YATESVILLE — About midway through the second quarter Thursday night, it was evident there would be no overtime this time.
Hazleton Area came into Pittston Area’s gym with a mission and executed it.
The Cougars scored the first 13 points of the second quarter, taking control and eventually taking home a 69-32 victory in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 boys basketball game.
So, as it looked like for the past few weeks, the Division 1 title will come down to Hazleton Area (13-2 Div. 1, 14-6) and Crestwood (12-2 Div. 1, 16-4).
Hazleton Area finishes its WVC season on Saturday at Dallas (9-5, Div. 2, 12-8). Dallas defeated Hazleton Area 52-39 on Jan. 25. Crestwood gets Wyoming Valley West (1-13, Div. 1, 1-19) for a second consecutive day on Friday and finishes off at Coughlin (4-10, Div. 1, 5-14) on Saturday.
When Hazleton Area played Pittston Area (8-7 Div. 2, 13-8) on Jan. 22, the Cougars needed overtime to pull out a 57-53 victory. The Patriots recovered from a wobbly offensive start Thursday to tie the score 10-10 after one quarter, but the second quarter was disastrous. Hazleton Area opened with 13 consecutive points — the final nine on 3-pointers by Sparky Wolk, Kyle Franek and Da’Mir Faison — and kept the lead in double digits the rest of the way.
“Tonight the idea was to have the first quarter what the second quarter was,” Hazleton Area coach Mike Joseph said. “I wanted to get off to a really good start. But in the second quarter, we picked up the intensity on defense, got after them, converted some stuff on the other end. We played with a lot more intensity.”
Meanwhile, Pittston Area shot 1-of-9 from the field in the second quarter and 4-of-24 (17 percent) in the first half. The Patriots trailed 29-13 at the half and had nearly as many turnover (nine) as points.
“We’ve had nights like that,” Pittston Area coach Alan Kiesinger said, “but I felt good even when we were down 17-10. I thought that this is still a ball game and we absolutely had a chance. I thought some of our guys would make some shots in the second quarter and tighten it up, but it just didn’t happen.”
The Patriots had been down this uneven road before. They entered the game off a five-point win over Dallas, an opponent they lost to by 30 a few weeks prior. No player scored in double figures for the first time in WVC play. Andrew Krawczyk led the offense with nine.
Faison paced Hazleton Area with 18 before taking a seat early in the fourth quarter. Wolk added 10.
“Da’Mir was really active in the middle part of the game and did a lot of nice things,” Joseph said. “And I thought Jecxander Moronta had one of his better games for us. The kid comes off the bench and does everything we ask him to do.”
NOTE: Thursday was Senior Night and Pittston Area had only two players to honor — Sevion Leak and Evan Elko. Kiesinger praised Elko for his hard work and determination coming back from an elbow injury that ended his junior season after two games.
Holy Redeemer 65, Northwest 51
The Royals went on the road and beat Northwest by 14 points.
Nick Prociak led the charge for Holy Redeemer with 24 points followed by Collin Cook’s 19 points.
Sam Saxe had 17 points to lead the Rangers.
Tunkhannock 45, Nanticoke Area 44
The Tigers pulled off a big win at home over Nanticoke Area, which fell into a first-place tie in Division 2 with GAR.
Ryan Harder had a game-high 20 points for Tunkhannock. Tyler Faux also scored 15 for the Tigers.
Nate Kreitzer had 16 points to lead the Trojans.
Wyoming Seminary 76, Lake-Lehman 27
Dimitri Gnall had 15 points, Ethan Meuser scored 14 and Jeremy Callahan added 11 as Seminary clinched at least a tie for the Division 3 title.
The Blue Knights came win the division outright with a win Saturday against Hanover Area or a loss by Holy Redeemer to Lake-Lehman.
Seminary led 43-10 at halftime as 12 Blue Knights finished in the scoring column.
Donnie Thompson had nine for Lehman.
Dallas 79, Coughlin 59
The Mountaineers won a slugfest with Coughlin thanks to Nick Nocito and company.
Nocito finished with 20 points.
Brandon Hall had a game-high 22 points for the Crusaders.
