WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Beyon McLean scored 26 points and Valley View withstood a 15-point streak spanning the two halves to defeat Scranton Prep 66-53 March 1 in the District 2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game.
The win gave Valley View its first District 2 title since 1997 and prevented Scranton Prep from claiming its 10th championship in 11 years. The Cavaliers had been 8-0 in the 10-year history of district finals at the arena.
McLean, a 6-foot-3 senior forward, was 9-for-15 from the floor and hit his first seven foul shots before missing his final attempt. He also led the Cougars in assists with three and blocked shots with two.
Brycen Martin was limited to 22 minutes because of foul trouble, but still managed 17 points to lead Scranton Prep. He was 6-for-10 from the floor with a 3-pointer and made all four of his free throws.
Ambrose Rossi added 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots.
Valley View opened a 31-14 lead, but Scranton Prep scored the last 10 points of the first half. A technical foul was assessed against the Cougars as the teams were leaving the floor and the Cavaliers turned it into a five-point play to open the second half, starting with two Martin free throws.
The Lackawanna League Division 1 champion Cavaliers, the tournament’s top seed, were hurt by 20 turnovers. They lost the ball eight times in the first quarter when the Cougars were building an 18-5 lead.
Scranton Prep 66, Wyoming Area 32
Scranton Prep opened leads of 24-4 after one quarter, 45-13 at halftime and 61-21 going into the fourth quarter over the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 champion Warriors in the Feb. 21 semifinal.
Packy Doherty had nine points in the first quarter and 16 of his 19 in the first half.
Martin hit all five of his free throws and finished with 13.
Scranton Prep 57, Honesdale 43
Martin scored 17 points to lead the Feb. 18 quarterfinal victory over visiting Honesdale.
