate Cody Vincent, who was unable to attend due to illness. Proceeds from the event, including a basket raffle and T-shirt sales, were donated to Vincent and his family, who recently welcomed a newborn.

Lackawanna Trail edged Blue Ridge 58-54 in an overtime thriller Friday night. Ayla Seigle led the Lady Lions with 23 points, while Reagan Norman and Madison Palmer added key contributions. With their depth and determination, Lackawanna Trail proved unstoppable in the extra period.