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EXETER — For a big chunk of the season, Addison Orzel was forced to sit and watch her Wyoming Area teammates sputter as she recovered from a lingering concussion.

When she came back, she made Nanticoke Area look wobbly.

Orzel scored Wyoming Area’s final eight points Wednesday and blocked two critical shots in the final 40 seconds as the Warriors crashed Nanticoke Area’s party with an impressive 59-53 victory in the regular-season finale for both at Wyoming Area Secondary Center.

“It’s something the whole team has been working for, for four years,” said Orzel, a senior who erupted for 17 points in her final regular-season home game at Wyoming Area before the 15-7 Warriors open the District 2 Class 4A playoff tournament next week. “This was good playoff experience.

“We’re ready for it.”

The loss forced Nanticoke Area to get ready for a league playoff.

The Trojans, who fell to 15-2 in league play with their second loss in four games, will battle Holy Redeemer, which also finished the regular season at 15-2, for the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 title for the second straight season at 2 p.m. Saturday at Pittston Area High School.

“We’re going to have to do it the hard way again,” said Nanticoke Area coach Alan Yendrziewski, who watched the Trojanettes’ 17-game winning streak end abruptly with a 62-49 loss to Redeemer last Thursday. “The easy way would have been winning this one tonight.”

Except, Wyoming Area never made it easy.

Sarah Holweg scored the first five of her game-high 23 points in the first quarter and Nicole Silinskie also added five, as the Warriors ran off the game’s first seven points and rolled to a 17-2 lead.

They never lost it.

“Give them credit. They came after us,” Yendrziewski said. “They didn’t back down. I thought if we got off to a good start, we’d have momentum and we’d be OK. We did the opposite. It got away from us in the first three or four minutes. Seventeen to two, you can’t go down against a good team that’s explosive like that.”

Not that the Trojanettes were without their own firepower.

Despite missing injured starter Maddy Grilz, the Trojanettes made their regular, frenetic runs.

Lisa Radziak shot Nanticoke Area right back into the game, hitting four of her six 3-point field goals in the second quarter. The fourth one cut Wyoming Area’s lead to a bucket, as did her 3-pointer on the opening bucket of the second half.

Amiah Lukowski, who filled in admirably for Grilz with six points, hit a 3-pointer later in the third quarter as the Trojanettes again closed within two points and Emily Hauer’s trey with 77 seconds to play in the third quarter made it a one-point game.

Katie Butczynski opened the final quarter with a layup to pull Nanticoke Area within 40-39 and Radziak used her final 3-pointer to score the last of her team-high 22 points and pull the Trojanettes within 44-43 with 5:11 remaining.

Each time, Wyoming Area had an answer.

“Against Nanticoke, you fight fire with fire,” said Wyoming Area coach Chad Lojewski, whose Warriors opened the season with an 11-game winning streak and broke a five-game losing streak to finish the regular season in fourth place in the WVC Division 2. “They’re going to come at you, you go right back at them.”

Holweg went at it all night.

Her steal and layup restored a five-point Warriors lead in the third quarter and her driving layup sent Wyoming Area into the fourth quarter with a 40-37 advantage. She hit four straight free throws to extend a one-point lead to five for the Warriors early in the fourth quarter, and hit two more foul shots to make it a six-point game midway through the fourth quarter.

“Honestly, it’s a really great win for us,” Holweg said. “Playing under pressure makes us play better, makes us play harder. All the players wanted it just as much as the player next to them. We’ve had our peaks and valleys throughout the season.

“We needed this win.”

Looks like they needed Addison Orzel more.

In her absence, Wyoming Area dropped six of its nine games — including the team’s first defeat of the season.

“In the middle of the season, when we didn’t have her, we realized how much we missed her,” said Lojewski, whose Warriors dropped their previous three games — to Lake-Lehman, Berwick and Redeemer — by a combined score of 193-101. “She just calms everything down and she re-directs shots.”

