District 2 Boys Division Previews
Written by: Jon K on January 2, 2024
DISTRICT 2 BOYS DIVISION PREVIEWS
WYOMING VALLEY CONFERENCE
DIVISION 1
1. Dallas (Mark Belinski) 5A
2. Hazleton Area (Pat Brogan) 6A
3. Wilkes-Barre Area (Jim Lavan) 6A
4. Pittston Area (Al Semenza) 5A
5. Crestwood (Mark Atherton) 5A
6. Wyoming Valley West (Chris Parker) 6A
7. Berwick (Bobby Calarco) 4A
8. Tunkhannock (Spencer Lunger) 4A
Unlike some other races throughout the district, Division 1 looks to be wide open. A great case can be made for any of the top 5 teams to take honors. That’s a tribute to the solid talent and coaching leadership on these squads. It’s going to be very difficult to call any result an upset among these top programs. All that being said, Dallas (5-4) gets the ever-so-slight nod for the top spot despite not having their go-to impact player, junior guard Jude Nocito, in the lineup and having dropped their WVC opener on Saturday, 58-56, to Wilkes-Barre Area. As the Mountaineers complete the transition from a state championship football appearance, they look to bring the pieces back together for a title run. A trio of seniors provide their nucleus with playmaker Mike Cumbo (14.7 ppg), center Nick Williams (9.6 ppg) and guard Zach Paczewski (10,1 ppg). Add in senior forwards Nick Farrell, Jack Karosa, and Brady Zapoticky along with sharpshooter senior guard Cameron Faux and you have one of the more complete teams up and down the court. The Mounts are well-coached and do not beat themselves on the floor. Hazleton Area (4-4) has been really, really difficult to figure out so far. Are the Cougars the team that almost defeated perennial powerhouse Reading or the one that limped to a loss against Allentown Dieruff on Saturday afternoon? The answer is probably somewhere in the middle and that’s going to give first-year head coach Pat Brogan the ongoing challenge of continuing to tinker with different floor combinations. HA has the talent to make a title run with plenty of experience and good height. Start with seniors Luke Gennaro, Joey Marshall, Sammy Guzman, Nikolii Santiago, and Junior Coste. Add in underclassmen Estarling Meanciano plus Dylan Stish and there is good depth. Wilkes-Barre Area (6-3) has rolled to six straight wins and could be the team to beat. Sophomore guard Dave Januzzi leads the way with 15.4 ppg. He is joined by a trio of seniors in guards Melvin Egbeto and Kaprie Cottle along with forward Vincent Garrett. Sophomore guard Yariel Argueta has been contributing nearly 7 ppg. The biggest boost to the Wolfpack is going to come from via West Scranton transfer senior guard Evan Laybourn-Boddie. He netted 15 points with 3 triples in their win over Dallas on Saturday. Pittston Area (4-4) is always well-coached and runs a precision offense. The Patriots are struggling a bit on offense, but they expect to get that scoring spark back once junior Silvio Giardino returns from a injury. PA has been getting strong efforts from another pair of juniors in Matt Walter and Paul Jordan McGarry (who are combining for about 24 ppg). Senior Ciaran Scavo has been contributing 6.5 ppg. Another well-disciplined team in the thick of this race is Crestwood (6-3). The Comets always play a challenging non-league schedule and this year was no different. They dropped close games to perennial District 4 contenders Shamokin and Loyalsock Township. Crestwood has experience in senior guards Chaz Wright (15.8 ppg), Derek Johnson, Matt Sklarosky, and Mason Czapla. Sophomore forward Ayden Argapito nets 7.6 ppg. Wyoming Valley West (2-6) has one of the more deceiving records as the Spartans dropped losses to top District 2 teams Abington Heights, Scranton, and Valley View by a total of only 25 points. WVW gets very balanced scoring among their top players – senior center Maki Wells (6.9 ppg), junior guard Lamar Weatherspoon (7.3 ppg), junior forward Navion Terry (6 ppg), senior guard Will Wojciechowski (5.4 ppg), junior guard Eric Reyes (4.9 ppg), and junior guard Steven Jacobs (4.8 ppg). Despite their record, Berwick (2-4) has reason for optimism with three players leading the Bulldog attack – senior Billy Hanson, junior Kaden Hickman, and senior Jace Degroat. Tunkhannock (2-6) graduated virtually all of their offensive output and the Tigers have their hands full this season. Senior guard Ethan Ergott leads the way with 11 ppg. A trio of sophomores are getting plenty of playing time – Steven Moore, Colin Gregory, and Boden Lukasavage.
