The Pittston Area boys basketball team was represented at the Coaches vs. Cancer Media Day in Scranton by, from left: Brayden Shotwell, Lucas LoPresto, John Jadus, and assistant coach Dominic Jannuzzi.
Tom Robinson | For Sunday Dispatch
The Wyoming Area boys basketball team was represented at Coaches vs. Cancer Media Day in Scranton by, from left: Liam Meier, Bruno Pizzano, Drew Keating, head coach Anthony Macario, Luke Kopetchny, Mitchell Rusinchak, and Shane Pepe.
Tom Robinson | For Sunday Dispatch
Old Forge returns four starters from a team that won a District 2 title and made it to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state quarterfinals in Class 2A boys basketball last season.
The Blue Devils went 23-6 and gave champion Linville Hill its closest state test prior to the championship game, losing 75-63.
Leading scorer Cameron Parker and Logan Fanning, the center who played a major role in the postseason run, lead the list of returnees and were prominent in an opening night victory.
Parker scored 15 points while the 6-foot-6 Fanning had 10 points, 20 rebounds and six blocked shots in a 45-42 victory over Emmaus.
Cameron Krushnowski and point guard Ryan DeMarco, the other two returning starters, added nine and eight points in the opener. DeMarco did all his scoring in the second half, including going 3-for-4 from the line in the fourth quarter as Emmaus was cutting into deficits of 25-14 at the half and 34-26 through three quarters.
Parker and DeMarco, who is in his third year running the offense, are both in their fourth varsity seasons. Krushnowski led the team in 3-pointers last season.
Nick Salerno moves into the starting lineup.
Old Forge girls
Dante Lucarelli is the head coach at Old Forge after serving in that position on an interim basis last season.
The Lady Devils went 5-9 in Lackawanna League Division 2, reached the .500 level overall for the regular season and finished 11-12 when they lost to Holy Cross in the District 2 Class 2A quarterfinals.
Ava Arnold and Mia Fox are the returning starters.
Aryanna Harris saw a lot of action as a freshman. Addison Rafalko was also part of the mix before being lost to injury and, if healthy, is another likely starter.
Media Day
Friday was Opening Night around the state, but first players and coaches helped build up anticipation for the season with three events Nov. 23.
Boys and girls players and coaches from all around District 2 were part of Coaches vs. Cancer Media Day at Lackawanna College Student Union in the morning and early afternoon. Wyoming Valley Conference girls coaches held their annual Media Day at noon at Grotto Pizza at the Wyoming Valley Mall. WVC boys coaches met with the media at Patte’s Sports Bar in Wilkes-Barre.
Teams are free to use other dates but Jan. 26-Feb. 1 has been designated as Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers Week and most District 2 teams are expected to set their special games for that timeframe.
Several Northeastern Pennsylvania schools rank among the best in the nation in raising money for the American Cancer Society through the initiative, which has generated more than $3 million locally in the past two decades.
When it comes time to concentrate on teams and players, emphasis in basketball, football and other high school sports seems to frequently focus on district and state aspirations.
Pittston Area coach Al Semenza is one who would like things to be seen differently.
“I guess my age shows that I think winning a division means something,” he said.
Looking ahead
As for those division races that Semenza referenced, the defending champions rate as slight favorites.
After 54 years between division titles Wyoming Area is a threat to repeat in Division 2 boys where another two-team race with Holy Redeemer is expected. Tunkhannock is the only other team given much of a chance of contending.
Wilkes-Barre Area, the division champion, is expected to face challenges from Dallas, last year’s WVC Tournament champion, and Hazleton Area. Pittston Area and/or Crestwood could also be in the mix.
Hazleton Area, coming off an unbeaten regular season, is the favorite in Division 1 girls where three strong teams – Crestwood and Dallas – reside.
Holy Redeemer is favored over defending champion Lake-Lehman and Nanticoke in Division 2.
On the district level, the Lackawanna League swept all five District 2 boys titles last season with wins from 6A down to 2A by Scranton, Abington Heights, Valley View, Riverside and Old Forge.
Valley View and Holy Cross made the state quarterfinals while Riverside and Old Forge were semifinalists.
Holy Cross, Riverside and Old Forge all have the chance to be forces on the state level.
Crestwood and Mountain View made the state girls semifinals. Hazleton Area was unbeaten into the quarterfinals where Scranton Prep also made an appearance.
Hazleton Area, Crestwood, Scranton Prep, Dunmore, Mountain View and Susquehanna are the defending district champions.
Among the district’s top returning boys players are: Riverside’s Nico Antoniacci, Wyoming Area’s Luke Kopetchny, Wilkes-Barre Area’s David Jannuzzi, Hazleton Area’s Dylan Stish, Scranton’s Tony Battaglia, North Pocono’s Cole West and Abington Heights’ Jordan Shaffer.
Antoniacci set a school record Friday night when he opened his sophomore season with 53 first-half points in a rout of Wyoming Valley West.
Three-time, first-team, all-state Addison Kilmer is back at Mountain View.
Some of the district’s other top returning girls are: Hazleton Area’s Kaitlyn Bindas, Wyoming Seminary’s Ella Stambaugh, Crestwood’s Jackie Gallagher, Scranton’s Chrissy Jacklinski, Valley View’s Cora Castellani, North Pocono’s Ella Clementoni and Scranton Prep’s Chloe Mamera.
