EXETER – Wyoming Area’s size advantage ultimately led to a rebounding edge in the 19th annual Eugene R. DeMinico II Memorial Game.
But when Pittston Area needed every extended possession it could get just to remain competitive in what became a 51-44 victory Feb. 4 at Wyoming Area, offensive rebounds were a big part of keeping the Patriots in the game.
The Patriots had six of the game’s first seven offensive rebounds and finished with an 11-7 advantage in that category.
The first points of the game came when Pittston Area’s Ciaran Bilbow grabbed his own rebound and found Silvio Giardina for a basket.
Wyoming Area led by as much as 16-6 and was still in front by eight before Matt Walter saved an offensive rebound, getting it to Giardina for a 3-pointer to make it 18-13 with 2:57 left in the half.
“I think that was the key,” Pittston Area coach Al Semenza said of the offensive rebounds. “There was a point when they could have gotten away from us, but our kids buckled down and kept fighting.
“Credit to our guys because it hasn’t been an easy 3-4 weeks for us.”
Bilbow finished as the game leader in offensive (five) and total rebounds (seven).
Wyoming Area still led by nine twice in the third quarter before a streak of seven straight points by Pittston Area, ending in Lucas Lopresto jumping into the bench to save an offensive rebound for Paul Jordan McGarry to hit a 3-pointer.
Lopresto made five steals and Giardina four as Pittston Area forced 17 turnovers while committing just 10.
The Patriots put them to good use, outscoring the Warriors 12-1 in points directly off steals.
Wyoming Area shot better percentages both from beyond the arc and overall, but Pittston Area used the combination of offensive rebounds and turnovers to get off 13 more shots.
A detailed statistical look at the DeMinico Game, with full shooting stats, follows:
Pittston Area 51, Wyoming Area 44
PITTSTON AREA (51) – Lucas Lopresto 5-8 4-4 14, Silvio Giardina 4-10 0-0 10, Matt Walter 5-12 0-0 11, Paul Jordan McGarry 3-8 2-2 9, Ciaran Bilbow 2-6 2-3 6, Aiden Lynn 0-5 1-2 1. Totals 19-49 9-11 51.
WYOMING AREA (44) – Tyler Sciandra 3-6 0-0 6, Anthony DeLucca 4-8 0-0 12, Brady Noone 3-7 2-4 8, Matt Rusinchak 1-4 0-0 3, Dane Schutter 5-11 4-6 14, Trevor Kruszka 0-0 0-0 0, Daniel Feeney 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 16-36 7-12 44.
Pittston Area`6`9`15`21`—`51
Wyoming Area`11`11`10`12`—`44
Three-point shooting – PA 4-17 (Giardina 2-7, Walter 1-3, McGarry 1-3, Lynn 0-1, Lopresto 0-3), WA 5-10 (DeLucca 4-6, Rusinchak 1-3, Schutter 0-1). Shooting percentages – PA 38.8 on FG, 23.5 on 3PT, 81.8 on FT; WA 44.4 on FG, 50.0 on 3PT, 58.3 on FT). Team rebounds – PA 1, WA 6. Total rebounds – PA 25 (Bilbow 7, Lopresto 4, Giardina 4, Watler 4, McGarry 4), WA 31 (Sciandra 6, Schutter 6, DeLucca 5, Noone 4). Assists – PA 13 (Lopresto 4, Giardina 4, Walter 2), WA 13 (Rusinchak 5, DeLucca 3, Schutter 3). Steals – PA 12 (Lopresto 4, Giardina 4, Bilbow 2), WA 5 (Rusinchak 3). Blocked shots – PA 1 (Bilbow), WA 8 (Sciandra 3, Noone 2, Schutter 2, Kruszka 1). Turnovers – PA 10, WA 17. Team fouls – PA 15, WA 14. Fouled Out – Sciandra. Ties – 4. Lead changes – 2.
