Category Archives: March 2019

Holy Cross Lady Crusaders Win First District Championship

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By Steve Svetovich

Freshman Kaci Kranson scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds and senior Haley Bestrycki converted a key three-point play with 50 seconds left to lead the Holy Cross Lady Crusaders to its first District 2 Class AA title, 43-38, over Old Forge, Friday, March 1, at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Abbey Lentkowski added 11 points in the title win. Abby Sempa contributed seven points. Bestrycki converted on the three-point play shortly after Kranson hit two clutch free throws in the win.

The Lady Blue Devils (18-6) took a quick 9-2 lead and stayed ahead until late in the third quarter. Then the Lady Crusaders (17-8) started coming back strong under veteran coach Barry Fitzgerald.

Abby Née hit a three-pointer with 2:25 left in the third quarter giving the Lady Blue Devils a 23-19 lead. However, Lentkowski converted a give-and-go from Kranson for a three-point play.

Sempa and Kranson finished off the third quarter with back-to-back baseline three-pointers to cap a 9-0 run for a 28-25 advantage.

Then the Lady Blue Devils rallied to take the lead, 36-35, with 1:11 left in the contest.

However, the clutch Kranson hit two free throws to give the Lady Crusaders another lead.

Twenty seconds later, Bestrycki took a nifty pass from Sempa for an up-and-under scoop and 40-36 Holy Cross lead. Sempa’s free throw with 30 seconds left made it, 41-38.

The Lady Blue Devils missed four shots, but could not score on its next possession of the ball.  Lentkowski capped the title win by hitting two foul shots making the final score, 43-38. Olivia Ciullo led Old Forge with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Makayla Parker added 10 points.

The Lady Crusaders will now play Marian Catholic in the first round of the PIAA state playoffs Friday, March 8.

Holy Cross defeated Northwest, 50-25, in the District 2 Class AA semifinal Friday, February 22, at Dunmore High School.

The multi talented Kranson led the Lady Crusaders with 30 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals in the semifinal win.

Sempa added eight points in the win. Freshman Julia Goetz scored six points, hauled down six rebounds, had four steals and dished off two assists off the bench.  Kranson scored 19 of her points in the second half. Bestrycki led the Lady Crusaders with four assists.

Holy Cross put the game away with a game closing 14-0 run. Brenna Babcock led Northwest (14-10)  with 10 points.

Dunmorean Honored at College Theatre Festival

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Dunmore theater student

Alex Murray of Dunmore, a sophomore theater major in Marywood University’s music, theatre, and dance department was among students who recently participated in and received honors at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), held at Montclair State University, N.J.

Murray, at left, received a certificate of merit for his participation in the devised theatre competition.

At center is recent alumna, Tiffany Atkins, Tunkhannock, who received honorary mention in the scenic design category for her design of Wonder of the World.

At right is Charles Gorden, M.F.A., associate professor of theatre and director of the theatre program at Marywood University.

 

Artist of the Month: Dolly Michalczyk

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Artist Dolly Michalczyk

Dolly Michalczyk has often been inspired by her travels and by her grandchildren, Maura, Joel, and Kara. Here she poses with some of their paintings, shown clockwise: The Wedding-Italy 2016; Sugarplum Fairies, Ships Ahoy, We Are Family; First Recital, Kara; All-Star Joel, and Beach Baby Maura.

Dolly Michalczyk, the March Artist of the Month at the Dunmore Activity Hub, has enjoyed art appreciation, drawing and sketching since her youth. Two of her favorite memories are Impressionist Art tours in Paris and Provence, France, with her husband, Joe.  

Dolly says that she was always afraid of the permanence of oil painting until encouraged by painter Mary Ann McClenaghan to begin painting at the Dunmore Senior Center.  

Under the direction of teacher Jill Swersie, she learned that “you can always paint over it” and correct mistakes when using oils. She has been painting with the group since her retirement from social work in 2009, and has participated in many First Fridays, art shows and exhibitions–even selling a few of her paintings!

Dolly says, “Jill’s knowledge and guidance are key to the program, but her support and friendship is an added bonus.   Her phone calls, cheery hand-drawn get well cards and posters of her artists, signed by members of the class have nurtured many through surgeries, illnesses, and hard times.”

Through the class, Dolly has made many new friends and reunited with old ones–even long lost pals from South Scranton Junior High School who moved from the area many years ago, Jan Mountford Lauer and Mary K. Massenkeil White.

This is the fourth year of this column featuring local artists and art which Dolly originated, at the suggestion of fellow painter Joe Bartos. Dolly schedules the artists, based on their longevity in the class, collects and edits their data, often writing their stories and even photographing them, before submitting their information to the Dunmorean.

Dolly’s travels and her family serve as constant sources of inspiration and pride, particularly her grandchildren, Maura, Joel, and Kara Dolly is thankful to Alison Boga, executive director of the Dunmore Senior Center for all she does for the group, Jill Swersie for her talent, insight, and encouragement, and to  Maureen Hart, editor of the Dunmorean, for her interest and support in printing this feature.

Seniors are invited to Jill’s sketching class at noon on Mondays and to her oil painting class at 1 p.m. at the Dunmore Center.