Meyers 50, Berwick 26
Meyers used a strong performance from Blake Masker to top the Bulldogs on the road.
Masker finished with a game-high 13 points and the Mohawks held Berwick’s Zach Evans to just nine points.
Hanover Area 64, MMI Prep 36
The Hawks picked up a road win against MMI Prep.
Asad Whitehead and Khairi Carson led Hanover Area with 18 points each. Evan Materna also knocked down three 3-pointers to get 11 points.
Mason and Matt Marchetti had 13 and 11 points, respectively, to lead the Preppers.
GAR 83, Wyoming Area 51
The Grenadiers went on the road and hit 11 3-pointers to beat Wyoming Area.
Jared O’Day led GAR with 21 points followed by Will Johnson and Tyler Young, who each scored 15.
Dan Wiedl had 14 points to lead the Warriors.
Crestwood 61, Wyoming Valley West 52
Crestwood scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to complete a comeback against the Spartans.
Camden Boris led the Comets with a game-high 15 points.
Wyoming Valley West was led by Tom Federici and Christian Michak, who each made four 3-pointers and had 14 points.
Hazleton Area 69, Pittston Area 32
PITTSTON AREA (32) — Logan Booth 0 4-6 4, Evan Elko 0 2-2 2, Mike George 1 5-5 7, Sevion Leak 1 0-0 2, Matt Johnson 0 0-1 0, Matt Macaluso 0 0-0 0, Brennan Higgins 1 2-2 4, David Behm 0 0-0 0, Dominic Januzzi 0 0-0 0, Anthony Thomas 0 0-0 0, Adam Penxa 0 0-0 0, Alex Hoban 1 0-0 2, Etha Ganham 0 0-0 0, Andrew Krawczyk 3 2-3 9, JJ Walsh 1 0-0 2. Totals 8 15-19 32.
HAZLETON AREA (69) — Kevin Gil 1 0-0 2, Andrew Vayda 0 0-0 0, Sparky Wolk 4 0-1 10, Scott Campbell 3 1-3 8, Alex D’Angelo 1 0-0 3, Kyle Franek 2 2-2 6, Jawardt Nieves 1 0-0 2, Jecxander Moronta 3 0-0 7, Nikolas Norman 1 2-4 4, Ramddy Melendez 1 1-2 3, Da’Mir Faison 8 0-0 18, Warren Seigendall 2 1-2 5. Totals 27 7-14 69.
Pittston Area`10`3`12`7 — 32
Hazleton Area`10`19`16`24 — 69
Three-point goals — PA 1 (Krawczyk). HA 8 (Wolk 2, Campbell, D’Angelo, Franek, Moronta, Faison 2).
Holy Redeemer 65, Northwest 51
HOLY REDEEMER (65) — Nick Prociak 10 3-5 24, Collin Cook 8 0-0 19, Mason Mendogval 3 0-0 7, Josh Andrejko 2 1-4 6, Derek Answini 2 0-0 5, Justice Shoats 2 0-0 4, Matt Carty 0 0-0 0, Matt Prociak 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 4-9 65.
NORTHWEST (51) — Sam Saxe 6 0-0 17, Bryce Koser 4 3-4 11, Walker Yaple 3 2-4 10, Tyler Stevens 3 2-6 8, Jaxson Yaple 2 0-0 5. Totals 18 7-14 51.
Holy Redeemer`21`14`18`12 — 65
Northwest`15`11`15`10 — 51
Three-point goals — HR 7 (Cook 3, Mendogval, N. Prociak, Andrejko, Answini); NW 8 (Saxe 5, W. Yaple 2, J. Yaple).
Tunkhannock 45, Nanticoke Area 44
NANTICOKE AREA (44) — Nate Kreitzer 4 5-5 16, Jake Krupinski 4 0-0 10 Trahjan Krupinski 2 4-4 8, Colby Butczynski 3 1-2 7, JJ Bielecki 1 0-0 3, Luke Myers 0 0-0 0, Collin Brown 0 0-0 0, Andy Kozlofski 0 0-2 0, Dylan Szychowski 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 10-13 44.
