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It’s been 10 years since a Wyoming Valley Conference boys basketball team won a PIAA state title. Since then, only two other District 2 teams, both from the Lackawanna League, have managed to play for a championship.
The drought since now-closed Bishop O’Reilly’s 65-61 victory over Kennedy Catholic probably won’t end this year as the state tournaments kick off this weekend.
Here’s a look at the eight District 2 teams — two from the WVC and six from the Lackawanna League — and their chances of reaching Hershey listed in order of possibility.
1. Scranton Prep (23-3): The D2-3A champion Cavaliers are one of the most complete teams to come out of the district in quite some time. They can score from the perimeter or inside, rebound and dictate tempo. They’ve wiped out four district opponents, including GAR 88-55 for the title.
Prep should be able to get past D4 runner-up Shamokin (19-8) in its first-round game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lackawanna College. But the second round will likely bring D12 runner-up Imhotep (19-9), which played for the Class 2A state title in 2013. If the Cavaliers get past Imhotep, they’ll match up with either D3 third seed Susquehanna Township (20-6), which was upset in its district semifinal, or D11 champ Pottsville (27-0), one of two unbeaten teams left in the state.
And, of course, the final step to Hershey would likely mean defeating incredibly powerful D12 champion Neumann-Goretti (24-2), the defending state champion. Prep, though, has proven it can play with anybody in the state so don’t count out the Cavs.
2. Abington Heights (21-3): The D2-4A champion Comets could put a bit of a run on. They wouldn’t face the two best teams in their part of the bracket — D11 champ Parkland (27-1) or D12 champ Roman Catholic (24-2) — until the semifinals. They open with D3 seventh seed Central York (20-9) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Lackawanna College.
If Abington Heights makes it to the quarterfinals, it could play D1 seventh seed Methacton, which defeated the Comets 60-53 on Dec. 22. The Comets’ other two losses have been to Scranton Prep.
3. Mid Valley (23-4): Mid Valley is fresh off its first district basketball championship in school history. The Spartans should be able to carry the momentum of their D2-2A title over against D4 third seed Towanda (22-5) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lackawanna College. Their biggest obstacle to the semifinals could be D12 champ Conwell-Egan (16-8), whose record is tainted by playing a rugged schedule.
4. Holy Redeemer (19-7): Although the Royals are the D2-2A third seed, they drew a decent matchup with D3 champion Trinity (17-7). The Shamrocks have size with two starters at 6-foot-9 and 6-foot-8, but overall they’re young.
Redeemer has won 15 of its last 16 games, but has a long road trip Saturday to East Pennsboro High School outside Harrisburg for a 2:30 p.m. game. Win Saturday and a possible rematch with Holy Cross the following Saturday could happen.
5. Holy Cross (20-6): The Crusaders lost in the D2-2A championship game for the third time in four years, sending them to a 5 p.m. game Saturday at Williamsport High School against D4 champ Loyalsock (23-3). The winner probably survives at least to the following Saturday’s quarterfinals.
Holy Cross is the last District 2 team to play for a state title, losing 69-63 to Beaver Falls in the 2013 Class 2A game.
6. Old Forge (12-12): The Blue Devils’ record is a bit misleading as they played in Division III of the Lackawanna League. Had they played in Division IV, there’s little doubt they would have won the division.
Old Forge opens states with D4 runner-up Meadowbrook Christian (18-3) at 6 p.m. Friday at Lackawanna College. Meadowbrook’s record appears inflated by a rather weak schedule, so a Blue Devils win won’t be an upset. But even if that happens, the season probably ends on Tuesday in the second round.
7. GAR (21-5): The D2-3A runner-up Grenadiers have an advantage in their first round game, playing D3 fourth seed Manheim Central (24-4) at 6 p.m. Friday at Wyoming Area. However, Manheim Central’s size could be a problem, especially with GAR forward Greg Skrepenak Jr. ineligible to play due to two technical fouls in the D2 title game against Prep.
Even if GAR survives Friday, the road will likely end in the second-round game against Neumann-Goretti.
8. Valley View (15-11): The D2-3A third seed will have plenty of trouble getting past D11 champ Pottsville (27-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Blue Mountain High School. Even with a major first-round upset, it’s difficult seeing the Cougars getting out of the second round.
WON AND DONE
Hilda Goodling Impact Academy won the District 3 Class A championship and promptly dropped out of the state tournament, citing financial troubles at the first-year school in York. According to a story on the York Dispatch website (ydr.com), the school might not even have enough money to cover the rest of the school year.
To fill the state void, District 3 moved runner-up Millersburg to the top seed in states, Halifax from third seed to second seed and West Shore Academy from fourth to third. Lancaster County Christian, which thought its season ended with a Feb. 20 loss in the district quarterfinals, will be the fourth seed.
PREDICTIONS AND REALITY
Here’s how my predictions for the District 2 tournaments panned out.
In Class 4A, predicted top-seeded Abington Heights to defeat second-seeded Hazleton Area for the championship. Happened just like that.
In Class 3A, I had No. 1 seed Scranton Prep defeating No. 2 seed Crestwood for the crown and third-seeded GAR defeating fourth-seeded Honesdale for third place. Instead, Prep topped GAR for the championship and seventh-seeded Valley View beat Honesdale for third place. Valley View also knocked out Crestwood in the quarterfinals.
In Class 2A, I felt that fifth-seeded Mid Valley was the best team and would defeat third-seeded Holy Cross for the championship. That’s how the title played out. For third place, I predicted seventh-seeded Dunmore over ninth-seeded Riverside. Instead, second-seeded Holy Redeemer defeated Riverside for third place.
In Class A, I had third-seeded Old Forge over top-seeded Forest City for the championship. Instead, the Blue Devils defeated fourth-seeded MMI Prep.