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.

FNCB Donates to Scranton Prep Scholarship Fund

Posted on June 5, 2019 by The Dunmorean

FNCB Donation

FNCB Bank presented a $27,500 Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation to Scranton Prep’s P.J.H.S. (Pennsylvania Jesuit High Schools) Scholarship Fund.

From left: James Bone, FNCB Bank Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer; Christian Davis, Scranton Prep Vice President; Jerry Champi, FNCB Bank President & Chief Executive Officer; Alycia Schwartz, Scranton Prep Director of Finance; Rev. Ryan Maher, S.J., Scranton Prep President; and Greg Collins, FNCB Bank Executive Vice President, Chief Banking Officer.

Dunmore’s Bridget Walsh Finishes Off DeSales Hoops Career in Style

Posted on April 3, 2019 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Dunmore resident Bridget Walsh, Scranton Prep graduate, wrapped up her DeSales University basketball career in the “Sweet 16” tournament with her team losing to Ithaca, 76-75, in Brunswick, Maine, Friday, March 8.

Daughter of Michael and Cathy Walsh, Dunmore, Bridget played four years of Division III basketball for DeSales.

She dropped in 19 points, including 7-for-7 from the free throw line, in the nail biting loss to Ithaca.

DeSales advanced to the “Sweet 16” with its 22nd consecutive win over Middleburg.

The DeSales senior was a big part of the team in her junior season when she appeared in 27 games, including 18 starts, averaging 6.6 points per game. Bridget, a center-forward, averaged about nine points and nine rebounds and three blocks per game this season.

She became the school’s all-time shot blocker with 182, beating the previous mark of 155. Bridget broke she single season DeSales record for blocked shots with 80, beating the previous mark of 55.

Bridget is currently applying to different graduate schools where she would like to receive an assistantship in sports management or sports information. She would also like to be a graduate assistant women’s basketball coach. “That is a dream of mine,” she said. “I want to coach women’s college basketball.”

Bridget has a 3.3 grade point average at DeSales. She is editor-in-chief of “The Mintrel,” the campus newspaper. She was sports editor for the past two years.

Bridget Walsh team “I want to stay involved in college athletics,” she said. “I have been in love with college athletics ever since I got here. I would love to help student-athletes in the future. I want to get involved in sports information or management on the college level.”

The DeSales senior is a member of Character U, a program at the school that helps transition freshmen from high school to college life.

“It’s nice to see the kids grow,” she said.

The talented center-forward talked about the success of the team. “We played a lot of basketball this summer in preparation for the season,” she said. “We stressed defense and averaged a lot of points per game. A lot of our points came from the result of our defensive pressure. It was huge with our transition game. Our defense was a big part of our success.

“Our defense and connection on the court was the biggest reason for our success. We had three seniors leading the way and a great freshman class which was crucial coming in.”

DeSales, coached by Fred Richter, finished the season 27-3.

“We learned so much from coach Richter,” said Bridget. “He taught us not only about basketball, but to be a better person and a success in life. He teaches us what we need to do to run our lives after college and basketball.”

The senior stalwart said she owes a lot of her success to her parents.

“My parents taught me to make the most of opportunities and not take anything for granted. My parents both worked hard in life to help provide me with opportunities. They taught me to be the best version of myself.”

Bridget played four years of basketball at Scranton Prep and was first team All Conference as a senior.

She is a sports communications major with a minor in journalism and sports management at DeSales University.