Pittston Area returns to the scene of one of the high points of its 2015-16 season and gets another game against one of the teams it handled already this season as the Patriots try to get their boys basketball season turned in the right direction headed into the New Year.
Despite a deep and balanced roster, the Patriots are just 2-3 so far. They are 0-1 in Division 1 of the Wyoming Valley Conference and, with all games counting, they rank just seventh among the nine District 2 Class 5A teams trying to land the eight playoff berths.
A repeat of last year’s holiday break would send the Patriots into 2017 with a winning record.
Pittston Area is the defending champion of the McGrane Tournament at the Wilkes-Barre CYC and returns two of the three leaders of that championship run.
The tournament is scheduled for Monday and Wednesday with the Patriots playing Hanover Area in Monday’s 7:30 semifinal.
Pittston Area began last year’s tournament with a 55-48 win over Hanover Area and also opened this season with a 61-48 victory over the Hawkeyes.
Wednesday’s game will be a rematch of some type for the Patriots as well.
Holy Redeemer plays Crestwood in the 6 p.m. tournament opener.
Pittston Area held Holy Redeemer to 11 second-half points on the way to a 44-28 win in last season’s championship game.
Crestwood just defeated Pittston Area, 55-38, in Wednesday’s WVC opener, avenging its season-ending loss from a year ago when the Patriots upset the Comets in the District 2 Class 3A playoffs.
Alex McAndrew returns to the CYC after winning the tournament Most Valuable Player award last season. Naseem Guillaume is back after making the all-tournament team despite not starting either game.
Hanover Area is very familiar with McAndrew.
The 6-foot-2 junior point guard had 24 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in the season opener.
McAndrew’s first-half offense and Guillaume’s second-half defense were two of the factors in Pittston Area winning the 50th McGrane Tournament last season.
McAndrew went 3-for-4 on 3-pointers and 3-for-3 from the line while scoring 12 of his 16 points in the first half of the final.
The defense held the Royals to 3-for-16 shooting in the second half.
The Pittston Area boys are the only Greater Pittston basketball team playing in a holiday tournament.
The Greater Pittston Holiday Classic girls tournament shut down after last season and the Lady Patriots filled out their schedule with additional non-league games.
Both wrestling teams will be in two-day tournaments.
Wyoming Area is at the 38th annual Tunkhannock Kiwanis Tournament Wednesday and Thursday. The Warriors were 12th out of 26 teams last season.
Adam Buczynski is back after winning the 182-pound title last season.
Pittston Area returns to the Buckskin Classic at Conestoga Valley Thursday and Friday. The Patriots were last out of 23 teams last season.
