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District 2 Boys 6A Semi-Final Recap (Scranton 66, Hazleton Area 64 OT)
 

District 2 Boys 6A Semi-Final Recap (Scranton 66, Hazleton Area 64 OT)

Written by: Jon K on February 26, 2023

 

 

February 25, 2023

 

Scranton Pulls Carpet Out From Under Hazleton Area

 

Boys 6A Semi-Final:  Scranton 66, Hazleton Area 64 OT

 

By Phil T. and Jon K.

HAZLETON –  This was no magic trick, but it still left the mostly home crowd leaving the gymnasium in stunned disbelief.  Hazleton Area and Scranton, a pair of teams that both felt they had unfinished business lingering from the regular season, set their sights on another coveted prize – playing for a District 2 Championship at Mohegan Sun Arena.  The Cougars’ confidence soared with a regular season-ending win over WVC Division 1 winner Dallas, but there was still a ton of uncertainly about how the upcoming 15-day layoff would figure into their play.  Scranton, who dropped three consecutive games as the calendar turned to February, stormed back to win six straight, including a victory over Abington Heights in the powerhouse-filled Lackawanna League Division 1.  Scranton wanted to remain King of the 6A Mountain while Hazleton Area was seeking to get back to the title game after a four-year absence. On Saturday evening, it was the Knights celebrating as they rallied in regulation and prevailed in overtime for a thrilling 66-64 victory over the Cougars.   

For the first time in many years, District 2 will advance two teams into the PIAA Tournament and with nearly a minute left the Cougars could almost see their ticket being punched, holding a seemingly secure with a five-point lead, 56-51.  After three Scranton trips to the charity stripe reduced the Cougars’ lead to 57-55, the ball would start in the hands of Dillon Lazdowsky but end up in the bottom of the net to tie the game, eventually leading to overtime.

A basket by Lazdowsky and triple by P.J. Murphy wrapped around a pair of free throws by Luke Gennaro would spot the Knights an advantage early into the extra period (62-59).  Joey Marshall, who came on strong later in the game, brought HA back within a point, but Rykeese Cenord would then convert 3 of 4 free throws to give the Knights a 65-61 lead.  Gennaro then canned an amazingly clutch triple and the Cougars fouled with just 5.5 seconds remaining.  Cenord made the first but missed the second free throw giving Hazleton Area one final chance to tie or win the game.  The ball would end up in the hands of Gennaro who launched the potential game-winning shot as the clock hit zero only to see it carom off the front of the rim setting off a celebration of Scranton jerseys.   

It would be difficult to find a more competitive, balanced game than what occurred inside Hughie McGeehan Gymnasium Saturday night.

Rykeese Cenord got the game rolling with a mid-range jumper, followed by a field-goal from Gennaro.  Tony Battaglia and Lazdowsky would hit back-to-back triples only to see Gennaro hit two triples of his own to knot the game at eight.

A late bucket from Lazdowsky would ultimately give the Knights a 10-8 advantage after the opening stanza.

Scranton would keep themselves in front for most of the first half due to two more buckets from Cenord in addition to scores by Jahean Roberts and Kyle Conforti. 

Midway through the second quarter, Nikolii Santiago and Chris Catrone would take control scoring eight consecutive points for Hazleton Area giving them their first lead, 21-20.  A late putback bucket from Roberts would send teams into the locker rooms separated by a single point, 23-22

The first half proved to be just a trailer tease for what fans would see next.

Battaglia struck first in the third quarter, from beyond the arc, to push the Knights back in front.  A layup from Catrone would even things up, but two buckets from Oliver Almonte (the second being a nifty move for a layup) would give Scranton the lead and some breathing room at 29-25. 

You didn’t have wait long for the Cougars’ response as they mounted a 10-2 run, sparked by four consecutive points from Catrone to tie the game  – a Joey Marshall drive to the basket to give the Cougars the lead once again.  Cenord would convert a field-goal to slow the Cougars’ run and temporarily tie the game at 31, but a long jumper from Gennaro and an ensuing drive from Marshall would put Hazleton Area back into a 35-31 lead.

Murphy connected on a triple to trim it to 37-36, but Catrone would convert 1 of 2 free throws to send the Cougars into the final stanza with a 38-36 edge.

Murphy started the fourth stanza with a one for two trip to the foul line, but over the next few minutes HA would pounce and put together yet another crowd-pleasing spurt, this one a 9-2 run. 

With Hazleton Area in the foul shot bonus for most of the fourth quarter, scoring opportunities were abundant.  With two trips to the line and a bucket from Marshall, the Cougars would increase their lead to 41-37.  A mid-range jumper from Lazdowsky would slow the run, but only momentarily.

Marshall and Sammy Guzman would both finish in the paint, but the big momentum shift would come with Marshall forcing a steal and finishing for the two points to give his team a 47-39 lead nearly three minutes into the final frame.

During the upcoming stretch Hazelton Area would only convert one of their four attempts from the charity stripe that would eventually prove to be a larger impact in the outcome of this game.

After a minute of both teams trading buckets, Scranton would begin to shift things back in their favor.

Roberts got the run started with a layup and Almonte would follow with a steal and bucket of his own.  Another 1-2 trip to the foul line for Cougars, Scranton kept their comeback going.  With a runner from Murphy and a field-goal from Chris Chandler, the eight-point deficit was now down one, 52-51, with 1:41 remaining.

Guzman would find himself heading to the line and reversed the trend for the Cougars converting both his shots for a 54-51 lead.  Following an empty possession for the Knights, Marshall would take the ball and breakdown a spread-out Knights’ defense for the easy hoop sending the home crowd to their feet as HA took a 56-51 lead with just over a minute left in the contest.    

In desperation moments Scranton would turn up the heat and deliver outstanding defense.

In addition to forcing turnovers, the Knights would head to the line three consecutive times that allowed them to cut the deficit back down to one, 56-55 with 33 ticks left.

Hazleton Area would eventually break the Scranton press and move the ball forward enough to send Nikolii Santiago to the charity stripe where he would hit 1 of 2 opportunities. 

The door remained open for the Knights and Lazdowsky would let himself in as he completed the comeback with a floater with 13 seconds remaining to tie it at 57.

Hazleton Area would still have one last possession before the end of regulation, but as Guzman drove to the rim Donnie Laybourn would pop the ball loose and prevent his opponent from ever getting a shot off.

Hazleton Area would tie the game once in overtime with Gennaro’s foul shooting, but a triple from Murphy would give the Knights the decisive lead as they left the Mountain City with the 66-64 victory and a chance to play for district gold once again. 

Rykeese Cenord led the Knights to victory with 13 points, including four foul shots in overtime, three rebounds, three steals and an assist.  Dillon Lazdowsky scored 11 points to go with three rebounds and an assist.  P.J. Murphy came off the bench to score 11 points (including a pair of triples) and the game winner.  Oliver Almonte added ten points, all coming after halftime, while bringing down three rebounds, recording an assist, a block and one steal.

Chris Catrone and Joey Marshall led all scorers with 16 points apiece for the Cougars.  Catrone brought down four boards and made one steal while Marshall also made one steal and brought down six missed shots.

Scranton has now secured its spot in the PIAA 6A State Tournament for the third consecutive year.  The Knights will face the winner of Monday’s other semi-final, #4 seed Delaware Valley at #1 seed Williamsport.  Scranton defeated the Millionaires in each of the past two district finals.

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