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District 2/12 Boys’ Game Recap (Scranton Prep vs. St. Joseph’s Prep)
 

District 2/12 Boys’ Game Recap (Scranton Prep vs. St. Joseph’s Prep)

Written by: Jon K on January 15, 2023

 

 

January 14, 2023

 

Third Period Scoring Avalanche Propels The Prep to Victory

 

St. Joseph’s Prep 76, Scranton Prep 48

 

SCRANTON – A District 2 team getting a regular season game against a Philly Catholic League opponent is a bit of a rare happening.  Getting a home game against one of the championship contenders from the PCL, well, now we’re getting into true unicorn territory.  Fortunately, school traditions and relationships made such a matchup possible and treated local fans to a Saturday of terrific hoops.  The Cavaliers carried some Xavier Center momentum from an impressive comeback win in the junior varsity game to go into the halftime break trailing the Hawks by just a single point.  But, as teams huddled prior to the start of the second half, there was definite intensity among The Prep players.  Their ensuing third quarter offensive barrage which featured 6 triples, sent them home with a convincing 76-48 win.

 

Scranton Prep got out to a quick start as James Pettinato hit a shot from the foul line and made a coast-to-coast layup wrapped around a pair of free throws by Jalen Harper.  The Prep took their first lead (5-4) at the 6:00 mark when Jordan Ellerbee nailed a corner triple.  After teams traded triples (Olin Chamberlain and Pettinato), The Prep went on a 7-0 run to go up 15-7.  In that spurt SJP got a trey and pair of free throws from Matt Gorman plus a layup off a turnover by Ellerbee.  The Cavs responded with a crowd-pleasing 6-0 run which included a pair of foul shots by Ambrose Rossi, putback by Chase Scanlan, and basket by Brycen Martin to cut the deficit to 15-13.

 

After Jaron McKie gave the Hawks a 17-13 lead to start the second period, Scranton Prep regained the lead (18-17) at the 6:30 mark with a spinning shot in the lane by Kellen Casey and triple by Martin.  McKie would put The Prep back in front 19-18.  The Cavaliers then used some terrific hustle (Scanlan chasing down his missed triple) to go on 7-0 run for a 25-19 lead which was capped off by a layup by Keith Pritchyk and triple by Pettinato.  Everything was going the Cavs’ way, including having the Hawks’ 6-8 junior Tristen Guillouette on the bench with three fouls.  St. Joseph’s Prep, however, ramped up their defense and went on an 8-1 run.  With their big man out of the game, they seemed to have more movement on the floor.  Ellerbee hit a triple followed by a bank shot by McKie.  After Pettinato converted a free throw, McKie put The Prep back in front, 27-26, with 1:38 left in the first half.  Kellen Casey hit a pair of free throws before Harper got a putback just before the buzzer to send the Hawks into locker room leading 29-28.  A few moments of the Cavaliers playing a bit out of control was the only blip on an otherwise solid first half.

 

The second half started off well for Scranton Prep as Daniel Santaniello converted a 3-point play just moments into the third quarter for a 31-29 Cavaliers lead.  What then happened over the next few minutes was a game-changer.  The Hawks caught fire from long range as McKie hit back-to-back-to-back triples off SP turnovers.  Gorman added another trey (plus another basket) as St. Joseph’s Prep grabbed a 43-31 advantage.  Following a timeout, the offensive barrage continued with a score by Harper and 3 free throws by Chamberlain to complete their 19-0 run.  A spinning drive by Sataniello got Scranton Prep back on the board, but the damage was done as they trailed 48-33.  The Hawks finished the quarter on an 11-1 run.  Guillouette would get his only score on the day, but dazzled the crowd with a nifty pass inside for an Ellerbee layup.  The Hawks finished the quarter with a 30-6 display of near-perfect offense and a 59-34 lead. 

 

The final stanza featured a more balanced game, a slam dunk by Harper (plus a near slam by Ellerbee), and a running clock for the final three minutes.  The Cavaliers got a triple by Pettinato and traditional 3-point play by Martin to cut it to 67-44.  Scores by Ellerbee, McKie (a triple), and Chamberlain lifted the Hawks to a 74-44 advantage.  Martin closed out the game for Scranton Prep with a pair of scores as this one ended 76-48.

 

Despite not being a championship force in the Philly Catholic League race in recent years, St. Joseph’s Prep is back and is definitely Palestra-worthy.  They will be quite a team to reckon with in the coming years.  The Hawks starting lineup featured no seniors and their top three scorers (48 points total) are sophomores.  This is a talented team that is very well-coached.  They were led by Jaron McKie with 21 points (5 triples).  He was joined in double figures by Olin Chamberlain (15 points), Jordan Ellerbee (12 points) and Jalen Harper (10 points).  Matt Gorman, Jackson Maguire, JP Hayden, and Tristen Guillouette combined to score 18 points.

 

Scranton Prep was led by James Pettinato with 14 points and Brycen Martin with 12 points.  Keith Pritchyk, Kellen Casey, Daniel Sataniello, Chase Scanlan, and Ambrose Rossi combined to add 22 points. 

 

Scranton Prep (7-5) gets back into Lackawanna League play on Tuesday as the Cavaliers visit Valley View.  St. Joseph’s Prep (9-2) will visit defending state champion Devon Prep on Friday in PCL action.

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