First Posted: 2/6/2015
HAZLETON – Alan Kiesinger told his Pittston Area players that nothing had changed when the Patriots found out they had lost leading scorer Tyler McGarry “indefinitely” to a fractured right ankle.
Those players went out Friday night and proved the message was received.
Putting together one of their strongest efforts of the season, the Patriots had a fourth-quarter lead before falling to Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 co-leader Hazleton Area, 61-49, on the road.
The Cougars (11-1 in the division and 17-4 overall) had opened a 31-point halftime lead at Pittston Area earlier this season on the way to a 62-32 rout.
“I told the guys when we got the news about Tyler, ‘nothing has changed; our goals are the same,’” Kiesinger said following Friday’s loss.
Those goals are ambitious for a team that is 5-7 and 8-12, but has shown signs of improvement recently despite battling a series of injury issues.
“The goals are the same,” Kiesinger said. “We want to go into the playoffs after winning a couple of league games, then make a run.
“Hopefully, Tyler will be back for the run.”
Michael Delaney combined three 3-pointers with strong drives to the basket on the way to a game-high 21 points. Freshman Alex McAndrew had eight of his 11 points in the second half, including baskets for a lead and a tie early in the fourth quarter.
For one night, they provided the offensive firepower that had been lost when the division’s second-leading scorer went out with an injury early in the second half of Tuesday’s win over Berwick.
“We think it’s going to come from the team,” Kiesinger said. “We have some guys that have the ability.”
Kyle Gattuso provided a spark in a different way despite scoring just two points. He led the team in assists (six), offensive rebounds (four) and steals (three).
“Kyle’s motor never stops,” Kiesinger said of Gattuso, who, like McAndrew, moved into the starting lineup during the season. “I couldn’t ask for anything more out of him.”
Gattuso’s motor didn’t even stop in the third quarter when he nearly crashed into the scorers’ table and narrowly missed a collision with a young boy walking close to the sideline. Without hesitating, Gattuso raced behind the scorers’ table, came out the other side at full stride and got back into the play defensively to hurry a Hazleton Area shot.
That hustling defense helped slow the Cougars during an eight-point Patriots streak that cut a 10-point deficit to two. It was part of one of the game’s many streaks.
McAndrew and Delaney each had 3-pointers to give Pittston Area first-quarter leads before Hazleton Area scored the last 12 points of the quarter for a 20-8 lead.
The Cougars built their lead to 25-10 during the second quarter before the Patriots held them without a field goal for more than six minutes to twice get within a basket.
Delaney had six points in the final four minutes of the half and Gattuso added his only basket, a steal and two assists during the last two minutes.
McAndrew hit a 3-pointer at the end of a 40-second possession to begin the second half, completing a 15-2 run to get within 27-25.
Chris Panzarella, who finished with 17 to lead Hazleton Area, had the first seven points of an eight-point streak to a 37-27 lead.
Delaney had a three-point play and hit a 3-point shot while Jordan Black made a basket and set up Delaney’s three-point play with a steal when Pittston Area answered with its own eight-point streak.
McAndrew hit a 3-pointer from the left corner for a 43-42 lead 36 seconds into the fourth quarter and scored from the right wing for a 45-45 tie with 5:50 left.
Hazleton Area had the last and biggest streak of the night with the next 14 points, half of them by Bobby Planutis, to put Pittston Area away.
Meyers 71, Wyoming Area 41
Meyers ran away from Wyoming Area early for a 71-41 rout in a Division 2 game Friday night.
The Mohawks led 22-2 after one quarter.
Jeremy Zezza led the Warriors with 20 points.
Pittston Area 37, Berwick 34
Colin Smith blocked two 3-point attempts in the final 10 seconds Tuesday night when Pittston Area held off Berwick, 37-34, in a Division 1 game.
The Patriots held on despite injuries after rallying from a halftime deficit.
Bernie Kurtinitus and Tyler McGarry left the game for good because of injuries 13 seconds apart early in the third quarter.
Michael Delaney hit one of two free throws with 6.5 seconds left, between Smith’s two blocks, to increase the lead to three.
Delaney finished with a team-high 11 points while McGarry and Alex McAndrew had nine each.
Hanover Area 78, Wyoming Area 51
Hanover Area opened an 18-point lead after one quarter on its way to a 78-51 romp over Wyoming Area Tuesday night.
Jake Barber finished with 17 points for the Division 2-leading Hawkeyes, who led 21-3 after one quarter.
Wyoming Area was led by Jeremy Zezza with 21 points.
