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By JOHN ERZAR jerzar@leader.net
Tuesday, February 08, 2000 Page: 3B
WILKES-BARRE – If the GAR girls basketball team could go back in time,
there is no doubt it would.
Perhaps just one more valiant win earlier this season, like the Grenadiers’
48-45 victory over Wyoming Seminary Monday night, would make a huge
difference.
GAR rallied from a seven-point, third-quarter deficit to take the lead for
good, 46-45, with 54 seconds to play on Sara Chmielewski’s free throw. Cheri
Madga added two more free throws with eight seconds left, then watched a
Seminary three-point attempt at the buzzer hit the back of the rim.
“I wish I could go back with this team now to December,” said GAR coach
Gene Skrynski, whose team improved to 3-2 in Division III of the Wyoming
Valley Conference after finishing the first half 2-5. “We’re really coming
on.”
A bit too late, though, to earn a District 2 Class 2A WVC berth. There is a
very remote chance of gaining the wild-card spot, but so many things would
have to break the Grenadiers’ way. GAR would have to defeat defending state
champion Bishop Hoban on Thursday, and have at least two of three Lackawanna
teams completely collapse down the stretch to make the postseason.
Seminary, 4-8 in overall WVC play, remained alive for the WVC Class A berth
despite the loss. The Blue Knights need to win their final two games and have
Seton (6-6) lose its final two to force a tie.
The Blue Knights’ chances would have been better if they could have held
on. They turned an 18-12 deficit midway through the second quarter into a
30-23 lead when freshman Morgan Carey opened the third with two baskets.
“The reason for the up-and-down season is the returning lettermen are all
good offensive players, but never had that pressure on them,” said Seminary
coach Trish Carr, whose team hasn’t won two consecutive WVC games this season.
“They are all capable. They all have good moves and good shots.”
The best shooting, though, came from GAR guard Tanya Wickkiser, who showed
no hesitation in firing up NBA-range three-point attempts. She hit three on
the way to a game-high 18 points.
Her final one, at 6:07 of the third, started a rally that put GAR back in
the lead.
Seminary never regained the lead, but tied the score 45-45 with 1:17 to
play on consecutive baskets by Jen Blum. Berwick 61 Hazleton Area 53
BERWICK – Jessica Huntley led Berwick with 19 points to defeat Hazleton
Area.
Becky Dellegrotti followed with 18 points and Rachel Trivelpiece added 12
points for the Bulldogs.
The Cougars were led by Melissa Dymek with 18 points and Joy Gallagher with
11. Bishop Hoban 58 Bishop Hafey 39
HAZLETON – Chelsey Ostrowsky scored 17 points and Maria Viercinski added 13
as Bishop Hoban defeated Bishop Hafey.
The Argents had a 19-2 run bridging the second and third quarters.
Janell Hopeck and Erica Canzler scored nine each for Hafey. Meyers 60
Northwest Area 41
WILKES-BARRE – Jayme Antolik scored a game-high 18 points as Meyers
defeated Northwest Area.
Steph Andrejko added 11 for the Mohawks.
Danielle Zagata led the Rangers with 12. Hanover Area 37 Wyoming Area 34
HANOVER TWP. – Sarah Kopko’s 20 points led Hanover Area past Wyoming Area.
Melissa Mendygral added 13 for the Hawkeyes.
Jessica Humko had 13 and Sarah Supinski added 11 for the Warriors. Coughlin
74 Tunkhannock Area 64
WILKES-BARRE – Camille Centini scored a game-high 23 points as Coughlin
defeated Tunkhannock Area.
Kimber Rava scored 11 and Kerry Buckman added 10 for the Crusaders.
Cassey Shiffer scored 15, Sandy Grigas had 14, Nicole Otten had 13 and
Lindsay Faux had 10 for the Tigers. Wyoming Valley West 69 Pittston Area 32
PLYMOUTH – Andrea DeMaranville scored 22 points to lead Wyoming Valley West
past Pittston Area.
Jamie Kauczka and Sara Dorman each added 14 for the Spartans.
Jess Yuschovicz led the Patriettes with 11. Dallas 61 Crestwood 48
DALLAS – Jenn Noon and Rachel Kukosky each scored 17 points to lead Dallas
over Crestwood. Steph Simonitis added 13 points while Erika Turner contributed
10 points.
Crestwood was led by Maura Morgan with 14 points. Adrienne Gaetano added 10
points for the Comets. Nanticoke 65 Lake-Lehman 44
LEHMAN TWP. – Heather Roback led Nanticoke over Lake-Lehman with 21 points.
Lauren Kurkowski scored 12 points, Kim Turoski added 11 points and Kim Heffron
followed with 10.
Lake-Lehman was led by Kieran Lucarino with 16 points. Bishop O’Reilly 47
Seton Catholic 38
PITTSTON – Danielle Del Priore led Bishop O’Reilly with 13 points to defeat
Seton Catholic.
Katie Guntli scored 11 points while Molly Guntli followed with 10 points.
Seton Catholic was led by Maria Zangardi with 15 points and Ann Brennan
scored 10 points.