TUNKHANNOCK (45) — Ryan Harder 7 0-0 20, Tyler Faux 5 2-3 15, Nick Reposa 1 0-0 3, Erik Bennett 1 0-0 3, Avery Billings 1 0-0 2, Jaren Robinson 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 2-3 45.
Nanticoke Area`15`11`7`11 — 44
Tunkhannock`15`11`12`7 — 45
Three-point goals — NAN 6 (Kreitzer 3, J. Krupinski 2, Bielecki); TUNK 9 (Harder 6, Faux, Reposa, Bennett).
Wyoming Seminary 76, Lake-Lehman 27
WYOMING SEMINARY (76) — Jake Koretz 2 1-1 5, Todd Phillips 3 0-0 7, Sean Callahan 4 0-0 11, Dimitri Gnall 7 1-2 15, Nick Ganter 1 4-6 6, Andrew Maddock 1 0-0 3, John Coates 0 1-2 1, Nick Bufalino 0 1-2 1, Aidan Murphy 2 0-0 4, Alex Meuser 2 0-0 5, Ethan Meuser 5 2-3 14, Ben Paglia 0 0-0 0, Gavin Flanley 1 1-3 4, Jakson Amend 1 1-3 4. Totals 28 11-19 76.
LAKE-LEHMAN (27) — Donnie Thompson 3 1-2 9, Max Paczewski 2 0-0 5, Nate Salus 0 0-0 0, Neil Dougherty 0 0-0 0, CJ Cercone 1 0-0 2, Josh Kane 2 0-0 4, Ethan Adams 1 2-4 4. Totals 9 3-6 27.
Wyo. Seminary`20`23`19`14 — 76
Lake-Lehman`5`5`8`9 — 27
Three-point goals — WS 9 (Phillips, Callahan 3, Maddock, A.Meuser, E.Meuser 2, Flanley). LL 3 (Thompson 2, Paczewski).
Dallas 79, Coughlin 59
COUGHLIN (59) — Brandon Hall 10 2-5 22, Aaron Bennett 4 0-0 10, Mike Senape 3 0-0 7, Matt Egidio 2 0-0 6, Anthony Egidio 2 1-2 5, Henry Avilia 1 0-0 3, Alex Kulikowich 1 0-0 2, Joeseph Kiedown 1 0-0 2, Prince Allen 0 1-2 1, Shawn Valenzuela 0 1-2 1, Trent Zavada 0 0-0 0, Damon Jones 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 5-9 59.
DALLAS (79) — Nick Nocito 6 5-5 20, Luke DelGaudio 5 4-5 14, Jack Farrell 5 0-0 10, Austin Finarelli 3 0-0 8, Dylan Schuster 3 1-2 7, Justin Finarelli 3 0-0 7, Logan Evanosky 3 0-0 6, Sam Nocito 2 0-0 4, Cheis Killian 1 0-0 3. Totals 31 10-12 79.
Coughlin`10`9`18`22 — 59
Dallas`20`21`25`13 — 79
Three-point goals — COU 6 (Bennett 2, M. Egidio 2, Senape, Avilia); DAL 7 (N. Nocito 3, A. Finarelli 2, Killian, J. Finarelli).
Meyers 50, Berwick 26
MEYERS (50) — Blake Masker 6 1-1 13, Keegan Brewstwer 2 4-6 8, Cole Walker 4 0-0 8, Kendall Brewster 2 3-4 7, Jordan Diggs 3 0-0 7, Jake Gilgallon 2 1-1 5, Fred Colbert 1 0-0 2, Jihad Yancey 0 0-0 0, Ryan Casey 0 0-0 0, Ithrone Solomon 0 0-0 0, Blake Bynon 0 0-0 0, Najese Hood 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 9-12 50.
BERWICK (26) — Zach Evans 3 3-7 9, Jarret Groshek 2 3-4 7, Miles Doll 1 102 4, Brayden Boone 1 0-1 2, NaQuan Smith 1 0-0 2, Peyton Williams 1 0-0 2, Taylor Tasjee 0 0-2 0, Jake Seely 0 0-2 0, Devon Smith 0 0-0 0, Arndt Weston 0 0-0 0, Eric Montes 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 7-18 26.
