Holy Cross battles hard despite loss to Scranton in Lynett final

Posted on January 3, 2024 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Despite a gritty battle, Holy Cross came up a little short in the Lynett Tournament boys’ title game.

The Crusaders (6-2) lost to Scranton, 48-46, in the 72nd Lynett Memorial Boys championship contest Friday, December 29, at Lackawanna College Student Union.

The Knights (8-1) erased a seven-point deficit to claim their eighth title and complete Scranton’s sweep as the girls also won, 65-54 over Scranton Prep in the 20th Lynett Memorial Girls Basketball Tournament.

Scranton’s defense tightened up in the fourth quarters in the boys’ win over Holy Cross.

Matthew Barrett hit on two clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to pull Scranton within 40-38 with 7:08 remaining in the title game.

Scranton sophomore Tony Battaglia drilled a spinning jumper to tie the game, 42-42, with 4:20 left in the contest.

Scranton’s Cullen Moran, who played for Holy Cross last season, hit on two huge layups to give Scranton leads of 44-42 and then 46-44 with 2:26 left.

Jaheam Roberts came off a screen and drove in for a layup giving Scranton a 48-44 lead with 1:18 left.

An offensive rebound clutch tip-in for a bucket by Matt Lyons brought Holy Cross to within, 48-46.

The Holy Cross strong defense then forced two turnovers in the final minute.

The tough Crusaders had two chances to tie or take the lead.

However, Scranton’s Moran challenged a shot by Michael Hughes. Roberts then swatted away a shot attempt by Austin Bunting on the rebound. The ball sailed out of bounds and the Crusaders had the ball with 0.4 seconds left. A field goal attempt at the buzzer caromed off the rim and the Knights owned the 72nd Lynett title.

Lyons led Holy Cross with 16 points and eight rebounds. Hughes added 14 points for the Crusaders. Both were named to the all-tournament team.

“I am proud of this team,” Holy Cross basketball coach Al Callejas, Jr. said. “I am proud of our effort.”

Freshman C.J. Thompson played well for Holy Cross scoring nine total points and along with Lyons helping the Crusaders take a 35-26 lead with 1:23 left in the third quarter. However, the Knights fought back hard to earn the title.

“I think despite the loss,” Holy Cross junior standout Lyons said, “this shows the team’s resilience in these kinds of situations.

“Being overlooked by many going into this matchup we all wanted to show that we had what it takes to win.

“Unfortunately, we came up short. However, we will be back more prepared than ever and ready for the season.”

Hughes scored 22 points and added a key assist in overtime to lead the Crusaders to 56-50 overtime win over Dunmore in the Lynett semifinal contest Wednesday, December 27.

Holy Cross was able to make a run at Dunmore in the fourth quarter overcoming a 37-34 deficit after three quarters. The Crusaders reached the Lynett final for the first time since winning the tournament in 2019.

Adam Badyrka scored 11 points in the semifinal win over Dunmore. Lyons added eight points and nine rebounds for Holy Cross. Thompson contributed six assists.

Brayden Canavan led Dunmore with 19 points, Thomas Bowen, the four-year starting quarterback on the Dunmore football team, added 13 points and seven rebounds. Canavan and Bowen accounted for 32 of Dunmore’s 50 points.

Maggie O’Shea scored 19 points leading the Scranton Lady Knights to their first Lynett title.

Freshman standout Zya Small, the tournament’s MVP, added 16 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals for the Lady Knights in the title win over Prep. Freshman Chrissy Jacklinski added 13 points for Scranton.

Crusaders Take Home First Lynett Crown Since 2008

Posted on January 8, 2020 by The Dunmorean

Members of the Lynett Tournament title-winning Holy Cross Men’s Basketball team include, front row, from left: T.J Liuzzo, Adam Mariotti, Kieran Burrier, David Romanski, T.J. Callejas, Caleb Callejas, Sean Kennedy, Hayden Hosie, David Mariotti and John Hartridge. Middle row, same order: Coaches Corey Joyce, Rob Heyen, Tim Callejas, Al Callejas, Kyler Kovaleski, Mike Zayac and Al Callejas Jr. Back row: Tyler Mendicino, Jack Allardyce, Joe Osborne, Leahy O’Connor, Jajuan Nicholls, Pat Bennie, Jalik Nicholls, Angelo Norella, Will Kittrell, Doug Walsh, James Calciano and Logan Aldrich.

By Steve Svetovich

A clutch Kieran Burrier free throw with one second on the clock was the difference as the Holy Cross Crusaders defeated Scranton Prep, 55-54, Sunday, December 29, to earn its first Lynett Memorial Tournament title since 2008 at the Lackawanna College Student Union.

On his second free throw attempt, the ball danced around the rim and fell down. A Scranton Prep full court shot attempt failed and the Crusaders were victorious.

Senior Caleb Callejas led Holy Cross with 23 points in the title win and was tournament MVP.

Burrier added 13 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Crusaders.

