High school boys basketball fans in Northeast Pennsylvania were treated to a memorable March where teams representing the Lackawanna League took them on a journey deep into the PIAA playoffs.
Scranton, Abington Heights, Valley View, Riverside and Old Forge swept the District 2 championships at Mohegan Arena.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementValley View and Holy Cross reached the semifinals in their respective classifications, suffering heartbreaking losses to eventual state champions.
Riverside and Old Forge excited the Triboro by advancing to the state quarterfinals in their respective brackets.
In addition to the teams that advanced to the quarterfinals and beyond, Scranton and Scranton Prep each won first-round games in their PIAA tournaments.
Holy Cross, Riverside, Valley View, Old Forge and Elk Lake finished with 20-win seasons.
Seniors dominated The Times-Tribune All-Region team. Holy Cross’ combination of Michael Hughes and Matt Lyons each scored more than 1,000 points in their careers. Abington Heights’ Robby Lucas, Scranton Prep’s Brycen Martin and Riverside’s Gerry Rose also eclipsed the 1,000-point milestone, and Valley View’s Byon McLean had an unforgettable state playoff run where he averaged almost 20 points per game in seven contests.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA freshman, though, had the biggest impact.
Riverside’s Nico Antoniacci averaged 20.4 points per game and had 80 points in five postseason games on his way to being named Times-Tribune Player of the Year.
Valley View’s Mike Kurpis earned Coach of the Year honor after guiding the Cougars to their first District 2 championship since 1997.
What can the players, teams and coaches do for an encore?
The first official date for regular-season contests is Nov. 28.
Buzz in the league
Scranton Prep finished 13-1 and captured the Lackawanna Division I championship last season. It was the first division title since 2017 and the 10th overall for the program.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementScranton Prep and Abington Heights, which finished third last season at 10-4, will renew their annual Lackawanna League Division I rivalry as both teams have experienced players returning to the lineups.
Holy Cross won a playoff game against Riverside to capture the Division II championship. Both the Crusaders and Vikings went 13-1 in the league season. It was the 11th division title for Holy Cross.
Holy Cross came within a last-second 3-pointer of advancing to a second straight PIAA Class 2A final. West Catholic’s Jayvon Byrd drilled an improbable shot from beyond the arc with 1.3 seconds remaining for a 58-57 comeback win that devastated the Crusaders.
Sharp-shooter Adam Badyrka, who had 14 points and three 3-pointers, and defensive specialist CJ Thompson are both back for Holy Cross.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith Antoniacci and Brayden Rose both returning, Riverside is expected to be among the top Class 3A teams in the state.
Old Forge, led by returning All-Region player Cameron Parker and Division II first-team all-star Logan Fanning, looks to defend its District 2 Class 2A championship and is a strong contender for a state-playoff run after giving eventual Class 2A champion Linville Hill all it could handle in the quarterfinals.
Elk Lake is coming off its ninth Lackawanna League division championship. The Warriors finished 13-1 in league play and 20-4 overall and can expect a challenge from Lackawanna Trail. Last season, the Lions made a charge to the District 2 Class 2A final and will return two starters.
Players to watch
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementScranton Prep’s Packy Doherty, a Lackawanna Division I first-team all-star, averaged 17.0 points per game last season. The 6-foot-2 guard is committed to Wesleyan University and will start the season with 770 points and 105 3-pointers.
Scranton senior guard Tony Battaglia, who has started since his freshman season, has 766 points and 165 3-pointers and led the program to three straight District 2 Class 6A championships.
North Pocono’s Cole West is a physical inside player who averaged 14.0 points per game, but will get a late start to the basketball season after leading the football team into the state playoffs.
Delaware Valley boasts a pair of solid players in Trey Newton (12.7 points per game), an honorable mention Division I all-star, and Tyler Lombardo (12.2 points per game). Newton just completed his sophomore season with the football team, and Lombardo is a 6-foot-3 college prospect at shooting guard.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJoining Old Forge’s Parker and Fanning in Division II are Dunmore’s Braden Canavan (13.5), an honorable mention all-star, and Carter Sload (10.7 and 2.4 3-pointers), and Lakeland junior Chase Rosenkrans (12.9), also an honorable mention all-star.
Elk Lake junior Chase Pond (16.2), a first-team all-star, finished second in scoring for Division III. Blue Ridge’s Paxton Pingarelli (15.4), a first-team all-star, and Susquehanna’s Griffin Fisk (13.7), a first-team all-star, and Mason Keyes (15.1), an honorable mention all-star, also finished among the scoring leaders in Division III last season.
Mark your calendars
Every preseason features games where Lackawanna League teams face programs that test their skills and help prepare them for the rigors of the regular season and beyond.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAbington Heights will host Shamokin, a PIAA Class 4A quarterfinalist that lost to Valley View last season, on Dec. 6.
The Comets and Holy Cross are competing in the Bradley Fisher Memorial Tournament on Dec. 12-13 at Devon Prep.
In addition, Abington Heights will host Berks Catholic, a PIAA Class 4A quarterfinalist, on Dec. 20, and will play at Cardinal O’Hara on Dec. 30.
Scranton Prep will open its season at the North Catholic Tip-off tournament in Western Pennsylvania, which attracts strong teams from Pennsylvania and occasionally from neighboring states like Ohio and New York. The Cavaliers face Cathedral Prep on Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m. and will play Devon Prep at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLater in December, Scranton Prep plays at Cardinal O’Hara on Dec. 13 at 3 p.m.
Milestone chase
Scranton coach Tony Battaglia starts his 27th season with a record of 398-243. His teams have won eight District 2 championships — including five straight in 6A — and seven Lackawanna League titles.
Former Abington Heights legend Ken Bianchi, who also coached at Line Mountain, Scranton Tech, and West Scranton, had 894 wins.
Forest City Hall of Fame coach Julius Prezelski had 757 wins. Longtime Scranton Prep coach Jack Farrell had 671 wins. Former Bishop O’Hara and Holy Cross coach Al Callejas had 567 wins. Al Semenza, who coaches at Pittston Area and had stops at Wyoming Area, Western Wayne and Old Forge, has 531 wins in 42 seasons. Former Bishop O’Hara, Scranton, and West Scranton coach Jack Lyons had 501 wins.
Former Scranton Central coach Bob Gilbride had 483 wins, and former Mountain View coach William McLaughlin had 451 wins.
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