Click here to subscribe today or Login.
NANTICOKE — Some losses carry a little more weight, especially when they come against a long-time rival that had little success in recent seasons.
That, though, was where Nanticoke Area found itself entering Wednesday night’s game with neighbor Hanover Area.
“After that first loss, it was a tough loss. We only lost by three,” Nanticoke Area junior Trahjan Krupinski said. “We didn’t played our best game. Tonight, I think we came back as a team as a whole and played our best game.”
Especially at the end.
The Trojans outscored Hanover Area 11-1 over the final five minutes, pulling away for a 52-39 Wyoming Valley Conference boys basketball victory and getting a measure of revenge from the Dec. 16 loss.
Hanover Area’s earlier win over Nanticoke Area had no impact in the WVC divisional races, but did count toward the mathematical formula to determine District 2 seeding. Wednesday’s game was a conference contest, and Nanticoke Area improved to 2-0 in WVC Division 2 and 6-1 overall. Hanover Area fell to 0-2 in WVC Division 3 and 5-3 overall.
Krupinski finished with a game-high 20 points, but the 6-foot-4 junior’s work on the defensive boards was equally beneficial down the stretch. His rebound, his ninth of the game, sprung Colby Butczynski on a fastbreak with 1:48 to play. Butczynski’s bucket allowed the Trojans’ lead to swell to 50-38.
The basket also completed a 9-0 run where Butczynski scored three consecutive baskets, with the two others coming on rebounds by Jake Krupinski — Trahjan’s younger brother — and guard Nate Kreitzer. The Trojans finished with a 31-17 rebounding advantage.
“We’re lacking in size. Everybody knows that,” Hanover Area coach Chris Gray said. “A lot of times, we’re running five guards out there. They did a nice job of exploiting that. Once they got ahead to that six-, eight-, nine-point margin they did a nice job of pulling it out and stalling it.”
Hanover Area did a nice job on Kreitzer, a sharp-shooting perimeter player. Kreitzer had all 13 of his points in the first half and didn’t get many good looks in the final two quarters. Still, Nanticoke Area never trailed after Kreitzer finished off the first quarter with a pair of 3-pointers, with the last one coming from beyond midcourt.
Tyler Thomas and Carlos Fernandez paced Hanover Area with 12 points each. The Hawkeyes shot 46 percent from the field in the first three quarters, but hit just 2 of 10 shots in the fourth.
“We were happy to get through the third quarter with a four-point lead and that Trah didn’t pick up his fourth foul,” Nanticoke Area coach John Beggs said. “So when we were able to get Trah back on the floor, we knew they (Kreitzer and Krupinski) were going to draw a lot of attention, so other guys stepped up, made good cut to the rim, found some cutter and made some layups.”
GAR 82, MMI Prep 44
The Grenadiers had three players score in double-digits in a win over MMI Prep.
Will Johnson scored a team-high 19 points while both Khairi Carson and Anthony Hawk tallied 16. Carson and Simon Peter both drained a pair of 3-pointers.
Matt Marchetti scored a team-high 19 points for MMI Prep, including three 3-pointers.
Hazleton Area 94, Wyo. Valley West 64
Hazleton Area placed four players in double figures as it rolled past Wyoming Valley West.
Da’Mir Faison led the Cougars with 25 points. Josh Samec had 19, Jeffery Planutis scored 16 and Joey Grula added 14.
Draig Ruff paced Valley West with 29 points. Mason Mendygral added 19.
Wyoming Area 62, Lake-Lehman 43
Matt Wright scored 18 points, Sam Greenfield had 16 and Aaron Zezza nettd 11 as the Warriors took control early in their win against Lake-Lehman.
Ibrahim Dabsheh led Lehman with 12.
Pittston Area 53, Coughlin 47
The Patriots outscored Coughlin 18-10 in the fourth quarter to pull out a victory.
Brennan Higgins paced Pittston Area with 16. Matt McGlynn scored 13 and Brian Miller added 10.
Coughlin’s Tony Egidio scored a game-high 22 while Dominique Flippen added 14.
Meyers 45, Northwest 34
Jawane Buckner had 19 points and Cole Walker added nine for Meyers.
Sam Saxe led Northwest with 11. Jaxson Yaple and Walker Yaple scored seven each.
Dallas 57, Crestwood 40
Dallas raced to a 19-point lead after one quarter on the way to defeating Crestwood.
Alex Charlton scored a game-high 20 to lead Dallas. Joey Parsons added 19.
Sean Murphy had 11 for Crestwood.
Tunkhannock 46, Holy Redeemer 40
Tyler Faux scored 21 points as Tunkhannock held off Holy Redeemer. Matt Goodwin added nine, all on 3-pointers.
Nick Prociak had 14 and Collin Cook added 10 for Redeemer.
Wyoming Seminary 50, Berwick 48
The Blue Knights held off a second-half rally attempt by Berwick to prevail.
