District 2/4 Boys 6A Semi-final Recap (Scranton vs. Williamsport)

Written by: Jon K on February 23, 2025

February 22, 2025

District 2/4 Boys 6A Sub-Regional Semi-final

Scranton 44, Williamsport 43 OT

Knights Survive Millionaires’ Rally

SCRANTON – Familiar foes faced each other once again in Saturday afternoon’s matchup between Scranton and Williamsport. The Knights were seeking an opportunity to play for their 5th straight District 2/4 Boys Class 6A Sub-Regional Championship. The Millionaires, meanwhile, after entering the month with a 5-12 mark, definitely turned heads after winning their 5th straight game, including a big road win over Delaware Valley in the opening round Wednesday night. While this one ramped up to a more fast-paced stride in the third period, it screeched to a deliberate, methodical step in the final minutes that likely had some pundits in attendance begging for a shot clock. But there was no denying that fans were on the edge of their seats as the low-scoring 37-37 deadlock headed into overtime. The Millionaires again had an opportunity to win the game as hopes surged after forcing a turnover with 26.9 seconds left. But their game-winning attempt rolled off the rim as Scranton held on to lock up the 44-43 victory.

Pedro Lugo got Scranton on the board with an inside score off an offensive rebound 90 seconds into the game. After a 4-4 tie midway through the quarter, Jaheam Roberts continued to be a force for the Knights as he hit a triple wrapped around a pair of nice drives to the basket by Port guards Tevin Williams and Kyreek Bradshaw to give the Millionaires an 8-7 edge. Teams traded scores as the Cherry and White took a 10-9 lead after the first 8 minutes.

The Knights went on a 7-0 run over the next four minutes as Lugo converted a reverse layup, Johnathan Levine nailed a triple, and Jayden Burrell scored inside to go up 16-10. Both teams began to turn the ball over as things were getting a bit sloppy. Bradshaw momentarily stopped the run before Burrell connected on 4 free throws over the next two minutes to put Scranton up 20-12 with two remaining in the first half. The Millionaires finally got some momentum going on their end as a 6-0 spurt (3-point play by Naazir Lowe and score by Tevin Williams) made it 20-18. Levine scored to send the Knights to the locker room with a 22-18 lead.

In the third quarter, Port forced Scranton to take a timeout after their 8-0 burst (Zion Hughes reverse layup, along with scores by Bradshaw, Micah Washington, and Tevin Williams) gave Williamsport a 26-22 lead making their fans erupt into applause. The Knights, then ignited by a pair of triples by Tony Battaglia, surged to a 32-28 lead over the next two minutes with the only Port points in that span coming via a disputed goaltending call. Tevin Williams continued to be the spark for the Millionaires as his back-to-back scores knotted it at 32. Levine and Hughes traded baskets as this headed into the final stanza tied at 34.

Tevin Williams gave Port a 36-34 lead and got the ball back after a Scranton charging call. Williamsport missed an opportunity to extend their lead and then came up short at the charity stripe before Burell scored to make it 36-36 midway through the frame. Qunicy Williams hit a free throw for Port at the 2:33 mark before Roberts countered with one the Knights with 1:55 left to again knot it up at 37. The Cherry and White ran the clock all the way down before Lowe drove toward the basket and dished off the Tevin Williams but his shot was off target as this one was going to overtime.

Bradshaw gave Williamsport the lead (39-37) with a pair of free throws at the 3:01 mark before Burell completed a 3-point play for a 40-39 Knights lead with 2:40 remaining. Levine extended it to 42-39 before Bradshaw cut the gap to a single point, it to 42-41. Williamsport had an opportunity to grab the lead but missed a shot with 60 seconds left. Coming out a timeout, Lugo gave Scranton a 44-41 lead before Washington made a pair of free throws with 36 ticks left to cut it to 44-43. On the ensuing Scranton inbound play Williamsport did a terrific job trapping Battaglia and then Levine on the sideline. A second before the 10-second call was coming, the Knights were whistled with stepping out bounds. The Millionaires again ran the clock down before Bradshaw momentarily lost control of the ball in traffic before his shot rolled around and off the rim with 2.2 seconds left. The Knights came up short on a pair of final trips to the charity strips as they hung on for a pulsating 44-43 victory sending them back the championship game once again.

Scranton was led by Johnathan Levine with 13 points and Jayden Burrell with 11 points. Jaheam Roberts, Tony Battaglia, and Pedro Lugo combined for 20 points. The Knights hit 4 triples and connected on 8 of 15 free throws.

Williamsport was paced by Kyreek Williams (14 points) and Tevin Williams (12 points). Zion Hughes, Micah Washington, Naazir Lowe, and Quincy Williams combined for 17 points. The Millionaires did not make a triple and connected on 9 of 16 free throws.

Scranton advances to the District 2/4 Boys 6A Championship game (March 1, Mohegan Arena at 8 pm) against the winner of Monday’s game between #2 seed Wilkes-Barre Area (16-9) and #3 seed Hazleton Area (12-11) at Wilkes-Barre Area (7 pm).