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NANTICOKE — Before Nanticoke Area had the opportunity to honor its past boys basketball players Saturday night, the current group showed the program is in good shape.
The demonstration was in full force in the second quarter.
Led by the inside-outside duo of Trahjan Krupinski and Nate Kreitzer, the Trojans tore open the game with a 23-point second quarter on the way to a 57-37 victory over Meyers in a key Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 game.
The win allowed Nanticoke Area (11-2 Div. 2, 15-3 overall) to distance itself further from defending divisional champ Meyers (7-5 Div. 2, 8-9) and keep Wyoming Area (8-5 Div. 2, 12-6) from gaining any ground. Nanticoke Area and Wyoming Area have four WVC games left; Meyers has five.
While not conceding the division, Meyers coach Pat Toole pretty much felt his teams chance for a third consecutive division title — it won Division 3 in 2015-16 — was over.
“Seriously, at this point we just want to get into the district playoffs, get the best seed we can get,” Toole said. “We have three games next week — at Wyoming Area, home against Valley West, at Tunkhannock — and then we finish out with Berwick and GAR at home.”
About 50 former players attended Alumni Night as part of the school’s 50th-year celebration of its sports programs. The attendees included a player from the first team in 1967 and a few 2017 graduates. They were honored at halftime.
“We were definitely excited,” Nanticoke Area coach John Beggs said. “We knew this was going to be a good night. We wanted to come out and put a quality product on the floor our alumni could be proud of, and tonight that definitely happened.”
Kreitzer, who finished with a game-high 19 points, ended the first quarter and started the second with 3-point baskets and the Trojans were off and running. He later drove the baseline and handed off to Krupinski, who scored two of his 17 points.
Dylan Syzchowski finished off the half in grand style with his first 3-pointer of the season. Not only that, it came straight on from NBA range and fell through the net at the buzzer for a 39-22 lead.
“I think that gave us good confidence going into the second half because it was a momentum shot at the end of the quarter,” Szychowski said. “Those always give a team momentum.”
Nanticoke Area maintained it despite a five-point third quarter to keep a double-digit lead going into the fourth. The Trojans opened the final period with a 6-0 run to to push the advantage to 51-31 just two minutes in. The lead never dipped below 20 the rest of the way.
Jawane Bucker, Meyers’ leading scorer, came into the game averaging 26.5 points in the Mohawks’ last four contests. He and his teammates struggled from the field throughout. Buckner and Kendall Brewster paced Meyers with 11 points each.
GAR 66, Berwick 56
Will Johnson scored 22 of his game-high 39 points in the first half as GAR built a 38-24 lead at the break.
Anthony Hawk added 20 more for the Grenadiers.
Alec Markle had 21 and Ken Marshman added 18 to pace Berwick.
Dallas 60, Wyoming Valley West 49
Dallas placed three players in double figures in its road win at Wyoming Valley West.
Joey Parsons led the Mountaineers with 22 points. Matt Mathers had 13 and Nick Kocher added 10 as Dallas outscored the Spartans 35-25 in the final two quarters.
Draig Ruff led Valley West with 24. Mason Mendygral added 17.
Wyoming Area 68, Tunkhannock 51
Kyre Zielinski led Wyoming Area with 21 points.
Tyler Faux scored 21 for the Tigers.
Crestwood 52, Pittston Area 43
Mike Palmiero paced the Comets with 15 points.
Pittston Area’s Logan Booth and Naseem Guillaume combined for 19 points.
Hazleton 69, Coughlin 30
Jeff Planutis scored 20 points to lead the Cougars.
Tony Egidio led all Coughlin scorers with nine points.
Holy Redeemer 66, MMI Prep 42
Three Royals players scored in double figures in the win.
The Preppers were led by Matt Marchetti’s 15 points.
Hanover Area 68, Lake-Lehman 41
Desmond Cannon led the Hawkeyes to victory with 20 points.
CJ Cercone paced Lake-Lehman with 10 points.
Nanticoke Area 57, Meyers 37
MEYERS (37) — Tanner Nilon 0 0-0 0, Kendall Brewster 4 0-1 11, Keegan Brewster 1 1-2 3, Cole Walker 2 1-2 6, Jawane Buckner 3 2-2 11, Najese Hood -0 2-4 2, David Kasper 2 0-0 4, Jack Gilgallon 0 0-0 0, Londell Wright 0 0-0 0, Jihad Yancey 0 0-0 0, Blake Masker 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 6-11 37.
NANTICOKE AREA (57) — Nate Kreitzer 7 2-2 19, Colby Butczynski 0 1-2 1, Trahjan Krupinski 8 1-12 17, Jake Krupinski 4 1-1 11, Dylan Szychowski 3 2-2 9, Andy Kozlofski 0 0-0 0, Tyler Rushton 0 0-0 0, Joe Fox 0 0-0 0, Brandon Fontaine 0 0-0 0, Sincere Shiloh 0 0-0 0, Luke Myers 0 0-0 0, Collin Brown 0 0-0 0, John Chernowsky 0 0-0 0, Joe Bielicki 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 7-9 57.
