The exhibitions are almost over. Now it’s time to take their talents against one another — hopefully.

The annual Pittston Area Girls Holiday Tournament will kick off on Monday, Dec. 28 at the Gene Guarilia Court in the Thomas R. Kelly Gymnasium at Pittston Area High School. The three teams competing will be Pittston Area, Wyoming Area, East Stroudsburg South and Lake-Lehman.

In last year’s tournament, Pittston Area’s Liz Waleski scored 23 points to lead the Patriots past Lake-Lehman for the championship. The tournament Most Valuable Player was Pittston Area’s Allie Barber.

The games will begin when Wyoming Area plays against East Stroudsburg South at 6 p.m. on Monday. Pittston Area will play Lake-Lehman in the nightcap. Both winners will play against one another for the championship at approximately 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30. The consolation game will be held at 6 p.m.

Related Video

There will also be a junior varsity tournament on both days.

Although league games haven’t started in the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1, Pittston Area sits in the middle of the pack at 3-3 overall. Wyoming Area is 4-3. League play will begin the first week of the New Year. Wyoming Area will travel to Hanover Area on Monday, Jan. 4. On the same day, Pittston Area hosts Tunkhannock to open the league schedule.

Both Pittston Area and Wyoming Area struggled this week. Combined, the two teams went winless since Saturday, Dec. 19 — four games, four losses. Both teams, however, managed to play solid basketball and keep things close.

Wyoming Area fell to Crestwood, 72-57 in the most recent contest. On Saturday, Dec. 19, the Warriors dropped a contest to West Scranton, 65-62.

Pittston Area dropped both contests as well. Against North Pocono, however, the Patriots took the game to overtime. Pittston Area would fall to Abington Heights on Tuesday. Here’s how both Pittston Area and Wyoming Area fared this past week:

Crestwood 72, Wyoming Area 57

Sarah Holweg scored a team-high 14 points in a losing effort against the Comets on Tuesday.

Crestwood used a 25-point third quarter to lock up the win over the Warriors. Comet standout Maddie Ritsick scored a game-high 27 points. Nicole Wright and Katie Wolfgang each chipped in with 20 points. Lydia Edwards had nine points and Addison Orzel contributed six points.

North Pocono 50, Pittston Area 47, OT

Pittston Area led by one points after three quarters. However, North Pocono pushed the game to overtime. The Patriots would eventually fall to North Pocono, 50-47 in overtime.

Taryn Ashby and Marley O’Brien combined for 30 points to help pace Pittston Area. Kirsten Durling chipped in with eight points. The Patriots made 17 of 21 free throw attempts.

West Scranton 65, Wyoming Area 62

Tied after three quarters on Saturday, Dec. 19, Wyoming Area was outscored by three points against West Scranton in a 65-62 loss.

In the defeat, Sarah Holweg scored a team-high 22 points and Katie Wolfgang added another 14 points. The Warriors used a strong second quarter to get back into the game, but eventually fell. Nicole Wright added six points in the loss.

Abington Heights 41, Pittston Area 27

Pittston Area’s Taryn Ashby scored a team-high 11 points in the Patriots’ loss to Abington Heights on Tuesday.

The Patriots scored in double figures in just one quarter. In the fourth quarter, Pittston Area was held to just three points. Marley O’Brien and Alexa Noone each scored six points for the Patriots while Jamie Chisdock had four points.

Pittston Area’s Taryn Ashby, center, puts up a shot between Wyoming Area defenders Sarah Holweg, left, and Nicole Wright during last year’s Pittston Area girls basketball holiday tournament. This year’s tournament begins on Monday, Dec. 28.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_SD_PA-WA-GBB_1.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area’s Taryn Ashby, center, puts up a shot between Wyoming Area defenders Sarah Holweg, left, and Nicole Wright during last year’s Pittston Area girls basketball holiday tournament. This year’s tournament begins on Monday, Dec. 28. Bill Tarutis File Photo | For Sunday Dispatch
PA holiday tournament begins Dec. 28

By Nick Wagner

nwagner@timesleader.com

IF YOU GO

The Pittston Area Girls Basketball Holiday Tournament will be held on Monday, Dec. 28 and Wednesday, Dec. 30. Junior varsity games will begin at 3 p.m. with varsity games kicking off at 6 p.m.

Reach Nick Wagner at 570-991-6406 or on Twitter @Dispatch_Nick