Editor’s note: This story first appeared in the Jan. 13, 2019 issue of the Sunday Dispatch.
YATESVILLE – The team Most Valuable Player award of the 14th annual Eugene R. DeMinico II Memorial Basketball Game carried special significance to Pittston Area junior Brennan Higgins.
“It means a lot,” Higgins said after receiving the award, which Dr. Eugene DeMinico presented at the annual charity game that honors his late son. “I got real close with Doc the past few years because of injuries.
“I’ve been going to him. He has really helped me out a lot, so this means a lot to me.”
Higgins scored 20 points and helped Pittston Area turn back a second-half comeback in a 70-47 victory over visiting Wyoming Area.
The win put the team trophy back in possession of Pittston Area after Wyoming Area posted its first two wins in the event the last two seasons.
“The only thing we had to do differently is stay composed because it’s a rivalry game,” Higgins said. “Other than that, we just wanted to play our game.
“In the beginning, they had us a little bit, but then we got back to playing how we do.”
For Pittston Area, this season that has meant using its quickness to push the pace and rebounding well for being a relatively small team.
“That’s a practice thing,” Higgins said of the commitment that led to a 38-34 advantage on the boards.
The win made Pittston Area, one of the most improved teams in District 2, 8-3 at the midway point in the regular season.
“We play real well together,” Higgins said. “We’ve been playing together since third grade. We have a lot of trust in each other and everyone hits shots.”
They play with a style that produced 19 points in each of the first two quarters and allowed them to outscore the Warriors, 20-5, to blow the game open in the fourth quarter.
“We try to play with some tempo,” Pittston Area coach Alan Kiesinger said, “because I feel like we have the athletes to do it.”
Mike George led the Patriots in points and rebounds with 22 and 11. Logan Booth added 10 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists.
“The greatest aspect of this team is how well they share the ball,” Kiesinger said. “There’s no ‘me’ guys on this team.”
Sammy Solomon was Wyoming Area’s top scorer with 15 points.
Daniel Wiedl had 12 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots while earning the Warriors MVP Award.
Pittston Area took control by scoring the last seven points of the first quarter and first five of the second quarter to turn the last tie of the game into a 24-12 lead.
The closest Wyoming Area got was eight twice late in the third quarter before Pittston Area scored the first 15 points of the fourth quarter for a 65-42 lead with 2:50 left.
“I think they adjusted to our press and got some high-quality looks,” Kiesinger said. “Then, when we took it off and made them play in the half court, things went a little bit better for us.”