Dimitri Gnall scored 20 for Seminary, which led 23-10 at halftime and 36-27 entering the fourth quarter. Todd Phillips added 12.
Alex Markle scored 15 and Damon Beckhorn added 14 for Berwick.
Nantiocke Area 52, Hanover Area 39
HANOVER AREA (39) — Desmond Cannon 1 0-0 3, Mike Piscotty 3 1-2 7, Tyler Thomas 4 3-4 12, Asad Whitehead 0 1-2 1, Carlos Fernandez 4 3-5 12, Devin Sink 2 0-0 4, Bandor Arias 0 0-0 0, Lamarr Nelson 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 8-13 39.
NANTICOKE AREA (52) — Nate Kreitzer 5 1-2 13, Colby Butczynski 5 0-1 13, Luke Myers 0 0-0 0, Trahjan Krupinski 10 0-0 20, Jake Krupinski 3 0-0 6, Dylan Szychowski 0 0-0 0, Andy Kozlofski 0 0-0 0, JJ Bielecki 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 1-3 52.
Hanover Area`13`11`9`6`—`39
Nanticoke Area`17`13`7`15`—`52
Three-point goals — HA 3 (Cannon, Thomas, Fernandez); NA 5 (Kreitzer 2, Butczynski 3).
GAR 82, MMI Prep 44
MMI PREP (44) — Matt Marchetti 8 0-0 19, Marcus Kassick 3 2-7 8, Mike Badamo 3 0-0 7, Keefer Hoover 2 0-0 6, AJ Jordan 1 0-0 3, George Palermo 0 1-2 1, Zack Young 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 3-9 44.
GAR (82) — Will Johnson 8 2-2 19, Khairi Carson 7 0-0 16, Anthony Hawk 8 0-0 16, Simon Peter 3 0-0 8, Eli Ruiz 3 0-0 6, Jared O’Day 2 0-0 5, George Placencio 2 0-0 4, Mufee Burney 2 0-0 4, Kahlil White 1 0-0 2, Tyler Young 1 0-0 2. Totals 37 2-2 82.
MMI Prep`9`11`12`12`—`44
GAR`16`22`27`17`—`82
Three-point goals — MMI 7 (Marchetti 3, Hoover 2, Jordan 1); GAR 6 (Peter 2, Carson 2, Johnson 1, O’Day 1).
Meyers 45, Northwest 34
NORTHWEST (34) — Sam Saxe 4 2-3 11, Jaxson Yaple 2 2-2 7, Walker Yaple 3 0-0 7 , Tyler Stevens 2 1-2 5, Matt Saxe 0 2-4 2, Bryce Koser 1 0-0 2, Matt Pierontoni 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 7-11 34.
MEYERS (45) — Jawane Buckner 7 2-2 19, Cole Walker 3 1-2 9, Blake Masker 3 0-0 6, Keegan Brewster 3 0-0 6, Kendall Brewster 2 0-0 4, Najese Hood 0 1-2 1, Tanner Nilon 0 0-0 0, Jassen Wilborn 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 4-6 45.
Northwest`7`7`14`6`—`34
Meyers`13`7`17`8`—`45
Three-point goals — NW 3 (Sam Saxe 1, J. Yaple 1, W. Yaple 1); MEY 5 (Buckner 3, Walker 2).
Pittston Area 53, Coughlin 47
COUGHLIN (47) — Tony Egidio 9 2-4 22, Dominque Flippen 6 2-2 14, Jahsim Hall 2 3-4 7, Shawn Valenzquela 2 0-0 4, Matt Egidio 0 0-0 0, Aaron Bennett 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 7-10 47.
PITTSTON AREA (53) — Brennan Higgins 7 2-4 16, Matt McGlynn 4 2-2 13, Brian Miller 4 2-2 10, Sevion Leak 2 0-0 5, Kolton Zafutto 1 2-2 5, Kemmar Woodruff 2 0-3 4, Trevor Tigue 0 0-0 0, Andrew Krawczyk 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 8-13 53.
Coughlin`18`8`11`10`—`47
Pittston Area`14`9`12`18`—`53
Three-point goals — COU 2 (T. Egidio 2); PIT 5 (McGlynn 3, Leak 1, Zatfuto 1).
Wyoming Area 62, Lake-Lehman 43
LAKE-LEHMAN (43) — Ibrahim Dabsheh 4 0-0 12, Max Paczewski 2 2-2 7, CJ Cercone 2 2-2 7, Alex Magdalinski 2 1-2 5, Don Thompson 2 0-0 4, Nate Salus 1 1-4 4, Sean Sabaluski 1 0-0 2, Trey Borger 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 6-10 43.
WYOMING AREA (62) — Matt Wright 7 4-10 18, Sam Greenfield 5 5-7 16, Aaron Zezza 4 1-4 11, Kyre Zielinski 3 2-2 8, Dylan Melberger 2 0-0 6, Cole Coolbaugh 1 0-0 2, Dom Deluca 0 1-2 1, Alex Gonzalez 0 0-0 0, Jusin Alder 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 13-25 62.