DIVISION 2
1. Nanticoke (Zach Pientka) 4A
2. Holy Redeemer (Paul Guido) 3A
3. Wyoming Area (Anthony Macario) 4A
4. Hanover Area (Bill Callahan) 4A
5. MMI Prep (Joe Flanagan) 1A
6. Wyoming Seminary (Dan Messinger) 3A
7. Lake-Lehman (Pete Moses) 4A
The Division 2 race looks to be a battle between Nanticoke Area, Holy Redeemer, and Wyoming Area. Nanticoke Area (4-7) has a senior trio that makes the Trojans the top pick. Senior forward Jaidyn Johnson, a versatile 6-6 playmaker, has been averaging 16 ppg. Liam Mullery, their sharpshooting guard, hits 9 ppg and has 25 triples. Gavin Turak has been contributing 3.4 ppg. A pair of underclassmen, junior RJ Brogan and sophomore Mathias Mitchell, contribute a combined 10 ppg. GNA has been way on the short-end of several non-league games and that is a bit of a concern heading into conference play. Their more competitive game against undefeated Mahanoy Area looks to have gotten them back on track. Holy Redeemer (5-5) graduated the majority of their scoring offense including a trio of sensational guards that delivered many hoops memories. The Royals do return seniors Mark Atherton (guard) and George Sabatini (6-5 forward) and are already seeing benefits from a pair of junior transfers in center Dave Popson (11 ppg) and guard Brayden Sock (6.3 ppg). HR always plays a challenging non-conference slate and that pays dividends come January. Wyoming Area (6-4) has all of the ingredients in place for a push for the division title with most of their players back from last season. Dane Schutter (6-5 senior forward), a recent 1,000-point scorer, leads the way with 17.4 ppg. Senior guards Brady Noone and Matt Rusinchak add a combined 12 ppg. Junior guards Lukas Burakiewicz and Anthony DeLucca are steady. The Warriors are also getting almost 9 ppg from freshman guard Luke Kopetchny. Hanover Area (3-7) will be coached by Bill Callahan. The Hawks are minus a pair of starters that transferred to Holy Redeemer, but the Hawks return several key players and feature plenty of height. Noah Dewey (6-4 junior forward) averages 17.4 ppg. Steven Florek (6-5 senior forward) and Lael Hayward (6-4 senior playmaker) net a combined 16.5 ppg. Gerald Williams, a junior, adds 6.9 ppg. Don’t be surprised to see Hanover Area make a push toward the upper half of the division. MMI Prep (3-5) is led by a pair of seniors in guard Ryan Sones (15.8 ppg) and forward Brendon Brobst (11 ppg). The Preppers could pull off an upset. Wyoming Seminary (2-8) is paced by senior Jack Novelli (15.4 ppg with 16 triples) and junior Brian Leahy. Lake-Lehman (0-10) was hit by graduation and the Black Knights are still looking for their first victory. They get contributions from a pair of underclassmen, sophomore Hunter Palka (5.1 ppg) and freshman Alex Smith (8 ppg).
LACKAWANNA LEAGUE
DIVISION 1
1. Abington Heights (Ken Bianchi) 5A
2. Scranton (Tony Battaglia) 6A
3. Valley View (Mike Kurpis) 4A
4. Scranton Prep (Larry Reagan) 4A
5. West Scranton (Mike Fazzi) 5A
Abington Heights (8-0) might come into the Division 1 race as an overwhelming favorite to bring the championship back to Clarks Summit, but don’t expect it to be without a few stiff challenges from longtime rivals. The Comets have impressed in matchups across the state including wins against highly-regarded Emmaus, Executive Education, Aliquippa, and Chartiers Valley. Their entire lineup is averaging near double-digit scoring and their well-seasoned coaching staff has talent coming off the bench to keep fresh legs in the game. Seniors Will Marion and Ryan Nealon provide an outstanding backcourt. Rob Lucas, Mason Fedor, and John Shaffer are versatile players that give them lots of options all over the floor. AH loves to push to ball up court and that sometimes results in missed scoring opportunities. Boxing out and limiting teams to one shot will be a priority. Scranton (8-1) enters the new year fresh off an emotional championship in a prestigious holiday tournament. The only blemish on their record is an overtime loss to highly-regarded (and currently undefeated) Riverside. There is a lot to like about this Knights’ lineup with different players capable of coming off the bench and making key contributions. Matt Barrett and Jaheam Roberts recently combined for 18 points in their Lynett win over Holy Cross. They also have enough height and athleticism to be capable of pulling off an upset. Oliver Almonte (6-4 senior center) averages over 12 ppg. So far, many might consider Valley View (9-0) as the surprise team in the district. Sure, the Cougars won the division title last