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The Meyers Mohawks left Coughlin High School on Thursday with a 61-52 overtime victory against rival GAR believing they clearly secured a District 2 Class 4A boys basketball playoff spot.
They were right.
The GAR Grenadiers departed thinking they fell just short of the D2-4A playoffs.
They were wrong.
“I didn’t think we were in to be honest with you. We didn’t think we were in,” GAR coach Jerry Altavilla said. “(I found out) about 7:30 the next morning. My scorekeeper and assistant coach are both in the school, so I got in contact with them. They called (the players) down and told them. But by that time, it had already spread.”
Welcome to the second year of the District 2 power ratings system, where teams don’t get penalized for losing to a team with a superior record and don’t get rewarded as much for defeating an opponent with a poor record. The process is explained somewhat on piaad2.org and has been used in other districts in the state.
GAR gained the eighth and final seed by edging Honesdale because its power rating was 0.0004 better. It was the second consecutive heartbreaker for Honesdale, which missed the final spot last season by 0.015 to Tunkhannock.
“It was very close,” Altavilla said. “I don’t think it could get any closer.”
District playoffs start Tuesday with everything culminating in championship weekend March 2-4 at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Here is a look at the six classifications.
CLASS 6A
Defending champion: Williamsport.
Outlook: Despite finishing with 21 wins, Hazleton Area (21-1) didn’t make states last season due to a 64-56 loss to District 4’s Williamsport in the title game. The Cougars did gain the inaugural D2-6A crown by defeating Delaware Valley 64-56 in a special playoff game, but that was it for both teams.
Hazleton Area returned three starters and its sixth man from last season — all of whom are averaging in double figures — and is the favorite to win the title. The Cougars’ only loss was to District 3 power Reading 65-56 on Jan. 20.
Scranton ranks as a slight favorite against Williamsport, which doesn’t appear to have the same firepower from a year ago.
Prediction: Hazleton Area to defeat Scranton for the title and the only spot in the state tournament.
CLASS 5A
Defending champion: Abington Heights.
Outlook: Abington Heights (19-3) is going for its seventh consecutive District 2 title and this version of the Comets is every bit as talented at those past squads. The Comets have lost two games by six points and another by five.
Dallas (18-4) has progressed steadily under coach Mark Belenski, who won two state championship at now-shuttered Bishop O’Reilly. The Mountaineers open with Wyoming Valley West (5-17), which they’ve defeat twice this season. Regular-season success hasn’t transfered recently to the postseason for Crestwood (15-7), The Comets, though, play solid defense and have two wins under their belts against quarterfinal opponent Pittston Area (6-16).
West Scranton (8-14) plays Wallenpaupack (11-11) in the other quarterfinal and neither is expected to make much noise.
Prediction: Abington Heights to defeat Dallas for the championship, with both advancing to the state tournament.
CLASS 4A
Defending champion: Scranton Prep.
Outlook: Scranton Prep (17-5) is loaded once again and is favored to win its fourth consecutive District 2 crown. GAR (11-11) has the task of stopping the Cavaliers in the quarterfinals.
Nanticoke Area (18-4) plays Meyers (11-1) is a quarterfinal game that could be closer than its 57-37 victory over the Mohawks on Feb. 3. The Trojans will be minus big man Trahjan Krupinski, who is out with an injury but could return if they advance.
Tunkhannock (13-9) didn’t quite live up to its preseason billing, but the Tigers have won six of their last eight after a late-January swoon. They get a tough Valley View (14-8) team, which upset Prep this season.
The best quarterfinal game could be Wyoming Area (14-8) vs. Hanover Area (14-8). Both teams started the season hot, hit some turbulance midseason and recovered for solid finishes. Wyoming Area owns a 49-36 victory over the Hawkeyes in a game played Jan. 11.
Prediction: Prep to defeat Nanticoke Area for the title, with both teams advancing to states. Wyoming Area to top Tunkhannock for third place and the final state berth.
CLASS 3A
Defending champion: Holy Redeemer.
Outlook: Just about everybody has Wyoming Seminary (18-4) and Holy Redeemer (16-6) penciled into the finals. Neither should have many issues in the quarterfinals. However, the semifinals could be tricky.
Mid Valley (15-7) is the third seed and always put a solid product on the court. The Spartans, though, have hit some offensive lulls throughout the season. If Dunmore (13-9) can get past Carbondale (12-10) in the quarterfinals, the Bucks could cause some problems because they’re annual a gritty bunch.
Lakeland (6-16), Montrose (13-9) and Riverside (9-13) aren’t expected to make it past Tuesday.
Prediction: Seminary to defeat Redeemer for a third time this season for the championship, with both moving to states.
CLASS 2A
Defending champion: Holy Cross.
Outlook: Holy Cross (16-6) is heavily favored to repeat as the champion. Although not appearing as strong as last season, the Crusaders should be able to cut through a field with only one other team with a winning record — Elk Lake (12-10).
Northwest (8-14) is the only WVC team in the bracket. The Rangers open with Lackawanna Trail (7-15), which has put up some ugly numbers against WVC competition. The Lions scored 15 points vs. Wyoming Seminary, 29 vs. Tunkhannock and 33 vs. Wyoming Area. Plus, they were beaten 46-39 by Lake-Lehman, which finished 2-20.
Prediction: Holy Cross to defeat Elk Lake for the championship, with both teams moving to states.
CLASS A
Defending champion: Susquehanna.
Outlook: Susquehanna (14-8) is the only District 2 team in the D11/2-A tournament, which has been tweaked to allow a D2-A championship game with MMI Prep (6-16).
Even if Susquehanna wins the D11/2-A championship on March 2, it will turn around and play MMI Prep the following day for the D2-A title.
Prediction: Susquehanna to defeat MMI Prep for the title.