District 2 Boys Game Recap (Wyoming Area at MMI Prep)

Written by: Jon K on January 20, 2024

January 20, 2024

Wyoming Area Remains Atop WVC Division 2

Wyoming Area 71, MMI Prep 49

FREELAND – Despite the mid-afternoon temperatures outside the gym registering a bone-chilling 13-degrees, things began to heat up quickly for Wyoming Area inside as the Warriors jumped out to a commanding 41-13 lead in the second period. The 71-49 victory, the 8th win in their last 9 games, keeps them all alone on top of the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 standings at 5-0. Wyoming Area played very well on both ends of the floor. The Warriors move the ball around the floor with precision and dominated the boards with offensive putbacks. They got balanced scoring along with a dozen points off their bench. MMI Prep, meanwhile, struggled to find any rhythm, as their shots just weren’t falling.

The Warriors jumped out to a 9-2 lead just over a minute into the contest as they had their transition game in high gear. Tyler Sciandra got WA on the board and Brady Noone got a 3-point play to make it 5-0 following a pair of Prep turnovers. Ryan Sones got the Preppers on the board with a corner shot before Dane Schutter scored and Matt Rusinchak hit a reverse layup (9-2). The balance on this WA squad was quickly becoming a problem for MMI. The Preppers settled down as Reed Floryshak and Sones pulled them within 15-11, but WA would get a triple from Luke Kopetchny and basket by Patrick Golden to take a 20-11 lead after the first period.

Floryshak got a putback to begin the second quarter, but it would be their last points (as their shooting went icy cold) until Sones hit a pair of free throws with 1:09 left. The Warriors got an assortment of layups and putbacks with an occasional fast break mixed in to go on a remarkable 21-0 run to take a 41-13 advantage. Schutter and Rusinchak combined for 13 points while Noone and Sciandra each had 4 points in the frame. Sones followed his free throws with five more points as MMI chipped away the deficit a bit before the break, 41-20.

Wyoming Area expanded their lead to 52-24 in their third stanza as they continued to get scores via nifty drives to the hoops. Sciandra netted 7 points in their frame. MMI finished the quarter outscoring WA 13-6 (Sones and Brendon Brobst getting 3-point plays) before Golden banked a triple at the buzzer making it 61-37 after 24 minutes of action.

In the final quarter, MMI finally began to find their shooting touch a bit as Sones and Brobst connected on triples. The Warriors closed out the 71-49 victory with a basket by Kopetchny.

Wyoming Area placed three players in double figures – Tyler Sciandra with 19, Dane Schutter with 17, and Brady Noone with 12. Matt Rusinchak, Luke Kopetchny, Patrick Golden, Anthony DeLucca, and Shane Pepe combined for 23 points. The Warriors hit 3 triples and connected on 6 of 12 free throw opportunities.

MMI Prep was paced by Ryan Sones with 27 points. Brendon Brobst added 11 points. Reed Floryshak and Nick Pantages combined for 11 points. The Preppers hit 4 treys and made 9 of their 10 foul shots.

Wyoming Area (5-0 division, 9-4 overall) will host Lake-Lehman (0-5) on Monday night while MMI Prep (3-3, 7-7) entertains Greater Nanticoke Area (3-3) on Tuesday.

MMI Prep Preppers (3-2 division, 7-6 overall) vs. Wyoming Area Warriors (4-0, 9-4). pic.twitter.com/AGN7PfqbeT

— LLHoops Neast Beat (@LLHoopsNEPbeat) January 20, 2024