District 2/11 Boys’ Non-League Recap (Pocono Mountain West 73, Scranton 57)

Written by: Jon K on January 26, 2026

January 24, 2026

Panthers Defeat Knights in Non-League Tilt

Pocono Mountain West 73, Scranton 57

SCRANTON – LLhoops dropped by Scranton high school for a late Saturday afternoon matchup between the Knights and Pocono Mountain West, one of the premier big school programs from District 11. The Panthers annually schedule a few non-league contests against Lackawanna League teams and that a gives District 2 coaches an excellent barometer reading on how their programs compare heading toward postseason action. The first half in this contest went back and forth like a chess match before the Panthers took control in the latter part of the third period hitting 6 triples as Brady Behr confidently exploded for 10 points. PMW’s all-time leading scorer, KJ Coles (1,500+ points), didn’t disappoint and led the way with 19 points in their 73-57 victory.

The Panthers jumped out to a 10-2 lead just over two minutes into the game after getting a jumper from Coles, back-to-back triples from Aydin Smith, and a steal/layup from Brady Behr. Scranton responded with a 12-0 run via four consecutive triples (three by freshman Jayden Mayers and one by 1,000-point scorer Tony Battaglia) to take a 14-10 lead. The 3s kept raining down as PMW got one each from Ayden Aponte and KJ Coles sandwiched around yet another one from Jayden Mayers (his 4th of the period) to cut the gap to a single point, 17-16, heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter featured four lead changes and one tie. The Panthers grabbed a 23-19 lead as Nate Cruz made a steal and layup followed by Behr making a terrific feed into Coles for the layup. The Knights rallied to take the lead back (24-23) with a 5-0 run keyed by a Max DePietro layup and triple by Alex Ludovici. Both teams got to the charity stripe in the closing two minutes of the first half with PMW taking a 27-26 lead into the locker room.

The game continued to go back-and-forth through the middle of the third quarter with four more lead changes and a pair of ties before the Panthers went on an impressive 16-0 run to take a 54-38 lead. Max DePietro gave the Knights a 28-27 lead before Nate Cruz nailed a triple. Justin Mayers got back-to-back scores to put Scranton back in the lead, 32-31. PMW went on a 5-0 run keyed by a heads-up triple by Coles off a missed free throw (36-32). Back came Scranton with triples by Battaglia and Jayden Mayers (off a loose ball) wrapped around an inside basket by Behr to knot things up at 38. Behr got the Panthers avalanche going with a hook shot inside followed by back-to-back triples (46-38). Teddy Stiehler kept things going with an inside score followed by another pair of triples from KJ Coles and Smith to make it 54-38. The Panthers were putting on quite a show and proving that they are definitely one of the teams to beat in this year’s 6A District 11 tourney. Scranton trimmed to deficit to 54-43 to end the period after getting a score by DePietro and triple by Jayden Mayers.

Ludovici completed the 8-0 run with a triple to open the final frame, cutting the gap to 54-46 with 7:15 remaining. PMW responded with a 5-0 spurt after Stiehler fought through three putbacks extending it to 59-46. Battaglia netted a triple to cut it to 59-46 but that would be as close as the Knights would get as PMW went on a 10-2 run to seal the game and secure the 73-57 victory.

Pocono Mountain West (15-2) placed four players into double figures led by KJ Coles with 19 points. Brady Behr scored 17 points (15 in the second half) while Aydin Smith added 12 points and Teddy Stiehler added 11 points. Nate Cruz and Ayden Aponte combined for 14 points. The Panthers netted 12 triples and converted 7 of 14 free throws.

Scranton (6-10) was paced by Jayden Mayers with 21 points (7 triples) and Tony Battaglia with 12 points (4 triples). Justin Mayers, Alex Ludovici, Max DePietro, and Onur Idin combined for 24 points. The Knights hit 13 triples and made 2 of 2 free throws.