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District 2 Boys Game Recap (Old Forge at Lakeland)
 

District 2 Boys Game Recap (Old Forge at Lakeland)

Written by: Jon K on January 16, 2024

 

 

January 15, 2024

 

Blue Devils Hold On for First Division Win

 

Old Forge 59, Lakeland 56

 

SCOTT TOWNSHIP – Top to bottom, Division 3 of the Lackawanna League is about as competitive as any across District 2.  And with six of the seven division teams also competing in the district’s 3A classification, every win is important.  The Blue Devils came into this matchup still looking for their first division victory.  Early on, they used crisp ball movement and balanced scoring to jump out to an early double-digit lead (19-9).  Lakeland turned up their defensive pressure using an 18-5 run through the middle periods to briefly take a one-point lead (36-35).  Old Forge responded by hitting four clutch triples over the next four minutes to regain a double-digit advantage (52-41) early in the final stanza.  The Chiefs refused to fold as they used a tenacious, trapping defensive effort to create havoc and stage one more rally.  This one came down to the final moments as a pair of Lakeland treys were off target as Old Forge held on for the 59-56 victory.

Dom Palma gave Old Forge a 4-0 lead after a drive down the lane two minutes into the game.  Nathan Hunt got Lakeland on the scoreboard with a three-point play after getting fouled on a putback.  Chase Rosenkrans pulled the Chiefs back within 7-5 after DJ Fox connected on a triple.  The Blue Devils began to effectively drive to the basket as they went on a 12-4 run.  Logan Fanning contributed 6 points while Cameron Parker added a triple as OF took a 19-9 lead into the second period. 

Things continued to go the Blue Devils’ way as another Parker triple gave his team a 26-13 lead three minutes into the second quarter.  Billy Hazelton temporarily halted the momentum, but Parker and Cam Krushnowski showed their versatility with mid-range jump shots to keep Old Forge in control, 30-18.  A putback by David Naniewicz would help key a 9-1 rally for the Chiefs.  The Blue Devils seemed to lose their focus as they repeatedly began to turn the ball over.  Rosenkrans added a three-point play followed by him making a steal and layup at the buzzer to send the Chiefs into the locker trailing by only four points, 31-27.

Lakeland continued to surge in the third quarter as they used a triple by Noah Kutchmanich, drive by Hazelton, and basket by Hunt to grab their first lead of the game, 34-33.  After trading free throws at the 4:55 mark, the Blue Devils got back-to-back-to-back triples by Krushnowski, Parker, and Fanning (wrapped around a basket by Hazelton) to take a 44-38 advantage.  The treys kept falling as Rosenkrans and Krushnowski connected as the Blue Devils took a 48-41 lead into the final frame.

Fanning got a putback and made a baseline drive to again give OF a double-digit lead early in the final period, 52-41. Hazelton responded with a drive to the basket and strong putback cutting the deficit to 53-46.  The Chiefs came up with a steal midway through the quarter as Hunt converted a three-point play making it 53-49.  Palma made a strong move to the basket followed by each team hitting free throws making it 56-51 with 2:55 remaining.  Lakeland’s trapping defensive pressure forced a turnover and a jump ball.  They seemed to have the Devils a bit on their heels as Talin Vitzakovitch made a terrific fake and drove in for layup, cutting it to 56-53 with 1:30 left in the game.  After Lakeland missed a pair of free throws, DeMarco and Parker hit 3 of 4 from the charity stripe making it 59-53 with 28 ticks left.  Vitzakovitch then came up with a triple followed by Lakeland regaining possession with 9.2 left on the clock and trailing 59-56.  A pair of triples were way off the mark as Old Forge hung on for the victory.

Old Forge was led by Cameron Parker with 18 points.  Logan Fanning (14 points) and Dom Palma (11 points) were also in double-digits.  Cam Krushnowski, Ryan DeMarco, DJ Fox, and Nick Salerno combined for 16 points.  The Blue Devils had 7 triple and converted 10 of 16 free throws.

Lakeland was paced by Billy Hazelton (16 points), Chase Rosenkrans (13 points), and Nathan Hunt (12 points).  Talin Vitzakovitch, Noah Kutchmanich, and David Nanieicz combined for 15 points.  The Chiefs netted 4 triple and converted 14 of 21 opportunities from the charity stripe.

Both teams continue division play on Thursday – Old Forge hosts Dunmore while Lakeland visits Mid Valley.  

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