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Undefeated Dunmore Lady Bucks Win Second Straight District Title

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LADY BUCKS BASKETBALL

By Steve Svetovich

Victoria Toomey, Moriah Murray and Lisa Tallo combined for 26 of Dunmore’s points as the Lady Bucks defeated Holy Redeemer, 33-27, to win its second straight Class AAA District 2 championship Saturday, March 2, at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Freshman stalwart Murray and the multi talented Tallo hit clinching free throws in the final 37 seconds to clinch the title win for the Lady Bucks coached by veteran Ben O’Brien.

It was undefeated Dunmore’s 25th consecutive win.

Alexis Chapman made a huge defensive play at mid court late in the fourth quarter that led to Tallo making a nice pass to Murray for a clutch 3-pointer from the left wing with 3:07 left in the contest.

Chapman hustled on the play as she deflected the ball before chasing it down.

It may have been the defensive play of the season for the Lady Bucks.

Chapman was also clutch on offense hitting a big 3-pointer to help Dunmore to its biggest advantage, 23-18, midway through the third quarter.

Cameron Marchinkowski hit a 3-pointer for Holy Redeemer to tie the game, 26-26, with 4:17 left in the contest.

After the Lady Bucks (25-0) missed a shot, Holy Redeemer (21-4) looked to take the lead before Chapman came through with her defensive gem that led to Murray’s 3-pointer.

Holy Redeemer had another shot, but missed three of four free throws before Murray hit two with 37.2 seconds remaining.

Tallo added two more free throws with 15 seconds left.

Standout senior center-forward Victoria Toomey, last season’s Player of the Year, and Murray led the Lady Bucks with nine points each in the district title win. Tallo added eight points, four assists and four steals. Gianna Delfino scored four points.

Delfino, an all around talent, had nine rebounds to lead the Lady Bucks. Toomey added eight more rebounds.

Another highlight in the contest came at the conclusion of the first quarter when Tallo, who seems to do it all, took an inbounds pass at three-quarter court, went behind her back at the key and hit on a running 17-foot shot.

The Lady Bucks easily defeated No. 4 seed Wyoming Seminary, 57-19, in the semifinal contest Saturday, February 23, at Marywood University.

Freshman phenom Murray led the Lady Bucks with 20 points and added three assists in the semifinal win.

Toomey, who will play basketball at Rider University next year, and Tallo scored 10 points each.

Toomey, the ultimate team leader, added six rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Alex Wesneski led Wyoming Seminary (15-10) with eight points.

The Lady Bucks now play a first round PIAA state playoff game against Constitution, the fourth seed from District 12, Friday, March 8.

Scranton Prep Boys Take Home Fifth Straight District Title

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The Scranton Prep boys’ basketball team won its fifth straight District 2 Class AAAA title, 47-41, over Nanticoke, Saturday, March 2 in Wilkes Barre.

Prep senior Leo O’Boyle, who secured a scholarship to Lafayette College, led the Cavaliers with 18 points, included the 1,000th of his career.

O’Boyle added eight rebounds in the win. Marlo Rotell added 12 points and had a key steal in the win for Prep (22-3) coached by Andrew Kettel.

Prep advances to the PIAA state playoffs Friday, March 8, against Susquehanna Twp. (13-12), the No. 4 seed from District 3.

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In the meantime, the Scranton Prep girls’ Lady Classics defeated Lake Lehman, 46-43, to earn its second straight District 2 Class AAAA championship Thursday, February 28, at a Wilkes Barre.

Scranton Prep (24-1) sophomore guard Rachael Rose led her team with 21 points in the district title win.

The standout sophomore hit two clutch free throws in the final half minute to put the Lady Classics ahead.

Cecelia Collins, who scored nine points, hit on two more free throws for Prep in the final seconds for the 46-43 lead before a last second 3-point shot by Corinna Scoblick hit the back of the iron for Lake Lehman (19-6).

Elisa Penetar led the Lady Classics with seven rebounds, including a key defensive board late in the third quarter of the contest, and also added six points.

Kathleen Rose led Prep with six assists. The Lady Classics are coached by Bob Bevigilia. They now advance to the first round of the PIAA state playoffs.

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.