SCRANTON – Both Scranton Prep basketball teams have advanced to District 2 championship games at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza and earned trips to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state playoffs in Class 4A.
The Classics take a 20-2 record and the role of heavy favorite into the March 2 girls final at 6 p.m. against first-time state qualifier Wyoming Area (14-9).
The Cavaliers are 15-9 heading into their third attempt to defeat Lackawanna League Division 1 champion Valley View (21-3) when they play for the district title March 4 at 4 p.m.
Scranton Prep completed its sixth straight 13-0 Lackawanna League girls season to again win the Division 1 championship while extending its league winning streak to 80 games.
“A lot of coaches will say, ‘the league doesn’t matter, it’s the district,’” Classics coach Bob Beviglia said ….. “I’ve never thought that. That’s why we put so much emphasis, not on the streak, but on winning league championships.
“I always tell kids the district seeding will take care of itself if we win games in the league and that’s what we’ve been able to do.”
The Classics wound up as the top seed for the six-team district tournament, earning a quarterfinal bye.
The Cavaliers were 7-6 in league play to finish tied for third in the five-team Division 1, which is sending all of its teams to the district championship games.
District girls
Claire McGrath scored 15 points Feb. 24 to lead Scranton Prep past Nanticoke, 45-26, in the Class 4A semifinals.
District boys
Scranton Prep defeated Honesdale, 61-50, in the quarterfinals and Nanticoke, 64-61, in the semifinals to reach the championship game.
The quarterfinal win over Honesdale avenged a one-point upset loss at home during the regular season.
James Pettinato scored 14 points and Brycen Martin hit three 3-pointers while adding 11 against the Hornets.
The Cavaliers lost the lead to Nanticoke when the Trojans ran off 16 straight points in the second half, but recovered to advance to the district final.
Daniel Santaniello had eight of his 18 points in the fourth quarter when Scranton Prep outscored Nanticoke, 23-17.
Martin added 15 points.
Scranton Prep overcame 27 points by Nanticoke’s Jaidyn Johnson.
Girls regular season
Gianna Cafarella hit five 3-pointers and combined with Bella Dennebaum and Jenna Hillebrand to produce 57 points in the 67-44 victory over Honesdale Feb. 6 to clinch the latest title early.
Cafarella scored 21 points, Dennebaum 19 and Hillebrand 17.
The Classics, who have not lost in District 2 this season, clinched at least a tie the previous week with an impressive, 59-33 victory over Scranton.
The Lady Knights had given the Classics trouble in the first matchup.
Rita Collins led the way with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Maya Jenkins had 13 points and four assists.
Bella Dennebaum’s 16 points led the way in the 54-41 victory over Valley View to complete the perfect league season.
Boys league season
Scranton Prep closed out the regular season by splitting four league games in which each team scored at least 63 points.
Pettinato scored 22 points a 69-66 loss to Valley View in the finale. He had nine points in the last 3:06, pulling the Cavaliers within three points twice, then within two with 9.8 seconds left.