Meyers`14`8`9`6 — 37
Nanticoke Area`16`23`5`13 — 57
Three-point goals — MEY 7 (Ken.Brewster 3, Walker, Buckner 3), NA 6 (Kreitzer 3, J.Krupinski 2, Szychowski).
Dallas 60, Wyoming Valley West 49
DALLAS (60) — Ben O’Connell 1 1-4 3, Nick Kocher 4 0-1 11, Joey Parsons 9 2-2 22, Matt Mathers 5 3-4 13, Jay Bittner 2 4-10 8, Brody Strickland 0 0-0 0, Jack Farrell 1 0-0 3, Luke DelGaudio 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 10-21 60.
WVW (49) — Draig Ruff 8 5-7 24, Mason Mendygral 6 0-0 17, Austin Sinkewicz 0 0-0 0, Sammy Solomon 1 0-0 3, Danny Gibbons 0 0-0 0, Justus Simpson 1 0-0 3, Devon Rhodes 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 5-7 49.
Dallas`13`12`18`17 — 60
WVW`13`11`11`14 — 49
Three-point goals — DAL 6 (Kocher 3, Parsons 2, Farrell), WVW 10 (Ruff 3, Mendygral 5, Solomon, Simpson).
GAR 66, Berwick 56
GAR (66) — Anthony Hawk 5 10-12 20, Will Johnson 14 6-8 39, Jared O’Day 1 0-0 2, Tyler Young 0 2-2 2, Simon Peter 0 0-0 0, Kahlil White 1 0-0 2, Mufee Burney 0 1-2 1. Totals 21 19-24 66.
BERWICK (56) — Ken Marshman 6 2-2 18, Alec Markle 8 3-4 21, Jarrett Groshek 0 0-0 0, Maliek McMillian 0 0-0 0, Damon Beckhorn 3 0-1 7, Connor Hanson 0 0-0 0, Denver Knorr 2 0-0 5, Kevin Tanribilir 1 0-1 2, Joe Norce 1 0-0 2, Blance Cleaver 1-2 1. Totals 21 6-10 56.
GAR`14`24`16`12 — 66
Berwick`11`13`24`8 — 56
Three-point goals — GAR 5 (Johnson 5), BER 8 (Marshman 4, Markle 2, Beckhorn, Knorr).
est with 24. Mason Mendygral added 17.
Dallas 60, Wyoming Valley West 49
DALLAS (60) — Ben O’Connell 1 1-4 3, Nick Kocher 4 0-1 11, Joey Parsons 9 2-2 22, Matt Mathers 5 3-4 13, Jay Bittner 2 4-10 8, Brody Strickland 0 0-0 0, Jack Farrell 1 0-0 3, Luke DelGaudio 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 10-21 60.
WVW (49) — Draig Ruff 8 5-7 24, Mason Mendygral 6 0-0 17, Austin Sinkewicz 0 0-0 0, Sammy Solomon 1 0-0 3, Danny Gibbons 0 0-0 0, Justus Simpson 1 0-0 3, Devon Rhodes 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 5-7 49.
Dallas`13`12`18`17 — 60
WVW`13`11`11`14 — 49
Three-point goals — DAL 6 (Kocher 3, Parsons 2, Farrell), WVW 10 (Ruff 3, Mendygral 5, Solomon, Simpson).
GAR 66, Berwick 56
GAR (66) — Anthony Hawk 5 10-12 20, Will Johnson 14 6-8 39, Jared O’Day 1 0-0 2, Tyler Young 0 2-2 2, Simon Peter 0 0-0 0, Kahlil White 1 0-0 2, Mufee Burney 0 1-2 1. Totals 21 19-24 66.
BERWICK (56) — Ken Marshman 6 2-2 18, Alec Markle 8 3-4 21, Jarrett Groshek 0 0-0 0, Maliek McMillian 0 0-0 0, Damon Beckhorn 3 0-1 7, Connor Hanson 0 0-0 0, Denver Knorr 2 0-0 5, Kevin Tanribilir 1 0-1 2, Joe Norce 1 0-0 2, Blance Cleaver 1-2 1. Totals 21 6-10 56.
GAR`14`24`16`12 — 66
Berwick`11`13`24`8 — 56
Three-point goals — GAR 5 (Johnson 5), BER 8 (Marshman 4, Markle 2, Beckhorn, Knorr).
Wyoming Area 68, Tunkhannock 51
WYOMING AREA (68) — Kyre Zielinski 9 3-5 21, Sam Greenfield 6 4-4 19, Matt Wright 4 4-4 12, Aaron Zezza 3 4-4 11, Dylan Melberger 1 0-0 3, Jake Greenfield 1 0-0 2, Dom DeLuca 0 0-0 0, Alex Gonzalez 0 0-0 0, Dan Wiedl 0 0-0 0, Justin Adler 0 0-0 0, Nick Rubino 0 0-0 0, Cole Coolbaugh 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 15-17 68.
