AJ Sports

By Tom Robinson
Go Lackawanna sports correspondent

Dunmore never trailed while coasting to a 66-52 victory over GAR in a District 2 Class AA boys' basketball semifinals.

"We decided we wanted to turn up the pressure right off the bat to see if we could get a jump on them and get a big lead," Dunmore coach Tony Lacertoso said.

The Bucks did just that, opening leads of 8-0 just 1:12 into the game and 30-10 just 38 seconds into the second quarter.

Pat Ross hit five 3-pointers in the first quarter on his way to 22 points. Brian Copeland added 10 off the bench.

GAR was led by Darian Twyman with 20 points.

For more coverage of District 2 basketball, see Saturday's Scranton Edition of the Times Leader.

UPDATED: 11:52 p.m.

SCRANTON -- Abington Heights scored 13 straight points in the first quarter on its way to a 60-44 victory over Nanticoke in the District 2 Class AAA girls' basketball semifinals at Marywood University.

Maggie Fruehan had nine points in the run that produced a 14-2 lead with 1:30 left in the quarter. Fruehan finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Jen Harnischfeger led Nanticoke with 25 points.

Abington Heights did all its scoring in the lane in a 10-1, second-quarter run to a 28-14 lead.

The Lady Comets were in front by 15 before Nanticoke hit three straight 3-pointers to cut the lead to 36-30 with 2:28 left in the third quarter. The Trojanettes could not get any closer.

The victory avenged a loss to Nanticoke in the same round last year.

"We didn't want to go play in the third-place game again," Abington Heights coach Vince Bucciarelli said. "They were really pumped up in the locker room before the game; the most I've seen from them."

Jamie Montella had 11 rebounds, Meghan Fraley had six assists and Samantha Paolucci had five steals in the win.

Return to www.scrantonedition.com/sports throughout the night for more details on these games.

UPDATED: 11:43 p.m.

Monica Wignot scored 15 points Thursday night as Holy Redeemer turned back West Scranton, 50-45, in a District 2 Class AAA girls' basketball semifinal.

Sabrina Coleman and Nora Joyce led West Scranton with 14 points each.

Holy Redeemer plays Abington Heights Saturday at Scranton at 2:30 for the district championship.

West Scranton and Nanticoke will play for third place in the first game at Scranton at 1.

UPDATED: 11:37 p.m.

Tony Goodall scored 15 points Thursday night and Old Forge erased a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat Freeland MMI, 41-37, in the District 2 Class A boys' basketball championship game.

Dom Avvisato added 13 points.

MMI led 13-8 after one quarter and 19-12 at the half.

UPDATED: 11:23 p.m.

Josh Kosin came off the bench to score all 14 of his points in the second half Thursday night as Holy Cross defeated Riverside, 51-41, in a District 2 Class AA boys' basketball semifinal.

Brett Podhyski added 13 points for the Crusaders, who are 1-3 against Dunmore this season and in need of a win over the Bucks Saturday to take their third straight district title.

Podhyski finished 11-for-12 from the line.

Gerry Kincel scored 23 points and Gerry Reilly added 11 for Riverside.

The Vikings will play GAR at King's College at 2:30 Saturday for a state tournament berth.

The Dunmore-Holy Cross game will be played Saturday at Carbondale at 2.

UPDATED: 11:05 p.m.

SCRANTON -- Pat Ross hit five 3-pointers in the first quarter Monday night and Dunmore never trailed on the way to a 66-52 victory over GAR in a District 2 Class AA boys' basketball semifinal.

Ross finished with 22 points.

The Bucks will face Holy Cross, a 51-41 winner over Riverside, in Saturday's championship game.

Both Dunmore and Holy Cross gained state tournament berths with the win. GAR and Riverside will play for the district's third state berth.

Josh Kosin came off the bench to score all 14 of his points in the second half for Holy Cross.

Old Forge rallied in the second half to defeat Freeland MMI, 41-37, for the Class A boys' championship.

Abington Heights and Holy Redeemer advanced to the Class AAA girls' championship game and gained state berths.

Maggie Fruehan led Abington Heights with 24 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in a 60-44 win over Nanticoke.

Holy Redeemer defeated West Scranton, 50-45.

Return to www.scrantonedition.com/sports throughout the night for more details on these games.