The Pittston Area girls won the Anthony “Badger” Marseco Tournament on Saturday.
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OLD FORGE – The Pittston Area girls basketball team turned a highly efficient offensive start into the game’s first 22 points Saturday afternoon while breezing to the title of the Anthony “Badger” Marseco Tournament with a 54-17 rout of host Old Forge.
With well-rounded efforts from Daniella Ranieli and Maddie Karp leading the way, the Lady Patriots needed just 11 possessions to score the 22 points.
“The last few games, we did not come out from the tip very well,” Pittston Area coach Jeff Gregory said. “It was something we were focusing on. I didn’t think the other night we came out at the beginning of the first or third quarter very well. So, we really put some emphasis today on having a little energy to start the game.
“They responded and we got off to a tremendous start.”
Ranieli finished with 18 points, five defensive rebounds and five assists.
The all-state guard had plenty of help.
Karp wound up with nine points, four assists and two steals. Lili Hintze joined Ranieli in double figures, scoring 10 points.
“Our other people are starting to come along,” Gregory said. “As quickly as they come along will determine how successful we will be.
“We just need more consistency.”
Ranieli and Karp were prominent in the fast start. Ranieli had 10 points, three rebounds and three assists in the first 5:45 while Karp had seven points, three rebounds two assists and a steal.
The 22-0 lead was the result of shooting 7-for-10 from the floor, 4-for-6 on 3-pointers and 4-for-4 from the line without committing a turnover.
Ranieli made her first two 3-point attempts while Karp and Lili Hintze each made their first. Ranieli made the four free throws.
The Lady Patriots went up 7-0 without missing a shot, leading to Old Forge calling its first timeout with 6:35 still remaining in the first.
Ranieli opened the game with a 3-pointer, then hit two free throws before Karp took a steal the length of the court.
Once Pittston Area missed for the first time, Ranieli retrieved the rebound and hit Ranieli for a 3-pointer and 10-0 lead.
Karp and Hintze added their 3-pointers, leading to the next Old Forge timeout at 16-0 with 3:48 still left in the first.
Ranieli’s three defensive rebounds led to the last six points of the run. She pushed the ball up the floor to assist baskets by Karp and Katie Chernouskas and went all the way to the basket to draw, which she converted into two points.
Ella O’Brien came off the bench to chip in two steals and two blocked shots on defense.
Jewlya McCullon led Old Forge with seven points and three assists.
Wyoming Area 51, Hanover Area 11
Wyoming Area broke loose for 28 second-quarter points to take third place in the Marseco Tournament.
Addison Gaylord and Abby Sterba led the outburst, which produced a 39-8 halftime lead.
Gaylord started her scoring with two 3-pointers and had all 12 of her points in the quarter. Sterba also did all of her scoring in the quarter, going 5-for-7 from the line, hitting a 3-pointer and adding another basket for 10 points.
Morgan Slusser matched Gaylord for the scoring lead with 12 points. She had seven to help the Lady Warriors to a 12-3 lead after one quarter.
Wyoming Area held Hanover Area scoreless in the third quarter and allowed only a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Loyalsock 48, Crestwood 44
Loyalsock’s Gage Patterson scored a game-high 14 points as Loyalsock defeated visiting Crestwood.
Crestwood was led by Ryan Sechleer with nine points.
Mahanoy Area 77, Nanticoke 65
Mahanoy Area had five players score in double figures in a victory over host Nanticoke.
Nanticoke was led by Jaidyn Johnson with a game-high 32 points and Gavin Turak with 20.
Scoring in double figures for Mahanoy Area were Brady Alongley with 19 points, Jace Yedsena with 17, Tanner Zawada with 15, Kadin Styba with 14 and Chris Cuff with 12.
LOCAL COLLEGES
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Alvernia 57, Wilkes 53
Visiting Alvernia University erased an 11-point halftime deficit on way to a non-conference victory over the Wilkes.
Wilkes dropped to 5-6 overall, playing in its first contest since the Christmas break. Alvernia improved to 8-3 on the season.
Brenna Babcock led three players in double figures for Wilkes scoring a team-high 17 points and grabbing six rebounds. Yamirelis Matos followed with 15 points while Erin Shober recorded her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds
Marymount 74, King’s 38
Host Marymount used a strong second-half effort to defeat the King’s.
Cadie Lewis led the Monarchs with eight points, five assists, and three steals, while Juleesah Hines matched her eight-point effort with five rebounds, two helpers, and a block.
Hiram 65, Misericordia 41
Misericordia University women’s basketball team dropped its final non-conference game to Hiram at the Hoops for Hounds Tournament at Lycoming.
Jocelyn Grosch had a team-high 11 points and Skylar Bianchi added 10 points for MU.
The Cougars will open MAC Freedom play at Delaware Valley, Wednesday.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Scranton 76, King’s 61
King’s saw it seven-game win streak come to an end with a loss at home to Scranton.
