EXETER – Wyoming Valley West freshman Kalia Saunders admitted her fundamentals were flawed on her only basket Wednesday night.
That did not matter.
Saunders scored from close range as the buzzer sounded in overtime, giving the Lady Spartans a 48-46 victory over Pittston Area in a District 2 Class 5A girls basketball quarterfinal game at Wyoming Area Secondary Center.
The loss ended Pittston Area’s season at 10-13.
Fifth-seeded Wyoming Valley West (10-13) used the win over fourth-seeded Pittston Area to advance to face four-time defending champion Abington Heights, the top seed, Saturday.
Overtime played out much like the second half, with four lead changes until Pittston Area’s Emma Coles hit two free throws with 8.5 seconds remaining to tie it once again, 46-46. The Lady Spartans, though, had enough time to set up the winning bucket.
Valley West’s Kiara Kane inbounded the ball to Trinity Johnson and got the ball right back. Kane dribbled to the top of the 3-point arc and then send a bounce pass inside to the 6-foot Saunders.
“There wasn’t really a play,” Saunders said. “If you’re open, just put it up. I did not think that was going in. I went up with the wrong hand. I was on the left side and went up with right. Usually, it just bangs off the rim and comes back down.”
Actually, Valley West wanted to get the ball in the hands of guard Toni Amato, the team’s leading scorer. But as Pittston Area did all game, it had Amato guarded and the Spartans had to ad lib.
It led to a celebration and ousting the Patriots in the quarterfinals for a second consecutive season.
“Pittston played an outstanding game,” Wyoming Valley West coach Gary Ferenchick said. “They have five seniors that play their heart out each and every day. They have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Pittston Area forced overtime when Lily Savoy made a steal and layup to knot the game 40-40 with 8.4 seconds left in regulation. That came after Kane made a steal and a layup at the other end to give Valley West a 40-38 lead.
Johnson finished with a game-high 14 points for Valley West. No other Spartans reached double figures, but Fatika Tikhtova had consecutive baskets in the third to erase a four-point deficit.
Savoy had 13 points for Pittston Area.
Jada Sharp, who hit a pair of 3-pointers, and Hannah Getz added eight points each.
Scranton Prep 77, Wyoming Area 22
Wyoming Area got a first-hand look at why Scranton Prep is the only undefeated team, boys or girls, in District 2 basketball.
The two-time defending champions knocked the Lady Warriors out of the Class 4A tournament Tuesday at Dunmore.
Cecelia Collins, Rachael Rose and Maria Belardi combined for 22 of their 43 points while getting the Classics out to a 29-2 lead after one quarter.
Collins finished with 16 points.
Rose, a junior guard who is already a two-time, all-state selection, had 10 of her 14 points in the first quarter.
Scranton Prep followed up that effort by opening a 21-2, first-quarter lead in a 71-29, semifinal victory over Nanticoke Friday.
Nicole Silinskie had seven points, all in the second quarter, to lead Wyoming Area.
Cassidy Orzel made all four of her free throws while adding six points.
Wyoming Area finished its season 13-10.
