North Pocono Trojans

GWYNEDD VALLEY — North Pocono earned a hard-fought road victory Saturday afternoon, defeating Gwynedd Mercy 42–35 in the opening round of the PIAA Class 5A girls basketball state playoffs.

WILKES-BARRE — Under the bright lights of the Mohegan Sun Arena, Crestwood looked exactly like the team that has controlled District 2 Class 5A all winter long.

Because front row isn’t just a seat in the arena, it’s a place in the story. And the story is still being written.

Valley View used a strong second half push to rally past North Pocono, 57 to 49, Saturday afternoon in a Division I matchup. Trailing at halftime, the Cougars leaned on timely shooting and late game execution to remain unbeaten and continue their impressive early season run.

The Lady Trojans set the tone early, racing out to a commanding 30–2 lead by the end of the first quarter. North Pocono’s pressure defense and fast-paced offense continued to overwhelm Trail in the second quarter, sending NP into halftime with a decisive 53–10 advantage.

Southern Lehigh senior Sean Steckert, a former SportzWire Wired Athlete of the Week and state champion, was named Player of the Year as the Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Association announced its 2025 Class 4A All-State Team. District 2 was prominently represented by North Pocono’s trio of Cole Zimmerman, Evan Wolff, and Cole West, highlighting the program’s strength across multiple units. Steckert’s honor capped a dominant season for Southern Lehigh, which also saw Phil Sams earn Coach of the Year recognition following a championship run.

Southern Lehigh senior Sean Steckert, a former SportzWire Wired Athlete of the Week and state champion, was named Player of the Year as the Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Association announced its 2025 Class 4A All-State Team. District 2 was prominently represented by North Pocono’s trio of Cole Zimmerman, Evan Wolff, and Cole West, highlighting the program’s strength across multiple units. Steckert’s honor capped a dominant season for Southern Lehigh, which also saw Phil Sams earn Coach of the Year recognition following a championship run.

WHITEHALL TWP — North Pocono’s dream season came to a close Friday night, as the Trojans fell 28–6 to District 12 champion Cardinal O’Hara in the PIAA Class 4A state quarterfinals at Whitehall High School. Cardinal O’Hara scored on its opening 11-play drive and never trailed, leaning on a physical defense and a downhill run game to hand North Pocono its first and only loss of the year.

The North Pocono Trojans improved to 13-0 Friday night with a 40–36 victory over Bishop Shanahan in the PIAA Class 4A state tournament. North Pocono opened the game with a 13-0 lead behind two early rushing touchdowns from Josiah Gray and carried a 13-7 advantage into halftime.

It’s been 34 years since the North Pocono community has buzzed like this. Yard signs, porch flags, and packed stands celebrate a Trojans team that just completed a flawless 10-0 regular season, capturing the LFC Division 1 crown and the top seed in the District 2 Class 4A playoffs. For players Matt Laboranti, Cole West, and Evan Wolff, this moment is even more meaningful as their fathers once wore the same red and white during the legendary seasons of 1991 and 1993. Those glory days helped shape the men they’ve become, and now, the next generation is carrying that proud tradition forward with FAMILY stitched on their backs and history guiding their steps.

North Pocono erupted for 28 second-half points to pull away from Valley View, securing a 42–10 win despite an early left-hash field goal from Braden Loff. The Cougars now turn their focus to another big hurdle next week at Delaware Valley.

On homecoming night at Trojans Stadium, North Pocono rode three touchdowns from sophmore Joe Briskie and a pair of key interceptions to roll past Dallas and stay unbeaten. Briskie, sidelined by the Mountaineers a year ago with an injury, called the performance a redemption “beat down,” while praising his offensive line for paving the way.

North Pocono continues to hold the top spot in the District 2 Big School Top 10, nearly doubling its point total from last week to 94. Abington Heights and Pittston Area remain close behind, while Valley View jumps into the top five. Delaware Valley also climbs a spot, pushing Crestwood down to eighth, as the middle of the rankings sees plenty of movement.

SportzWire is proud to launch its first-ever Wired Athlete of the Week, powered by Envy Electrical. This weekly honor celebrates student-athletes who are wired right to make an impact in more ways than one, on the field of play, in the classroom, and throughout their communities. Our debut honoree, North Pocono senior golfer Lyla Jones, has set the bar high with championship performances, leadership, and a true love for the game that lights up everyone around her.

The District 2 preseason coaches’ poll has arrived, and the message is clear: this isn’t one person’s opinion, it’s the collective voice of coaches across the region weighing in on who’s ready to bring the heat. Delaware Valley leads the Big School rankings, while Scranton Prep tops the Small Schools, both programs seen as steady systems built for long runs. Backed by the insight of those who know the game best, these rankings act like a finely tuned HVAC unit balanced, efficient, and powerful. Thanks to sponsor Kleinbauer Mechanical, family owned and operated, for reminding us that whether it’s football or HVAC, reliability and honest work always rise to the top.