With the District 2 Class 5A boys basketball playoffs on the horizon, Pittston Area played the three top teams in Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 in a six-day stretch.

The Patriots went 1-2 in those games, received valuable tests going into the postseason and learned an important lesson, too: Past performance does not necessarily indicate future results.

The three difficult assignments were all rematches with Pittston Area, getting a much better result in one, a much worse result in another and a somewhat different one after a similar start in the third.

The message could also be important, given that Pittston Area’s most likely postseason opener will be in a rematch to continue the season series where it found success this week.

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Pittston Area avenged a 30-point loss less than three weeks earlier to beat Dallas Wednesday night. The Patriots and Mountaineers could square off in a district quarterfinal.

After taking Hazleton Area to overtime on the road in their first meeting, the Patriots were blown out at home Thursday night in the rematch with the defending division champions.

Pittston Area had battled Crestwood to the end of the first meeting this season and were close for much of the second meeting before allowing the Comets to break away late.

A look back at the games:

Hazleton Area 69

Pittston Area 32

YATESVILLE – About midway through the second quarter Thursday night, it was evident there would be no overtime needed this time.

Hazleton Area scored the first 13 points of the second quarter to take control while remaining one-half game in front of the WVC Division 1 race.

The Cougars won the Jan. 22 meeting, 57-53, in overtime.

The teams were tied again, 10-10, after one quarter Thursday, but never again.

Ryan “Sparky” Wolk, Kyle Franek and Da’mir Faison hit 3-pointers to complete the 13-point streak.

The Patriots did not get back within single digits again.

Pittston Area went 1-for-9 in the second quarter. It finished the half 4-for-24 (16.7 percent) with nine turnovers.

“We’ve had nights like that,” Patriots coach Alan Kiesinger said, “but I felt good even when we were down 17-10. I thought that this is still a game and we absolutely had a chance.”

The Cougars, however, were just getting started. They led 29-13 at halftime and kept going.

Faison finished with 18 points.

Andrew Krawczyk led Pittston Area with nine.

Thursday was Senior Night for the Patriots, who are 8-7 in the conference and 12-9 overall with just two seniors on the team — point guard Sevion Leak and Evan Elko.

Pittston Area 50

Dallas 45

Dallas came in on a four-game winning streak, but the Patriots quickly cooled off the Mountaineers, hitting six 3-pointers while building a 28-12 lead with about two minutes left in the half Tuesday night.

Andrew Krawczyk, J.J. Walsh and Matt Johnson each hit two of the eight 3-pointers for Pittston Area, which had lost at Dallas, 71-41, Jan. 18.

Walsh and Johnson hit 3-pointers to complete an eight-run streak to the biggest lead late in the half and the Patriots fought off a comeback by the Mountaineers.

Brennan Higgins led a balanced attack with nine points.

Krawczyk and Mike George added eight each. George was 8-for-12 from the line in the fourth quarter for all his scoring.

Dallas had two 3-point attempts for ties midway through the fourth quarter and got as close as two points late.

Crestwood 69

Pittston Area 52

MOUNTAIN TOP – After giving up the WVC Division 1 lead with a loss to Dallas the night before, Crestwood bounced back with a victory behind 20 points and 15 rebounds by Camden Boris.

Neither team could open a lead of more than three points through the midway point in the second quarter when Sean Murphy hit back-to-back 3-pointers for a 24-16 Crestwood lead.

Pittston Area was still within 35-30 before Crestwood went on a 10-2 run to end the third quarter. The Comets added to their final margin with a 10-0 run late in the game.

Mike George led the Patriots with 20 points. Andrew Krawczyk had nine rebounds.

Brennan Higgins had nine points and five rebounds. Logan Booth, who dished out four assists, and Sevion Leak, who made three steals, each scored eight points.

Pittston Area was within four going into the fourth quarter of the first meeting, which Crestwood won, 53-47, Jan. 12.

Andrew Krawczyk (No. 32) scores on an easy lay up against Hazleton Area. Krawczyk scored a game-high nine points for the Patriots.
https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_PAball1.jpg.optimal.jpgAndrew Krawczyk (No. 32) scores on an easy lay up against Hazleton Area. Krawczyk scored a game-high nine points for the Patriots. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

Mike George (No. 10) scores two of his seven points on the night against Hazleton Area at home.
https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_PAball2.jpg.optimal.jpgMike George (No. 10) scores two of his seven points on the night against Hazleton Area at home. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

By Tom Robinson

For Sunday Dispatch

and John Erzar

jerzar@timesleader.com

Reach the Sunday Dispatch newsroom at 570-655-1418 or by email at sd@psdispatch.com.