The Monarchs were led by Nick Ruisi with 22 points, while Tahaj Parland added 16 and Jon Spatola chipped in 13.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pittston Area 54, Old Forge 17
PITTSTON AREA (54) – Daniella Ranieli 6 4-4 18, Maddie Karp 4 0-0 9, Guiliana Latona 0 0-0 0, Rowan Lazevnick 0 0-0 0, Lili Hintze 4 0-0 10, Ella O’Brien 0 0-0 0, Grace Callahan 2 0-0 4, Kate Chenouskas 1 1-2 3, Nora Callahan 0 0-0 0, Leah Brazginski 2 1-1 5, Gabby Roman 0 0-0 0, Carlena Lizza 0 0-0 0, Bella Dessoye 1 0-0 3, Navaeh Schneider 0 0-0 0, Angie Stuccio 0 0-0 0, Julia Long 0 0-0 0, Haley Poinyer 0 0-0 0, Abby Chernouskas 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 6-7 54
OLD FORD (17) – Lilianna Lencesky 1 0-0 2, Cali Talarico 0 0-0 0, Maniyah Massey 0 0-0 0, Danica Prtchyk 0 0-0 0, Jewla McCullon 3 0-2 7, Ava Armold 1 0-0 2, Mia Fox 1 0-0 2, Talia Pragus 2 0-0 4, Leah Domiano 0 0-0 0, Sophia Carradino 0 0-0 0. Torre DiMattia 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 0-2 17
Pittston Area`22`17`7`8`–54
Old Forge`4`2`9`2`–17
Three-point FGs: PA (Ranieli 2, Hintze 2, Karp, Lizza) 6, OF (McCullon) 1.
Wyoming Area 51, Hanover Area 11
WYOMING AREA (51) – Morgan Slusser 4 2-4 12, Addison Gaylord 5 0-0 12, Krea Bonita 2 0-0 5, Aubrey Lewis 1 0-0 3, Maggie Hallman 0 0-2 0, Anny Sterba 2 5-7 10, Shannon Kearns 0 0-0 0, Jendall Day 0 1-2 0, Krista Sadpwslo 1 0-0 2, Marissa Gacek 2 0-0 4, Erica Gilligan 0 0-0 0, Sydney Ratchford 1 0-0 2, Totals 18 8-17 51.
HANOVER AREA (11) – Olivia Russoniello 0 0-0 0, Aubrey Mathis 0 0-0 0, McKayla Castillas 0 0-0 0. Emma Schlingman 0 1-2 1, Brenna Slusser 1 2-2 4, Nyailah Bishop 1 2-4 4, Madi Myers 0 0-0 0, Alanya Hughes 0 0-4 0, Caitlyn Vigorito 1 0-0 , Maggie Murphy 0 0-0 0. Totals 3 3-10 11.
Wyoming Area`11`28`7`5`–51
Hanover Area`3`5`0`3`–11
Three-Point FGs: WA (Slusser 2, Gaylord 2, Bonita , Lewis, Sterba) 7, HA (Slusser, Vigorito) 2.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Loyalsock 48, Crestwood 44
CRESTWOOD (44) – Ryan Sechleer 4 0-0 9, Mason Czapla 2 0-0 6, Derek Johnson 3 0-0 8, Matt Sklarosky 3 1-6 8, Chaz Wright 3 2-7 8, Gio Barna 0 2-2 2, Ayden Agapito 2 1-2 5. Totals 17 5-12 44.
LOYALSOCK (48) – Jayle Andrews 5 2-4 14, Gage Patterson 6 2-3 14, Ethan Nagy 1 2-4 4, Parker Emery 0 0-0 0, Isiah Jennings 4 0-0 10, Nate Banman 2 2-5 6. Totals 18 8-16 48.
Crestwood`6`14`15`9`–44
Loyalsock`13`7`12`16`–48
Three-point FGs: Cre (Johnson 2, Czapla 2, Sechleer) 5, Loy (Andrews 2, Jennings 2) 4.
Mahanoy Area 77, Nanticoke 65
MAHANOY AREA (77) – William Mayberry 0 0-0 0, Jace Uedsena 6 3-3 17, Chris Cuff 4 0-1 12, Tanner Zaeada 3 6-8 15, Brady Alongley 7 3-3 19, Kaden Styba 4 4-6 14, Ethan Manley 0 0-0 0, Colin McGroarty 0 0-2 0. Totals 24 16-23 77.
NANTICOKE (65) – Jaidyn Johnson 12 5-12 32, PJ Remley 0 0-2 0, Gavin Turak 6 7-7 20, RJ Brogan 1 0-0 3, Ethan Ball 0 0-2 0, Ron Michel 1 0-0 2, Shane Pearson 1 0-0 2, Liam Mullery 2 0-0 6, Mathias Mitchell 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 12-23 65.
Mahanoy Area`23`21`19`14`–77
Nanticoke`15`19`17`14`–65
Three-Poing FGs: MA (Zawada 3, Yedsena 2, Alongley 2, Styba 2, Cuff) 10, Nan (Johnson 3, Mullery 2, Turak, Brogan) 7.