MMI Prep’s Jandel Figueroa, who was selected the Division 2 team MVP, drives between Dallas’ Sukh Mathon and Wyoming Valley West’s Jaquell Smith of Division 1.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Division 2’s Bruno Pizzano of Wyoming Area works inside as Crestwood’s Ayden Agapito of Division 1 defends.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Division 2’s Ben Gombeda of MMI Prep passes the ball in front of Division 1’s Camrin Shovlin of Wilkes-Barre Area.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Wyoming Area’s Shane Pepe gets ready to sink a 3-pointer for Division 2.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Division 2’s RJ Gernhardt of Wyoming Seminary) goes to the basket as Division 1’s Yohansel Moran of Hazleton Area tries to block the shot.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
PLAINS TWP. — On paper, Division 1 appeared to have the edge against Division 2 on Friday night in the George P. Moses Boys Basketball Senior All-Star Classic.
On the court, it was more obvious.
Hazleton Area’s Yohansel “Yo-Yo” Moran led seven players in double figures as Division 1 routed Division 2 132-82 at Wilkes-Barre Area High School.
The disparity was even evident in the team MVP selections.
Moran, from the Wyoming Valley Conference’s biggest school, was named the Division 1 MVP. MMI Prep’s Jandel Figueroa, from the WVC’s smallest school, was selected the Division 2 MVP.
“It’s great. It’s a blessing, especially to play with these guys,” Figueroa said. ‘They’re all good. I just wanted to compete.
“It was enjoyable. I had a great time.”
Moran finished game highs of 23 points and 11 rebounds.
“I was just out there having fun playing with all the boys the last four years one last time,” Moran said.
Even the Division 1 teammates from rival Wilkes-Barre Area.
“I love all of them,” Moran said. “(David) Jannuzzi, (Mike) Keating, my boy Cam (Shovlin) out there.”
As for his nickname Yo-Yo, it was given to him by his football coach in grade school. The coach shortened Moran’s first name to Yo and when he called him he would say “Yo, Yo.”
Moran admitted he didn’t have as much spring in his jumping as during the regular season. He also admitted a 3-pointer he hit from about 10 feet past the time line would have drawn the ire of Hazleton Area coach Pat Brogan if he attempted such a shot during the Cougars’ season.
“I think Brogan would kill me,” Moran joked. “Brogan would kill me if I ever did that.”
Division 2 had several potential team MVP candidates.
Wilkes-Barre Area’s Jannuzzi had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Crestwood’s Ayden Agapito had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Wyoming Valley West’s Jaquell Smith scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half as Division 1 took a 67-43 lead at the break.
Crestwood’s Gio Barna (14) and Wilkes-Barre Area’s Keating (13) and Shovlin (12) also reached double figures for Division 1.
Division 2 scored the game’s first five points, but Division 1 then went on a 13-0 run and never surrendered the lead.
Wyoming Seminary’s RJ Gernhardt had 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds for Division 2. Tunkhannock’s Colin Gregory scored 11.
In the 3-point shooting finals, Wilkes-Barre Area’s Yariel Argueta defeated Barna.
Dr. George P. Moses Senior All-Star Classic
Boys Game
Division 1 132, Division 2 82
DIVISION 1: Ayden Agapito 8 0-0 16, Gio Barna 5 0-0 14, David Jannuzzi 7 0-0 18, Mike Keating 6 0-0 13, Camrin Shovlin 5 1-1 12, Yohansel Moran 10 0-0 23, Kael Berry 3 0-0 7, Brady Mizzer 2 0-0 5, Sukh Mathon 1 0-0 3, Mathias Mitchell 3 0-0 6, Jaquell Smith 7 0-0 16. Totals 57 1-1 132.
DIVISION 2: Quron Drayton 3 0-0 7, Kyaire McLean 3 0-0 6, Cody Quaglia 2 0-0 5, Colin Gregory 4 0-0 11, RJ Gernhardt 5 1-4 12, Jandel Figueroa 8 3-4 21, Ben Gombeda 3 0-0 7, Shane Pepe 2 0-0 6, Bruno Pizzano 1 0-0 2, Noah Sabecky 2 0-0 5. Totals 33 4-8 82.
Division 1`67`65 — 132
Division 2`43`39 — 82
Three-point goals: Division 1 18 (Jannuzzi 4, Keating, Shovlin, Berry, Mizzer, Mathon, Moran 3, Barna 4, Smith 2). Division 2 12 (Gernhart, Quaglia, Drayton, Sabecky, Gregory 3, Figueroa 2, Gombeda, Pepe 2).
Local journalism matters, and your support makes it possible. You can help sustain this work by making a donation or choosing one of our subscription options. Subscribers enjoy valuable benefits, including full access to our e-edition, a reduced ad experience on timesleader.com, and more.
Your support helps ensure independent, high-quality local news remains available today and for future generations. Thank you for standing with local journalism.