Wyoming Area remained within striking distance into the second half Wednesday night before seven-time defending District 2 boys basketball champion Scranton Prep pulled away for a 66-49 victory in the Class 4A quarterfinals.
Evan Melberger scored 14 points to lead Wyoming Area, including a basket early in the third quarter when the Warriors moved within 37-28 as the midway point in the third quarter approached.
Scranton Prep then closed the third quarter with a 20-2 burst over the final 4:13 to break the game open.
The Cavaliers had four players score in double figures while the Warriors had three.
Noah Sorenson scored 14 points, Robert Rossi 13, Matt Cobb 12 and Andrew Ferguson 11 for Scranton Prep.
Dane Schutter scored 11 points and Tyler Sciandra 10 for Wyoming Area.
Schutter had five points in the first quarter, which ended with Scranton Prep in front, 14-7. Sciandra scored six in the second quarter, but the Cavaliers were still able to build the lead to 33-22.
Melberger had eight of his points in the fourth quarter when Wyoming Area cut into the final margin by outscoring Scranton Prep, 19-8.
Wyoming Area, which entered the tournament as the sixth seed, had reached the .500 mark overall before losing its final six games to finish the season 8-14.
Scranton Prep has won titles in all six years the district has played its finals at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza and all five Class 4A championships since the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association made the change from four to six classifications in basketball.