Holy Cross ended Prep’s six-year reign as tournament champion.

Burrier created the game-winning foul shot opportunity when he corralled a loose ball at the Scranton Prep end of the floor. That sent him to the free throw line with close to one second left.

The Crusaders (7-1 at press time) started slow and were down by as many as 14 points in the first half. Prep’s Robert Rossi scored 12 of his 16 points in the first 16 minutes of the contest.

The Crusaders defense then tightened and Callejas got hot. He hit on his first 3-pointer with 6:31 left in the second quarter to pull the Crusaders within, 20-10. He then connected on his next five shots, including four more 3-pointers. That put Holy Cross within striking distance, down 40-35.

Caleb Callejas was named MVP of this year’s Lynett Tournament.

Burrier and Callejas then both hit on 3-point shots that started a 10-1 Holy Cross run and the Crusaders suddenly had a 45-43 lead with 4:33 left in the title game.

Prep’s Rhys Merritt then connected on a 3-pointer to give the Cavaliers a one-point lead.

Then Pat Bennie, who totaled 10 points for Holy Cross, hit a 3-point shot and Callejas followed with a long 3-pointer for a 51-46 Holy Cross lead with 3:04 remaining in the contest.

In the final three minutes, Merritt hit a 3-pointer, Gavin Bednarz connected on two free throws and Michael Skoff had a 3-pointer for Prep. The score was knotted at 54-54 and Prep had the ball.

However, a late shot caromed off the rim and Burrier scurried for the loose ball resulting in his winning foul shot.

Rossi led Prep (6-2 at press time) with 16 points. Merritt added 13 and Skoff scored 10.

Holy Cross defeated Scranton, 61-58, Friday, December 27, in the Lynett Memorial Tournament semifinal game at the Lackawanna College Student Union.

Burrier scored 22 points and added six assists and five rebounds in the win.

The Knights led 54-47 in the fourth quarter, but the Crusaders fought hard to take the lead.

Trailing 56-53, Callejas hit a short runner in the lane and Burrier scored off an offensive rebound.

In the final minute, Callejas, who scored 13 points, hit on all four of his free throws.

Pat Bennie scored 11 points and hauled down 10 rebounds for the Crusaders. Leahy O’Connor added 10 points for Holy Cross. James Calciano added five points, including a clutch 3-pointer in the first quarter.

James Shields led Scranton with 22 points. The Knights played without point guard John Rose for most of the game. Rose was injured.

Holy Cross veteran coach Al Callejas commended his team for its resolve and never quiting.

Scranton Prep defeats top ranked Lady Bucks in Lynett

Posted on January 8, 2020 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Scranton Prep defeated the top ranked Dunmore Lady Bucks, 44-28, in the 17th annual girls Lynett Memorial Basketball Tournament Sunday, December 29, at the Lackawanna College Student Union.

The Lady Classics ended Dunmore’s four-year championship run with a strong defensive effort.

Prep held Dunmore to only three baskets over the final three quarters.

Tournament MVP Rachael Rose scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the second half.

Lizzie Neville played a strong defensive game for the Lady Classics. Meredith Purcell had a game high eight rebounds and three steals for Prep.

Maria Belardi, Maggie Mills and Cecelia Collins all contributed on the offensive end, hitting big shots for Prep.

The Lady Classics (8-0 at press time) never trailed in the game as coach Bob Beviglia’s tight defense held Dunmore to 3-for-21 shooting over the final three quarters.

Neville’s steal on the first possession set the tempo for the contest.

After Dunmore (6-1 at press time) hit on four 3-pointers, two by Mia Blume, in the first quarter, the Prep defense tightened up.

The second half began with two Scranton Prep steals and scores. However, Blume’s floater in the lane brought Dunmore to within 25-23.

Two field goals by Rose put Prep ahead, 29-23.

Prep then stretched the lead to 42-25 before Dunmore’s Ciera Toomey, an All-Tournament pick, hit on a 3-pointer. By then it was too late for the Lady Bucks.

Dunmore sophomore Moriah Murray led her team with 12 points and five assists in the loss. Toomey had seven rebounds. Blume scored eight points.

The Lady Bucks easily defeated the Scranton Lady Knights, 63-27, in the Lynett Memorial Tournament girls semifinal contest Friday, December 27, at the Lackawanna College Student Union.

The Lady Bucks totaled 20 assists on 24 field goals in the win.

Toomey led the team with 18 points and was one of five players with at least three assists for Dunmore’s team oriented offense under coach Ben O’Brien.

O’Brien called the defensive communication and team effort the keys to the easy win.

The Dunmore defense forced 17 first half turnovers and the Lady Bucks had a commanding 16-2 lead after the first quarter.

Blume added 11 points in the win. Murray had nine points, five steals, five rebounds and four assists. Gianna Delfino scored five points and had four assists. Anna Talutto came off the bench and had four steals for Dunmore. Alexis Chapman scored eight points for Dunmore.