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Long-time Lackawanna College football coach Mark Duda was honored Tuesday when he was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
The active leader in junior college victories as a coach with 166, Duda has been with the Falcons program since its inception in 1993, serving one season as defensive coordinator before taking over as head coach the next year. He has won 68 percent of his games in that span.
A former pass-rushing star at Maryland, who was drafted into the NFL, Duda has built one of the top junior college programs in the country, not just winning games but also sending players onto major schools, with 15 playing in the NFL.
Two of his former players, offensive lineman Bryant McKinnie and wide receiver Kevin White, developed into top-10 NFL draft picks after going from Lackawanna to Miami and West Virginia, respectively.
”Great coach, better man!” wrote Falcons alum Paris Palmer, who also played at Penn State, on Twitter. “Taught me so (much) while attending Lackawanna! (I don’t know) why (people) frown upon going the JUCO route. The struggle molds men (for real).”
Duda is also a member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
PSU Brandywine 109, PSU Wilkes-Barre 100
In a game played Monday, it took two overtimes in Lehman Township before Brandywine pulled away from the victory despite 27 points and 7-for-10 shooting from behind the arc by Kevin Silverberg.
Tomir Gibbs added 22 points in the loss.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
PSU Brandywine 66, PSU Wilkes-Barre 52
In a game played Monday, Jaqueline Rabender (13 points) and Gianna Skaff (10) finished in double figures for Wilkes-Barre in a PSUAC loss.
HIGH SCHOOLS
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Hanover Area 61, GAR 27
In a game played Monday, Genesis Rodriguez scored a game-high 19 points in the first three quarters to lead the Hawkeyes. Victoria Benning added 12 while Sarah Tuzinski had 11.
Olivia Prato topped the Grenadiers with nine points.
Meyers 58, MMI Prep 20
In a game played Monday, Amanda Gray led three Mohawks in double figures with 17 points, followed by Allycia Harris (14) and Erin Morris (13).
Julie Amentler scored six for the Preppers.
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Hanover Area 61, GAR 27
HANOVER AREA (61) — Victoria Benning 4 4-6 12, Genesis Rodriguez 8 3-7 19, Sarah Tuzinski 4 0-0 11, Sara Whitesell 1 0-1 2, Lauren Blazaskie 2 1-2 5, Emily Bobos 1 0-0 2, Tanisha Atherton 2 0-0 5, Mary Slusser 0 0-0 0, Arianna Sillah 0 0-0 0, Alesha Dennis 0 0-0 0, Madison Hooper 2 2-2 7, T. Hines 0 0-1 0. Totals 24 10-19 61.
GAR (27) — Alana Germano 2 0-0 4, Olivia Prato 0 9-12 9, Lyann Pena 1 0-0 2, Jada Redditt 2 1-3 5, Emily Engle 2 0-0 4, Hannah Cook, 0 1-5 1, Mikayla Andrzejewski 0 2-5 2. Totals 7 13-25 27.
Hanover`11`24`16`10`—`61
GAR`2`9`4`12`—`27
Three-point goals — HAN 5 (Tuzinski 3, Atherton, Hooper); GAR 0
Meyers 58, MMI Prep 20
MEYERS (58) — Erin Morris 5 2-2 13, Amanda Gray 7 0-0 17, Ashley Bruno 1 0-0 2, Allycia Harris 6 2-7 14, DaNayia Ballard 2 0-0 4, Bella Gray 2 0-0 4, Bailey Smallcomb 0 0-0 0, Heavan Adams 0 0-0 0, Selena Sota 2 0-0 4, Alexis Semanek 0 0-0 0, Sarah Bottger 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 4-9 58.
MMI PREP (20) — Irene Altmiller 2 0-0 5, Maddie Perchak 0 0-0 0, Kim Amentler 1 0-2 2, Julie Amentler 2 2-2 6, Morgan Allen 1 1-2 3, Bailey Slusser 1 0-0 2, Lexi Zola 0 0-0 0, Jessica McClellan 1 0-0 2. Totals 8 3-6 20.
Meyers`17`13`19`9`—`58
MMI Prep`4`6`4`6`—`20
Three-point goals — MEY 4 (A. Gray 3, Morris); MMI 1 (Altmiller)