In the end, Orzel erased Nanticoke Area’s comeback bid. She scored the final eight points for the Warriors, including two layups in the final 30 seconds that sealed the upset. Maybe more importantly, she blocked Radziak’s layup try for a tie with 40 seconds remaining, keeping the Warriors in 55-53 lead, and stuffed a second attempt by Nanticoke Area to keep the margin at four points with 21 seconds on the clock.

“Usually, I get nervous when I get the ball,” Orzell said. “For some reason, it seemed very natural tonight. Sitting out with a concussion for three, four weeks, that’s been difficult for me. They’re a great team. It’s been our goal since the beginning of the season to compete with them.”

Northwest 56, MMI Prep 11

Reagan Harrison, Brenna Babcock and Jordan Harrison all scored 10 points in Northwest’s victory, as the Rangers clinched their second straight WVC Division 3 title.

Kim Amentler scored six to lead MMI.

Crestwood 54, Coughlin 30

Eleven Comets scored in their win over Coughlin.

Sarah Richards led Crestwood with a team-high 11 points, including three triples. Helena Jardine and Julia Makowski were right behind Richards, scoring nine and eight points, respectively.

Ajalaya Butts scored a game-high 12 points to pace Coughlin.

Dallas 57, Hazleton Area 40

Dallas had four players in double-figures, lead by a game-high 14 points from Samantha Kern.

Both Hannah Johnson and Gianna Centrella scored 13 points for the Mountaineers, while Olvia Johnson added 11 points.

Maddie Mrochko and Faith Grula each scored 12 points to pace the Cougars.

Wyoming Seminary 45, Hanover Area 35

Trailing 27-25 after three quarters of play, the Blue Knights used a 20-point effort in the final stanza to secure the come-from-behind victory.

Ally Vezendy scored a team-high 15 points while Alex Wesneski added 11 in the win.

Hanover Area was paced by a 15-point effort from Victoria Benning.

Holy Redeemer 56, Lake-Lehman 50

Cameron Marcinkowski scored 17 points and Sam Yencho added 15 as the Royals forced a tie for the Division 2 title.

Redeemer will play Nanticoke Area for the championship at 2 p.m. Saturday at Pittston Area.

Sarah Salus scored 20 for Lake-Lehman.

Meyers 66, GAR 24

Amanda Gray and Da’Nayia Ballard scored 14 each, Allycia Harris had 12, Erin Morris scored 11 and Sarah Bottger added 10 as Meyers defeated city rival GAR.

Oliva Prato led GAR with 13 points.

Pittston Area 47, Wyo. Valley West 42

Alexa Noone scored 20 points and Leah Hodick added 14 as Pittston Area edged Wyoming Valley West.

Nicole Bountanos scored 13 for Valley West followed by Grace Giza with 12 and Andi Blaski with 10.

Wyoming Area 59, Nanticoke Area 53

NANTICOKE AREA (53) — Alyssa Lewis 2 2-6 6, Amiah Lukowski 2 1-2 6, Lisa Radziak 8 0-0 22, Katie Butczynski 5 0-0 10, Jil Baron 0 1-4 1, Bella Czeck 1 1-2 3, Lauren Casey 0 0-0 0, Emily Hauer 2 0-0 5. Totals 20 5-14 53.

WYOMING AREA (59) — Nicole Silinskie 3 0-0 8, Aleah Kranson 2 0-2 4, Sarah Holweg 6 10-12 23, Cassidy Orzel 2 3-5 7, Addison Orzel 5 7-8 17, Kristi Skok 0 0-0 0, Ellie Glatz 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 20-27 59.

Nanticoke Area`5`19`13`16 — 53

Wyoming Area`17`12`11`19 — 59

Three-point goals — NAN 8 (Radziak 6, Lukowski, Hauer); WA 3 (Silinskie 2, Holweg).

Crestwood 54, Coughlin 30

CRESTWOOD (54) — Sarah Richards 3 2-2 11, Helena Jardine 2 5-6 9, Julia Makowski 3 0-0 8, Riley Magin 2 0-2 4, Sara Hopkins 1 2-2 4, Brianna Wickiser 2 0-1 4, Kristen Andrews 1 0-0 3, Sydney Kearney 1 0-0 3, Kaitlyn Kline 1 1-2 3, Andrea Shipton 1 1-2 3, Alexis Armstrong 1 0-0 2, Bella Termini 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 11-17 54.