TUNKHANNOCK (51) — Tyler Faux 7 2-2 21, Sean Harder 6 1-4 14, Evan Turner 2 2-2 6, Avery Billings 2 0-0 4, Matt Goodwin 1 41-2 4, Jack Chilson 1 0-0 2, Ryan Harder 0 0-0 0, Erik Bennett 0 0-0 0, CJ Wright 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 6-10 51.
Wyoming Area`17`15`16`20 — 68
Tunkhannock`11`11`10`19 — 51
Three-point goals — WA 2 (S. Greenfield, Zezza); TUN 7 (Goodwin, Harder, Faux 5).
Crestwood 52, Pittston Area 43
PITTSTON AREA (43) — Logan Booth 2 3-3 10, Naseem Guillaume 1 7-8 9, Trevor Tigue 1 2-4 5, Matt McGlynn 2 0-0 5, Andrew Krawcyk 2 0-0 4, Sevion Leak 1 0-0 3, Brennan Higgins 0 3-4 3, Shamique Stevens 1 0-0 2, Mike George 0 2-4 2, Adam Penxa 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 17-23 43.
Crestwood (52) — Mike Palmiero 6 2-2 15, Kevin Klusewitz 2 4-6 9, Camden Boris 3 3-7 9, Evan Knapp 3 2-2 8, Ryan Petrosky 3 0-0 6, Sean Murphy 2 0-1 5, Adam Gegaris 0 0-0 0, Frank Casarella 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 11-18 52.
Pittston Area`4`12`15`12 — 43
Crestwood`9`13`17`13 — 52
Three-point goals — PA 5 (Leak, Tigue, McGlynn, Booth 2); CRE 3 (Klusewitz, Murphy, Palmiero).
Hazleton Area 69, Coughlin 30
HAZLETON AREA (69) — Jeff Planutis 8 2-2 20, Da’Mir Faison 4 1-2 9, Josh Samec 3 1-1 7, Adrian Otero 2 3-6 7, Kyle Frank 3 1-1 6, Jecxander Moronta 2 0-0 6, Scott Shamany 2 1-1 5, Nikolas Norman 1 2-2 4, Ramddy Melendez 2 0-0 4, Warren Seigendall 0 1-2 1, Andrew Vayda 0 0-0 0, Ryan Wolk 0 0-0 0, Alex D’Angelo 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 11-15 69.
COUGHLIN (30) — Tony Egidio 4 1-2 9, Shawn Valenzuela 4 0-0 8, Aaron Bennett 2 0-0 4, Jahsim Hall 2 00 4, Matt Egido 1 0-0 3, Najeeb Bilal 1 0-0 2, Javaun Kinlaw 0 0-0 0, Gavin Donahue 0 0-0 0, Mike Senape 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 1-2 30.
Hazleton Area`18`23`12`16 — 69
Coughlin`8`10`8`4 — 30
Three-point goals — HA 5 (Frank, Planutis 2, Moronta); COU 1 (Egido).
Holy Redeemer 66, MMI Prep 42
MMI PREP (42) — Matt Marchetti 6 0-0 15, Keefer Hoover 5 0-0 15, George Palmero 3 0-0 6, Marcus Kassick 1 3-5 5, Dave Antolick 0 1-4 1, Mike Badamo 0 0-0 0, John Debellis 0 0-0 0, Marcus Danchinson 0 0-0 0, Robert Rinaldi 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 4-9 42.
HOLY REDEEMER (66) — Derek Answini 6 1-2 16, Collin Cook 5 4-4 15, JD Turosky 6 1-3 13, Joey Judge 3 3-4 9, Sean Wills 2 2-2 6, Tucker Ell 2 0-0 5, Josh Andrejko 0 0-0 0, Devin Dougherty 0 0-0 0, Chris Banas 0 0-0 0, Gavin Claherty 0 0-0 0, Jake Kester 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 11-15 66.
MMI Prep`13`6`12`11 — 42
Holy Redeemer`15`14`20`17 — 66
Three-point goals — MMI 8 (Marchetti 3, Hoover 5); HR 5 (Ell, Cook, Answini 3).
Hanover Area 68, Lake-Lehman 41
LAKE-LEHMAN (41) — CJ Cercone 5 0-1 10, Danny Kutz 3 2-2 9, Max Paczweski3 2-2 9, Sean Sabaluski 2 1-2 5, Nate Salus 1 2-4 4, Donald Thompson 1 0-0 2, Bryan Morio 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 7-11 41.
HANOVER AREA (68) — Desmond Cannon 7 0-0 20, Tyler Thomas 5 3-4 14, Evan Materna 5 0-0 10, Mike Piscotty 2 3-4 7, Asad Whitehead 3 0-0 7, Sihiem Wright 2 2-2 6, Tanner Bednarski 1 0-0 2, Devin Senk 0 2-2 2, Auggie George 0 0-1 0. Totals 23 10-12 68.
Lake-Lehman`11`6`9`15 — 41
Hanover Area`18`21`9`22 — 68
Three-point goals — LL 2 (Kutz, Paczewski); HA 10 (Thomas, Whitehead, Materna 2, Cannon 6).
