District 2 Boys 5A Semi-final Recap (West Scranton 78, Dallas 72 OT)

Written by: Jon K on February 25, 2023

February 24, 2023

Invaders Shock Dallas in Boys 5A Semis

West Scranton 78, Dallas 72 (OT)

DALLAS – While Tristan Lee will gain tremendous accolades for his 34-point performance in West Scranton’s remarkable 78-72 overtime road win over #2 seed Dallas in the District 2 Boys 5A Semi-finals, it was also the timely performance of a pair of his teammates, Evan Laybourne-Boddie and Chris Ogden, that helped the Invaders draw even before the end of regulation and secure the victory as they connected on seven clutch free throws in OT.  West Scranton was able to dictate the tempo to their liking throughout much of the game, passing the ball and running their offense with precision.  And while the patented Dallas lightning-quick runs were there on occasion, they were minimized as the Mountaineers struggled a bit in hitting from beyond the perimeter.  There is a lot to unpack in this game.

After Dallas took a 14-9 lead at the 2:30 mark of the first period, West Scranton made a statement going on an 8-2 run to take the lead.  While it was still early in the contest, the Invaders were certainly not intimidated by the big-time game atmosphere.  They looked quite confident.  After hitting a corner triple for a 3-2 Mounts’ lead, Michael Bufalino would get a 3-point play and two other drives to the baskets as he netted 11 points in the period.  Tristan Lee immediately made his presence known as the 6-6 senior forward began to dominate the glass on both ends of the court.  He also used several quick spin moves in the lane to get to the basket with authority as he put up a dozen points in the first quarter.  After Zack Price scored to give West a 17-16 lead, Darius Wallace hit 1 of 2 free throws to tie it up at 17 heading to the second frame.

Laybourn-Boddie used his quickness to score a layup off a Dallas turnover to take a 19-17 lead to get the second period going.  A jumper by Jude Nocito knotted it up at 19.  Lee would get a putback followed by a corner shot by Cameron Faux to again tie things up at 21.  Over the next three minutes, Dallas would jump out to a ten-point lead (33-23) as they went on a 12-2 run.  Nocito got it rolling with a trey and a coast-to-coast layup.  Cameron Faux then nailed a triple followed by another driving layup by Nocito (who had 12 points in the period).  Bufalino capped off the scoring burst with a layup.  Lee then got another putback for West showing his tremendous agility and quickness in snaring a loose ball.  Although he missed the pair of free throws, Lee was establishing his claim for total ownership in the paint.  Laybourn-Boddie, a sensational floor general that orchestrated their offense extremely well, got a driving score to trim the gap to four points (33-29) before Nocito canned another trey to send Dallas into the locker room with a bit more breathing room, 36-29.

West Scranton got another 10 points from Lee in the third period as they began to inch their way back, eventually drawing even at 47 with just under 2:30 left in the quarter.  Lee got fouled via a nifty spin layup to start the second half.  Wallace drove in for a reverse layup giving Dallas a 38-31 lead.  He’d add another one a few moments later part of his 8 points in the quarter.  West Scranton continued to have a answer each time as Zack Price and Lee penetrated to the hoop followed by Chris Ogden hitting a pair of free throws drawing the Invaders within two points, 43-41, midway through the frame.  Nocito would convert a pair of foul shots before Wallace got another reverse layup.  Lee continued to be unstoppable, again bringing his team within 47-45 at the 3:25 mark.  Following a charging call on West and a turnover by the Mountaineers, Laybourn-Boddie again drove down the lane as this was now even at 47.  A half-minute later, just under the two-minute mark West got the ball back following a missed corner triple and decided to work some time off the clock, weaving the ball around the perimeter, but not looking to score.  In a sequence that brought the crowd to their feet, Wallace got a layup off a turnover as the clock was winding down.  And the ensuing inbounds pass was intercepted as Nocito hit a jumper that seemed to be an explosive momentum swing as Dallas took a 51-47 lead into the 4th period.

Dallas continued to feed off their new-found momentum by getting a layup from Bufalino as he stole an inbounds pass.  After a score by Laybourn-Boddie, Bufalino would get a 3-point play followed by a putback by Nick Williams after another West turnover. That gave the Mounts a nine-point lead (58-49) at the 5:53 mark.  After an “and 1” play by Laybourn-Boddie, Nocito got a steal and layup giving them a 60-51 edge with five minutes remaining.  Lee scored to trim the gap to 60-53 and that’s when Dallas seemed to take their foot off the offensive pedal just a bit.  They were now going to be patient and work some time off the clock.  But, Laybourn-Boddie scored followed by an Ogden trey off a Dallas turnover.  Suddenly this one was within a single possession at 60-58.  Wallace hit a free throw at the 1:48 mark followed by Lee cutting it to 61-60.  Cumbo converted a free throw with 41 ticks left (62-60), but Laybourn-Boddie would tie it up at 62 with a pair of free throws with 13.3 on the clock.  The final shot by the Mounts was off target as we were headed for overtime tied at 62. 

Wallace hit a driving shot at the 3:10 mark for a 64-62 advantage, but it would be their last lead of the game as the Invaders went on a 9-2 run to take a 71-66 lead with a minute remaining as the Dallas shooting touch went as icy cold as the February evening.  Ogden made a triple and followed with a pair of free throws wrapped around a layup by Laybourn-Boddie.  Wallace would get a pair of scores to draw the Mounts within two points, 72-70, with 25 seconds left.  This game was going to be won or lost from the charity stripe and the Invaders calmly sank six consecutive free throws by John Keeler, Ogden, and Lee to preserve the 78-72 victory setting off a wild celebration as West Scranton was headed for the arena to take on top-seed Abington Heights for the District 2 Boys 5A Championship next Friday.

West Scranton got a spectacular effort from Tristan Lee with 34 points.  Every bit as critical in the win were the efforts by Evan Laybourn-Boddie (21 points) and Chris Ogden (15 points).  Zack Price and John Keeler combined for 8 points.  The Invaders converted 17 of their 21 free throw opportunities and connected on 3 triples.

Dallas was paced by Darius Wallace (22 points), Jude Nocito (20 points), and Michael Bufalino (17 points).  Cameron Faux, Michael Cumbo, and Nick Williams contributed 13 points.  The Mounts hit 8 of 12 free throw and connected on 4 treys.        

Congratulations Invaders on being Arena Bound !!! @WestInvaders pic.twitter.com/b05ienWkdm

— LLHoops Neast Beat (@LLHoopsNEPbeat) February 25, 2023

Follow LLhoops on Twitter @LLhoops