COUGHLIN (30) — Ajalaya Butts 5 2-2 12, Le’June Berry 3 0-0 6, Arianna Brittingham 2 0-0 4, Kira Meager 1 0-0 2, Molly Poray 0 2-4 2. Totals 13 4-6 30.

Crestwood`13`12`15`14 — 54

Coughlin`6`2`8`14 — 30

Three-point goals — CRE 6 (Richards 3, Makowski 2, Andrews 1); COU 0.

Dallas 57, Hazleton Area 40

HAZLETON AREA (40) — Maddie Mrochko 5 0-0 12, Faith Grula 4 3-4 12, Olivia Wolk 2 2-2 7, Diamond Truluck 1 3-6 5, Mia Cundro 1 0-0 2, Brooke Boretski 1 0-0 2, Abby Valente 0 0-0 0, Veronica Pecora 0 0-0 0, Virginia Yurchak 0 0-0 0, Megan Fay 0 0-0 0, Allie Zumar 0 0-0 0, Carley rizansky 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 8-12 40.

DALLAS (57) — Samantha Kern 7 0-0 14, Hannah Johnson 5 3-4 13, Gianna Centrella 4 4-6 13, Olivia Johnson 4 0-0 11, Emily Weiland 3 0-0 6, Morgan MacNealy 0 0-3 0, Kendra Saba 0 0-0 0, Hannah Doran 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 7-13 57.

Hazleton Area`10`17`7`6 — 40

Dallas`18`18`15`6 — 57

Three-point goals — HAZ 4 (Mrochko 2, Wolk 1, Grula 1); DAL 4 (Johnson 3, Centrella 1).

Wyoming Seminary 45, Hanover Area 35

HANOVER AREA (36) — Victoria Benning 6 3-4 15, Sarah Tuzinski 3 0-0 6, Genisis Rodriguez 3 0-0 6, Madison Hooper 2 0-0 5, Sara Whitesell 1 0-0 3. Totals 15 3-4 35.

WYOMING SEMINARY (45) — Ally Vezendy 6 1-2 15, Alex Wesneski 4 2-2 11, Paige Parsons 3 0-0 6, Maaike Reitsma 2 1-2 6, Julia Gabriel 1 1-3 3, Mia Raineri 1 0-0 2, Olivia Meuser 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 5-9 45.

Hanover Area`9`13`5`8 — 35

Wyoming Seminary`9`8`8`20 — 45

Three-point goals — HAN 2 (Whitsell 1, Hooper 1); WS 4 (Vezendy 2, Wesneski 1, Reitsma 1).

Northwest 56, MMI Prep 11

MMI PREP (11) — Irene Altmiller 0 1-5 1, Lindsey Braunstein 0 0-0 0, Bailey Slusser 0 0-0 0, Maddie Perchak 1 0-0 2, Kim Amentler 2 2-3 6, Julie Amentler 0 0-0 0, Jessica McClellan 0 2-2 2. Totals 3 5-10 11.

NORTHWEST (56) — Reagan Harrison 4 2-2 10, Brenna Babcock 4 1-1 10, Trista Babcock 1 0-0 2, Jordan Harrison 4 2-2 10, Danielle Bowman 0 0-0 0, Kendra Saxton 0 0-0 0, Tess Edwards 2 0-0 4, Megan Harry 1 0-0 2, Hailey Taylor 1 0-0 2, Maddie McClendon 3 0-0 6, Dashawna Jones 0 0-0 0, Cassidy Crawford 1 2-2 4, Reilly Biako 0 0-0 0, Jill Clarke 0 0-0 0, Linsdsey Thomas 1 0-0 2, Cassidy Foley 0 0-0 0, Lindsey Hafford 0 2-2 2. Totals 22 9-9 56.

MMI Prep`3`0`5`3 — 11

Northwest`28`14`6`8 — 56

Three-point goals — NWT 1 (B.Babcock).