Lake-Lehman`4`10`14`15`—`43
Wyoming Area`17`14`17`14`—`62
Three-point goals — LL 7 (Dabshen 4, Paxzewski 1, Salus 1, Cercone 1); WA 5 (Melberger 2, Zezza 2, Greenfield 1).
Hazleton Area 94, Wyoming Valley West 64
HAZLETON AREA (94) — Da’Mir Faison 9 3-6 25, Josh Samec 8 1-2 19, Jeffery Planutis 5 4-5 16, Joey Grula 5 4-4 14, Alex D’Angelo 1 2-2 5, Scott Shamany 2 0-0 4, Sparky Wolk 1 0-0 3, Adrian Otero 1 1-3 3, Kyle Franck 1 0-0 2, Warren Seigendal 1 0-0 2, Raddy Melendez 0 1-2 1, Andrew Wayda 0 0-0 0, Jecxander Moronta 0 0-0 0, Nikolas Norman 0 0-0 0. Totals 34 16-24 94.
WYO. VALLEY WEST (64) — Draig Ruff 10 6-7 29, Mason Mendygral 7 1-2 19, Austin Sienkiewicz 2 0-0 6, Daviann Gonzales 1 0-0 2, Danny Gibbons 1 0-0 2, Justus Simpson 1 0-0 2, Tyler Gillespie 1 0-0 2, Devon Rhodes 0 1-2 1, Booker Kennedy 0 1-2 1, Ruland Hamad 0 0-0 0, Matt Stoodley 0 0-0 0, Sammy Solomon 0 0-0 0, Ricky Leon 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 9-13 64.
Hazleton Area`20`21`29`24`—`94
WVW`19`13`18`14`—`64
Three-point goals — HAZ 10 (Faison 4, Planutis 2, Samex 2 , Wolk 1, D’Angelo 1); WVW (Mendygral 4, Ruff 3, Sienkiewicz 2).
Tunkhannock 46, Holy Redeemer 40
HOLY REDEEMER (40) — Nick Prociak 6 2-3 15, Collin Cook 3 4-4 10, Bryce Yencha 1 0-0 3, Derek Answini 1 0-0 3, Joey Jude 1 1-2 3, Jake Adonizio 1 0-0 2, Tucker Ell 1 0-0 2, Sean Wills 1 0-0 2, J.D. Turosky 0 0-2 0. Totals 15 7-11 40.
TUNKHANNOCK (46) — Tyler Faux 7 3-4 21, Matt Goodwin 3 0-0 9, Sean Harder 3 2-5 8, Evan Turner 3 0-0 6, Jack Chilson 1 0-0 2, Ryan Harder 0 0-0 0, Erik Bennett 0 0-0 0, Avery Billings 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 5-9 46.
Holy Redeemer`8`14`9`9`—`40
Tunkhannock`11`12`10`13`—`46
Three-point goals — HR 3 (Yencha 1, Answini 1, Prociak 1); TUN 7 (Faux 4, Goodwin 3).
Dallas 57, Crestwood 40
DALLAS (57) — Alex Charlton 7 5-6 20, Joey Parsons 7 3-4 19, Matt Mathers 2 2-2 6, Jay Bittner 2 1-1 5, Ben O’Connell 0 2-2 2, Andrew Kovalick 0 0-0 0, Jack Farrell 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 13-15 57.
CRESTWOOD (40) — Sean Murphy 3 2-2 11, Camden Boris 4 0-0 11, Evan Knapp 2 2-2 7, Mike Palmiero 3 0-1 7 Ryan Petroski 2 0-1 4, Frank Casarella 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 4-6 40.
Dallas`25`1o`15`7`—`57
Crestwood`6`20`6`8`—`40
Three-point goals — DAL 4 (Parsons 2, Charlton 1, Kocher 1); CRE 8 (Murphy 3, Boris 3, Knapp 1, Palmiero 1).
Wyoming Seminary 50, Berwick 48
WYOMING SEMINARY (50) — Dimitri Gnall 8 6-8 20, Todd Phillips 3 6-7 12, Jake Koretz 4 1-1 9, Tyler Moddock 1 2-2 4, Jeremy Callahan 1 0-0 3, Nic Bufalino 0 0-0 0, Ethan Mever 0 0-0 0, Dan Paglie 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 15-18 50.
BERWICK (48) — Alec Markle 5 3-3 15, Damon Beckhorn 5 3-4 14, Ken Marshman 2 4-4 10, Zach Evans 1 2-2 4, Denver Knorr 1 0-0 3, Joe Norce 1 0-0 2, Jarrett Groshek 0 0-0 0, Maliek McMillan 0 0-0 0, Connor Hanson 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 12-13 48.
Wyoming Seminary`6`17`13`14`—`50
Berwick`5`5`17`21`—`48
Three-point goals — WS 1 (Callahan); BER 6 (Marshman 2, Markle 2, Beckhorn 1, Knorr 1).
