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District 2 Boys Game Recap (Berwick vs. Nanticoke Area)
 

District 2 Boys Game Recap (Berwick vs. Nanticoke Area)

Written by: Jon K on December 18, 2022

 

 

December 17, 2022

 

Trojans Balanced Attack Defeats Berwick

 

by Jon K.

It’s been quite a while since LLHoops stopped by Berwick to catch a regular season boys’ game.  After a 2-19 campaign last year, the Bulldogs were off to a 3-1 start.  With their hoops program headed in the right direction and an interesting afternoon matchup against a talented Nanticoke Area team that is better than their 3-3 record indicates, it was time to drive down Christmas Boulevard and settle in for a battle between the Dawgs and Trojans.  This one was very competitive most of the way and Berwick had numerous opportunities to cash in on the scoreboard, but the overall balance of Nanticoke Area eventually helped secure a 60-47 victory for the Trojans.

 

The Trojans got going directly off the opening tip with a layup and later free throw by junior Caleb Butczynski.  Sophomore Kaden Hickman then hit a corner triple to tie the game at 3.  The defensive pressure by both teams was excellent.  Junior Liam Mullery got a layup off a sensational feed by Butczynski followed by a putback by Dawgs’ sophomore guard Billy Hanson to knot it up at 5.  Junior Gavin Turak got a 3-point play for GNA with senior forward Matt Lonczynski responding for a Berwick triple to tie things up at 8.  Butczynski then drove full court for a layup with senior guard Sean Murphy getting a typing score (10-10) on the other end.  Nanticoke would then grab a 14-10 lead via scores by 6-5 junior forward Jaidyn Johnson.  Turak would continue his impressive play with back-to-back drives to the hoop wrapped around a triple by Hanson.  Hanson would add another trey to end the first period cutting the Trojans lead to 20-17.   So far, this was mistake-free basketball by both squads.

 

Nanticoke Area would start the second quarter on an 11-2 run despite Berwick getting noteworthy defensive efforts from Hanson (nice block) and Murphy while Lonczynski was tough on the boards.  In that GNA run, Turak and Mullery hit triples.  The Dawgs were able to slow the Trojans’ momentum as they finished the first half on an 8-2 run, getting a corner jumper by Murphy, reverse layup by Hanson, a free throw by Murphy, and trey by Hickman to make it 33-27 at the break.      

 

Berwick repeatedly inched their way back throughout the third stanza cutting the deficit to a single basket on four occasions (33-31, 36-34, 38-36, and 40-38) but were unable to tie the game despite numerous opportunities.  Sean Murphy netted 9 points in the period as the Dawgs kept this one close.  Gavin Turak got 3 free throws to give Nanticoke Area some breathing room, at 43-38.  Julian Howie scored for Berwick before a 3-point play by senior Ibn Jordan-Thomas gave the Trojans a 46-40 lead heading into the final period.           

 

Berwick would pull within four points following a layup by Fabian Ramiro (46-42) and free throw by Howie (49-45) before the Trojans got a score by Turak and pair of free throws by Butczynski after he stole an inbounds pass and got fouled on a breakaway layup for a 53-45 advantage with 2:04 remaining.  Murphy would add a pair of free throws with 1:56 left to trim the deficit to six points, 53-47, but that’s as close as they would get as the Trojans would then finish the game on a 7-0 run to get the 60-47 victory which was closer than the final score indicated. 

 

Nanticoke Area was led by Gavin Turak with 20 points and Jaidyn Johnson with 14 points.  Two other Trojans also reached double figures, Caleb Butczynski with 11 points and Liam Mullery with 10 points.

Berwick was paced by Sean Murphy with 18 points while Billy Hanson netted 13 points.

Nanticoke Area will take on West Scranton at home on Tuesday.  Berwick travels to play at Pittston Area in their Wyoming Valley Conference opener, also on Tuesday.  Both of those games should be excellent matchups.         

 

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