Holy Redeemer 56, Lake-Lehman 50

LAKE-LEHMAN (50) — Sarah Salus 9 0-0 20, Corinna Scoblick 2 2-2 6, Jodie Slansky 1 0-0 2, Savannah Purdy 4 2-2 11, Madison Borum 5 1-4 11. Totals 21 5-8 50.

HOLY REDEEMER (56) — Sarah Kuderko 3 0-0 6, Julia Andrejko 4 0-0 8, Sam Yencha 7 1-2 15, Lauren Wasiskowski 1 0-0 2, Sam Rajza 3 0-0 8, Cameron Marcinkowski 8 0-0 17. Totals 26 1-2 56.

Lake-Lehman`8`14`11`17 — 50

Holy Redeemer`13`21`13`9 — 56

Three-point goals — LL 3 (S.Salus 2, Purdy), HR 3 (Rajza 2, Marcinkowski).

Meyers 66, GAR 24

GAR (24) — Alana Bermano 0 1-2 1, Olivia Prato 2 9-16 13, Simone Harris 0 0-0 0, Lyann Pena 1 1-5 3, Jada Redditt 1 1-5 3, Hannah Cook 0 1-2 1, Emily Engle 1 1-2 3, Penelope Hernandez 0 0-0 0. Totals 5 14-32 24.

MEYERS (66) — Bella Gray 0 0-0 0, Erin Morris 5 1-2 11, Amanda Gray 5 0-0 14, Ashley Bruno 1 0-0 3, Guadalupe Huertero 0 0-0 0, Selena Soto 1 0-0 2, Allycia Harris 5 1-2 12, Kadijah Darboe 0 0-0 0, Da’Nayia Ballard 7 0-1 14, Sarah Bottger 4 2-2 10. Totals 28 4-7 66.

GAR`1`8`7`8 — 24

Meyers`12`15`24`15 — 66

Three-point goals — MEY 6 (A.Gray 4, Bruno, Harris).

Pittston Area 47, Wyo. Valley West 42

PITTSTON AREA (47) — Mary Silinskie 0 2-4 2, Niocle Zambetti 2 1-2 7, Emily O’Brien 1 0-2 2, Portia Weidlich 1 0-0 2, Leah Hodick 7 0-1 14, Alexa Noone 5 7-8 20, Andrea Ruby 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 10-17 47.

WVW (42) — Nicole Boutanos 4 5-8 13, Katlyn Rincavage 0 1-2 1, Lindsey Gruver 1 2-2 4, Toni Amato 1 0-0 2, Grace Giza 6 0-0 12, Andi Blaski 3 1-3 10. Totals 15 9-15 42.

Pittston Area`8`13`8`18 — 47

WVW`8`8`10`16 — 42

Three-point goals — PA 5 (Zambetti 2, Noone 3), WVW 3 (Blaski 3).

Wyoming Area’s Sarah Holweg (14) drives the ball to the basket as Nanticoke Area’s Bella Czeck (55) readies to defend her at Wyoming Area Secondary Center in Exeter.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL021518GBBNanticokeWA2.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Sarah Holweg (14) drives the ball to the basket as Nanticoke Area’s Bella Czeck (55) readies to defend her at Wyoming Area Secondary Center in Exeter. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

Wyoming Area’s Sarah Holweg shoots the ball against Nanticoke Area’s Amiah Lukowski (10) during Wednesday’s game in Exeter.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL021518GBBNanticokeWA3.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Sarah Holweg shoots the ball against Nanticoke Area’s Amiah Lukowski (10) during Wednesday’s game in Exeter. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

Wyoming Area’s Nicole Silinskie rebounds the ball from Nanticoke’s Katie Butczynski and Amiah Lukowski (10) during Wednesday’s game at Wyoming Area Secondary Center.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL021518GBBNanticokeWA1.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Nicole Silinskie rebounds the ball from Nanticoke’s Katie Butczynski and Amiah Lukowski (10) during Wednesday’s game at Wyoming Area Secondary Center. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

By Paul Sokoloski

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Reach Paul Sokoloski at 570-991-6392 or on Twitter @TLPaulSokoloski