year, but graduated almost 75% of their offensive punch. The pieces that return – such as Kyle Rupp, Nick Kucharski, Noah Veno, Aidan Smola, JT Homentosky, and Dom Memo – are all battle-tested. Rupp is superb at effectively driving to the basket and Homentosky is a streaky shooter. Mike Kurpis once-again has a squad that features terrific court chemistry, plays intense defense, and (most importantly) expects to win. Scranton Prep (4-5) is circling well-below most hoop radar screens and that is probably fine with first-year head coach Lary Reagan. The Cavaliers played one of the area’s more-challenging non-league slates (Bethlehem Liberty, Executive Education, Roman Catholic, and Pocono Mountain West) and will be highly-competitive in this race. The Cavs always have talented guards and this year is no different. Seniors Kellen Casey, Chase Scanlon, and Roman Valvano are joined by junior top-scorer Brycen Martin (20 triples). Inside, they have a pair of 6-3 players in Daniel Sataniello and Ambrose Rossi. West Scranton (4-5), minus one of the top guards in the entire district who transferred out, still has plenty of talent in their lineup. The Invaders dropped several close non-league games to Pittston Area, Wilkes-Barre Area, and Mid Valley. Senior guard Chris Ogden picked up where he left off last year. He’s averaging nearly 20 ppg with 27 treys. West Side is also getting strong contributions from sophomore guard Nathan Schimelfenig.
DIVISION 2
1. Wallenpaupack (Jim McGinnis) 5A
2. North Pocono (Pat Shields) 5A
3. Delaware Valley (Kris Holtzer) 6A
4. Honesdale (Jon Gillow) 4A
5. Western Wayne (Lamont Tillery) 4A
Wallenpaupack (6-3) comes into league play as the favorite in Division 2. The Buckhorns have a nice blend of perimeter skill and some height inside. Junior guard Justin Blanding and senior guard Landon Calabrese have been contributing a combined 30+ ppg. Inside, 6-4 senior forward Jake Holbert is hitting over 13 ppg. They also have plenty of experience in seniors Kevin Wortmann, Drew Kiesendahl, and Jordan Santiago. North Pocono (5-3) doesn’t have much height but the Trojans more than make up for it in tremendous hustle and overall scrappy play. NP gets great scoring balance from a trio of seniors in Noah West, Matt Seidita, and Max Gentile who net a combined 28 ppg along with junior Josh Staples. Freshman Chris Zimmerman has been an impact player in their lineup. Delaware Valley (4-5) has played mostly Pocono-area and other schools located across the state border. The Warriors feature one of the top players in the league in 6-2 senior forward Tommy Parker (17 ppg). He is joined by juniors Tyler Lombardo and Isaiah Berrios along with senior Jackson Corrie. Del-Val can definitely be the surprise team in this race. Honesdale (3-5) has been getting contributions from juniors Aiden Collins and Jared Ahern along with seniors Jack Eisele, Peter Modrovsky, and Joey Taraschuk. Western Wayne (1-7) is struggling on offense but have been getting good efforts from junior forward Evan Dean. A pair of sophomores, Jacob Lawlor and Ashan Stookey will help get the Wildcat program going in the right direction.
DIVISION 3
1. Riverside (Josh Aniska) 3A
2. Holy Cross (Al Callejas, Jr.) 2A
3. Mid Valley (Mike Abda) 3A
4. Old Forge (J.J. Thomas) 3A
5. Carbondale (Tom Mauro) 3A
6. Dunmore (Mark Finan) 3A
7. Lakeland (Trevor Tellip) 3A
The race in Division 3 is always one of the more intriguing ones in the entire district and this year is no different. Riverside (7-0) and Holy Cross (6-2) are the top picks, but this is going to be a very challenging battle every night throughout the division. And fans won’t have to wait long as the Vikings will be hosting the Crusaders Friday night in Taylor. That’s sure to be a sellout. Riverside turned many heads with their come-from-behind overtime win over Scranton. While a bunch of perimeter scoring graduated with Frankie Antoniacci, Riverside is getting terrific leadership and offense from junior guard Gerry Rose (20 ppg). He has great range and can drive to the basket. He is complemented by another pair of junior guards in Connor MacNally and Matthew Godlewski. Both are versatile players on both ends of the floor. Freshman Brayden Rose has been an impact player so far. While the Vikings do not have much height, they play tall and often out-hustle their opponent. They will be challenged by Holy Cross (6-2) who dropped games to undefeated Valley View and Scranton. The Crusaders, guided by first-year head coach Al Callejas Jr., has a nucleus that revolves around a dynamic pair of juniors in guard