Meyers`10`17`14`9 — 50
Berwick`4`2`10`10 — 26
Three-point goals — MEY 1 (Diggs); BER 1 (Doll).
Hanover Area 64, MMI Prep 36
HANOVER AREA (64) — Asad Whitehead 6 6-6 18, Khairi Carson 8 2-4 18, Evan Materna 4 0-0 11, Justin Kopko 2 2-2 2, Lamarr Nelson 1 1-2 3, Ryan Bohlin 1 0-0 3, Matt Barber 0 2-2 2, Mike Merth 1 0-0 2, Auggie George 0 1-2 1, Joe Curcio 0 0-0 0, Todd Kobicka 0 0-0 0, Bobby Sabecky 0 0-0 0, Jeremy Fondeur 0 0-0 0, Jake Zola 0 0-0 0, Charles Cribbs 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 14-18 64.
MMI PREP (36) — Matt Marchetti 6 1-2 13, Matt Marchetti 4 0-0 11, Marcus Kassick 4 1-4 9, Keefer Hoover 0 3-3 3, AJ Jordan 0 0-2 0, Harry Kress 0 0-0 0, Tyler Degenhart 0 0-0 0, David Antolick 0 0-0 0, Josue Rodriguez 0 0-0 0, Pete Walko 0 0-0 0, Robert Rinaldi 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 5-11 36.
Hanover Area`21`12`13`18 — 64
MMI Prep`12`10`9`5 — 36
Three-point goals — HAN 4 (Materna 3, Bohlin); MMI 3 (Matt Marchetti 3).
GAR 83, Wyoming Area 51
GAR (83) — Jared O’Day 8 0-1 21, Will Johnson 7 0-1 15, Tyler Young 6 0-1 15, Curtis Smith 5 0-0 11, Curon Smith 3 0-0 6, Nashir Palmer 2 0-0 5, Nurani El-Hadie 1 0-0 3, Shawn Anderson 1 0-0 2, Tyreek Green 1 0-0 2, George Placencio 1 0-0 2, Tim Wiegopolshi 0 1-3 1, Jean Carlos-Rodriguez 0 0-0 0, Naquan Hollman 0 0-0 0. Totals 31 1-6 83.
WYOMING AREA (51) — Dan Wiedl 6 2-5 14, Sam Solomon 6 1-2 13, Cole Coolbaugh 4 0-0 11, Nick Rubino 2 0-0 5, Jake Greenfield 1 0-0 3, Justin Navedo 1 0-0 3, Jesse Mikoliczyk 1 0-1 2, Nick Elko 0 0-0 0, Evan Melberger 0 0-0 0, FJ Braccini 0 0-0 0, Jason Weidl 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 3-8 51.
GAR`20`22`20`21 — 83
Wyoming Area`15`8`13`15 — 51
Three-point goals — GAR 11 (O’Day 5, Young 3, Palmer, Johnson, Curtis Smith); WA 6 (Coolbaugh 3, Rubino, Greenfield, Navedo).
Crestwood 61, Wyoming Valley West 52
WYOMING VALLEY WEST (52) — Tom Federici 5 0-0 14, Christian Michak 5 0-0 14, Tyler Gillespie 5 2-4 12, Dan Gibbons 2 2-2 8, Saquan Portee 2 0-1 4, Anthony Jamison 0 0-0 0, Joe Lombardo 0 0-0 0, Roland Hamad 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 4-7 52.
CRESTWOOD (61) — Camden Boris 6 0-1 15, Sean Murphy 4 4-7 13, Mike Palmiero 4 2-4 11, Ryan Petrosky 2 5-6 9, Frank Caserella 2 0-0 5, Brad Papura 2 1-3 5, Jacob Zaleski 1 1-2 3, Adam Gegaris 0 0-0 0, Paul Feisel 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 13-23 61.
Wyoming Valley West`12`18`12`10 — 52
Crestwood`9`12`20`20 — 61
Three-point goals — WVW 10 (Federici 4, Michak 4, Gibbons 2); CRE 6 (Boris 3, Palmiero, Murphy, Caserella).