First Posted: 2/11/2015
Tyler McGarry has had a difficult seven days.
The Pittston Area senior boys basketball player was just 56 points away from scoring his 1,000th career point while leading the Patriots this season. In a game against Hazleton Area Friday, Feb. 6, McGarry fractured his ankle and is “out indefinitely,” according to Pittston Area coach Alan Kiesinger.
McGarry, however, didn’t let that stop him from focusing on his post-high school plans — and he’ll get to continue his basketball career. McGarry committed to play golf and basketball at Misericordia University this fall, studying Sports Management.
Both Misericordia’s basketball and golf teams are coached by Trevor Woodruff. The Cougars’ cage team is currently 14-9 overall and 5-2 in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Division.
“Misericordia first showed interest in me at the start of basketball season,” McGarry said. “Trevor has been at a few games. He was originally recruiting me for basketball, but after the golf season I had he told me I could play both.”
The 6-foot-5 guard has been the centerpiece to the Patriots team all season. Through Wednesday, Feb. 11, McGarry is second in the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 with 19.3 points per game — he’s third overall in the entire Wyoming Valley Conference. He’s nailed 16 threes and shoots a blistering 83 percent from the free throw line.
In his 11 games this season — in conference — he’s scored 212 points.
The Patriots played one of their best games of the season the same night McGarry went down with the injury. Pittston Area, which is now 6-7 in Division 1, lost a nail biter to Hazleton Area. The Cougars came into the game 16-4 overall.
“I was just itching to get in there,” McGarry said. “The guys played great. It’s been tough going down so close to the end of the season.”
Although McGarry hasn’t been able to get on the floor, he has an evaluation this Monday, Feb. 16, and he’ll find out if he can suit up for a playoff game. Since his injury, he has been on the bench supporting his teammates whenever they need him.
“They are all there for me,” he said. “If I need anything they are there. They know how hard this is, but I’m sure it’s taken a toll on them.”
During last year’s District 2 playoff run, McGarry was a starter and lifted the Patriots several times as a junior.
McGarry has been just as impressive on the golf course. He’s golfed for just two years but had a memorable 2014 campaign, winning the Wyoming Valley Conference Class 3A Pre-District Tournament and the PIAA District 2 Class 3A Tournament after taking second at the Tryba Preseason Invitational.
He was named the Times Leader’s Golfer of the Year.
Misericordia plays its home matches at Irem Temple Country Club.
With the school located just several miles away in Dallas, McGarry is excited to go to school close to home, but still have his independence.
“It’s far away enough for me, but it’s close enough for my family to come see me play,” he said.
A few years back, playing college basketball and golf wasn’t on McGarry’s radar — baseball was. He thought he would play college baseball. But after he found out he was a natural on the golf course, and continued to work on his basketball game, baseball was now out of the question.
While at Misericordia, McGarry will be able to play against some old teammates and friends. Wilkes’ freshman Mason Gross was a big part of the Pittston Area team last season.
“It’s going to be fun,” McGarry said. “We have a lot of former players in the conference. Now I get to play against them in college.”