Michael Hughes and 6-2 forward Matt Lyons (who net a combined 30+ ppg). Filling in some of the question marks this year has been the contributions from freshmen Adam Badyrka and CJ Thompson. A pair of junior guards, Mario Matrone and Austin Bicking, give HC a solid starting lineup. The rest of the teams in the division will be capable of pulling off an upset. Mid Valley (5-3) is another team that graduated an all-everything playmaker. Although the scoring impact of Danny Nemitz (17.4 ppg) was a significant loss, the Spartans have established a winning program. Having 6-4 senior forward Ricky Vinansky (15 ppg) helps anchor things inside. Head coach Mike Abda also has a good backcourt in juniors Demaja Dunston and Jakob Lesher along with senior Nathan Sadaka. Old Forge (6-2) is yet another team that graduated a key player in Joey Macciocco (18.9 ppg). The Blue Devils might have a bit of an undersized lineup in some matchups, they make up it with tenacious defense and terrific team chemistry. Dom Palma (senior guard) and Cameron Parker (sophomore guard) lead the way with a combined 25 ppg. They also have some talented underclassmen in Logan Fanning (6-4 sophomore forward), junior DJ Fox, and sophomore Ryan DeMarco. Cam Krushnowski (a junior) and Joe Granko (senior) also see plenty of playing time. The Blue Devils are a fun team to watch and they could be the surprise team in the division. Carbondale (7-1) has gotten off to a strong December start the previous two seasons and then struggled to maintain any momentum in division play. The Chargers feature a stellar pair of senior guards in Preston Casey and Darryl Bennett (hitting a combined 25.5 ppg). Tyler Donato (senior center) has been outstanding, averaging nearly 20 ppg. They also get contributions from senior guards Shane Herbert and Malachi DeBarry. Dunmore (3-5) played a challenging non-league schedule against some larger schools. Inside, the Bucks have a pair of seniors in Thomas Bowen and Cullen Smith. In the backcourt, Dunmore has a trio of solid underclassmen in junior Bobby Hoban and sophomores Nate Aviles and Brayden Canavan. The potential is definitely there for the Bucks to rise toward the upper part of the division standings as the season goes on. Lakeland (2-5) is another team building toward the future. And if the pieces fit together a bit quicker, look for the Chiefs to pull off a few more wins than expected. This is a team that gets very balance scoring. Billy Hazelton is their senior guard. He is joined by juniors Talin Vitzakovitch, Nathan Hunt, and Noah Kutchmanich. David Namiewicz (6-2 sophomore forward) and freshman Chase Rosenkrans are netting a combined 17.5 ppg.
DIVISION 4
1. Blue Ridge (Wes Parks) 2A
2. Susquehanna (Lawrence Tompkins) 1A
3. Elk Lake (Kyle Kiehart) 2A
4. Montrose (Bernardo Cruz) 2A
5. Mountain View (Jim McAndrew) 2A
6. Lackawanna Trail (Ben Domiano) 2A
7. Forest City (John Duffy) 1A
With a majority of their scoring back from last year’s 20-4 campaign, including senior guard Connor Cranage (25 ppg), Blue Ridge is a strong favorite to capture the Division 4 championship. The Red Raiders have an experienced lineup that is also setting their sights on winning a district championship. Dylan Bradley (6-2 senior forward) averages over 11 ppg and is joined by seniors in Carson Gallagher, Ryan Scott, and Morgan Thomas. Underclassmen Gehrig Dibble and Landon Bishop have also been contributing. Susquehanna Community (4-4) and Elk Lake (4-4) should be battling for second position. Both bring back much of their scoring from last year. The Sabers are paced by seniors Colton Stone (6-5 forward) 18.8 ppg and guard JT Burke with 17.8 ppg. Susquehanna also features Cooper Payne, Matthew Callender, and Rykin Hobart. Elk Lake defeated the Sabers and then dropped a holiday tournament title game to Blue Ridge last week. The Warriors are led by senior guard Isaac Gesford, junior Noah Gesford, and sophomore John Heitsman. Montrose (1-7) is led by junior guard Jack Russell. Mountain View (1-6) is led by a pair of underclassmen in Jackson Gesford (junior guard) and Hudson Bain (sophomore guard). The Eagles also have seniors, Bronson Kilmer (6-3 forward) and Riley Jagger (guard). Lackawanna Trail (2-5) features junior guard Jake Antolick. Forest City (0-8) graduated a pair of sensational players and is still looking for their first win. The Foresters are led by Collin Bailer (senior guard) and Max Ubas (junior forward). They also have seniors Brad Bartholomay, John Conalogue, and Heath Snyder.
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