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District 2 Boys Game Wrap (Pittston Area vs. North Pocono)
 

District 2 Boys Game Wrap (Pittston Area vs. North Pocono)

Written by: Jon K on December 17, 2021

 

 

December 17, 2021

 

Patriots Retake Lead Late to Hold Off Trojans

 

Pittston 36, North Pocono 33

 

By Phil Thrash

SCRANTON – This weekend’s LLIA/WVC Conference Challenge got underway Friday with a doubleheader at the historic Lackawanna College Student Union Gymnasium.  In the second matchup of the evening, fans were treated to a rematch of last season’s District 2 AAAAA quarterfinal matchup between Pittston Area and North Pocono.

After leading for the first 17 minutes of the game, Pittston Area found themselves on the brink of slipping to 1-2 with less than a minute remaining in the game.  However, a key jumper from J.J. Walsh and two successful free throw attempts from Dom Januzzi would give the PA a three-point advantage with 6.6 ticks left on the clock. The Patriots tried to prevent the Trojans from getting a potential game-tying shot off from behind the three-point line, but Ryan Ruddy’s last second attempt fell a foot short giving Pittston the come-from-behind 36-33 victory.

As soon as the game tipped off, both teams were off to the races, but defensive intensity would prevail as neither team wanted to back down.  Nearly three minutes were taken off the clock before Anthony Cencetti would provide a new look for the 0-0 scoreboard with a layup.  Billy Pabst would answer back right away for the Trojans, but for the remaining four minutes of the opening stanza would belong to Pittston Area as they got baskets from Januzzi and Cencetti to take a 6-2 advantage.

As both teams emerged from their huddles, shaking off any remaining jitters of playing in the spacious venue, they began to settle in and trade baskets before the end of the half.  North Pocono was unable to grab the lead, although they were able to trim the deficit to a single point as a Kyle McCullough triple and a successful Noah West trip to the foul line made it a one-point game (14-13) with a minute left in the half.  Pittston would give themselves a little breathing room when Januzzi made a layup in the closing seconds.  McCullough’s game-tying three-point attempt before the buzzer would not fall as the Pats took a 16-13 lead into the break.

As the third stanza began, Pittston Area’s shooting went cold and the Trojans took full advantage of the opportunity to strike.  Pabst got things started with a mid-range jumper followed by a Ruddy layup to give the Trojans their first lead of the night (17-16).  North Pocono would continue their run as Ruddy would make two more buckets, Pabst sunk another one, McCullough would add two field-goals, and West would get fouled on a layup to give the Trojans a double-digit lead (29-18) off their 16-2 run to start the third period.  Over that span Pittston would fail to make a field goal and their only two points would come via four free throw attempts from Walsh.  The Patriots were able to regroup as they scored the final six points of the stanza to trip the gap to a manageable 29-24 deficit heading into the final eight minutes.

After a scoring spurt in the third quarter gave momentum to North Pocono, Ruddy would get the final stanza going with a floater to take a 31-24 lead.  But that’s when the Trojans would hit an offensive slump as PA began to their rally.

The Patriots proceeded to score the next eight points to retake the lead with just over two minutes left in the game.  After only having one lead change the entire game, fans were treated to a thrilling finish with three lead changes on consecutive possessions. 

After Januzzi’s layup gave Pittston a 32-31 lead, A.J. Nemtiz would pull his team out of their scoring drought a leading-changing jumper, his only bucket of the night, to put NP up 33-32.

The Nemtiz bucket would hold into the closing minute before Walsh sank a mid-range jumper to give his team the decisive lead (34-33).  On the ensuing Trojan possession, Cencetti would pick Ruddy’s pocket as he swiped the ball away and sprinted down the court, ultimately leading to a trip at the foul line for Januzzi.

With 6.6 seconds left of the game, Januzzi would convert both free throw chances at the charity stripe giving his team a crucial three-point advantage, 36-33.  Pittston fouled Ruddy in the ensuing inbound pass, preventing him from getting off any potential game-tying shot.  North Pocono would use their final time out and draw up a play to get Ruddy open for an opportunity to tie the game.  The play worked as Ruddy found space halfway between the top of the arc and midcourt line, but his long-range shot came up a foot short as Pittston Area held on for the 36-33 victory.

Dom Januzzi led the Patriots to the victory with ten points and nine rebounds.  J.J. Walsh added seven points, including the eventual game clinching bucket.

Ryan Ruddy led the Trojans with ten points, eight of them coming in the second half.

Pittston returns home on Saturday to host undefeated West Scranton.

North Pocono will continue their road trip as they travel to play Wyoming Area on Saturday and Riverside on Monday.

The LLIA/WVC Conference Showdown continues on Saturday for a triple-header featuring Elk Lake vs. Greater Nanticoke Area (1 PM), Mid Valley vs. Tunkhannock (2:30 PM, following the first game) and Holy Cross vs. Holy Redeemer (7 PM).  All games will take place at the Lackawanna College Student Union Gymnasium.

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