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SCRANTON – Scranton Prep never slowed down in its run to the District 2 Class AAA boys basketball championship.
Even facing two opponents that had also won division titles in the regular season could not impede one of the most dominant offensive runs in District 2 tournament history.
The Cavaliers shot 50 percent from the floor and better than 50 percent from 3-point range Friday night while dismantling GAR, 88-55, in the championship game at the Lackawanna College Student Union.
Four players scored in double figures to lead a balanced attack that put up some staggering numbers. In its four district playoff games, Scranton Prep (23-3):
• scored at least 88 points in every game.
• averaged 91.8 points per game.
• won every game by at least 26.
• won by an average of 43.
• opened halftime leads of 57-21, 48-19, 60-22 and 46-18.
Bobby Casey had 18 points and five assists in the final against the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 champions.
He had plenty of help.
Paddy Casey came off the bench to supply 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Tim Rose had 15 points while leading the team with seven assists and two steals. Matt Bednarz supplied 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds to lead a 55-30 advantage on the boards.
Bobby Casey had four points and Rose hit a 3-pointer to key a 9-0 start and the Cavaliers never trailed.
The same backcourt combination produced the extending, game-breaking run after the Grenadiers closed within 13-10.
Bobby Casey went 3-for-3 from 3-point range during a span of less than six minutes in the middle of a 33-6 run. Rose had eight points in the streatch that opened a 46-16 lead before GAR season scoring leader Seth Callahan scored his first points on a pair of free throws with 23 seconds left in the half.
“When you have guards like Timmy and Bobby, they’re able to open things up,” Prep coach Andrew Kettel said. “We just want to get up and down and find our open guys.”
Lackawanna League Division 2 champion Honesdale was also unable to keep Lackawanna Division 1 champ Scranton Prep from racing up and down the floor and mixing 3-pointers with easy baskets in transition.
The Cavaliers also were over 50 percent from long range in the 95-44 semifinal romp over the Hornets Feb. 24 at Scranton High School.
Bobby Casey had six of Scranton Prep’s 11 3-pointers to finish with 27 points. Rose added 20 and Bednarz 16.
The Cavaliers piled up 37 points in the second quarter alone.
Scranton Prep advanced into the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament where it will open Friday night against District 4 runner-up Shamokin (19-8) at Lackawanna College Friday night at 7:30.