District 2 Boys Recap (Wilkes-Barre Area vs. Hazleton Area)

Written by: Jon K on January 6, 2025

January 4, 2025

Wolfpack Survives Furious Rally to Gain Key WVC Division Road Win Over Hazleton Area

Wilkes-Barre Area 72, Hazleton Area 70

HAZLE TOWNSHIP – Wilkes-Barre Area and Hazleton Area are among a group of teams that figure to be in an exciting battle for the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 championship this season. Their combined 9-12 overall record coming into Saturday afternoon’s tilt was highly deceiving as many of those losses came via December non-league matchups against powerhouse teams from districts across Eastern Pa. The Wolfpack withstood every Hazleton Area effort to climb back into the game and some fans began to head out into the frigid cold after David Jannuzzi’s free throws gave WBA a 68-57 advantage with 1:34 remaining. But the Cougars had other plans as they exploded for a 13-3 run cutting the gap to just a single point (71-70) with 19 ticks left. A steal and layup by Dylan Stish was wrapped around a pair of triples and traditional 3-point play by Angel Saladin. The Cougars grabbed the back-end missed free throw and quickly worked it around the perimeter before their attempt at the buzzer was off-target preserving the dramatic 72-70 victory for Wilkes-Barre Area. The win was over the same team that ended their hopes for a 6A district championship game last season.

Wilkes-Barre is a very balanced team that excels at driving to the basket. And most importantly, they do it with lightning quickness and maintain control to convert most of the high percentage opportunities. And while the Pack repeatedly lit up the scoreboard from inside, they also added 8 triples. Nahsiem Ford came off the bench to net 13 points across the middle periods, including three treys. For the majority of 3+ quarters, Hazleton Area mounted repeated attempts to grab the lead, but WBA thwarted each one as a different player seemingly found their super-power at the critical moment. Mike Keating and Nahsiem Ford nailed clutch triples in the second period and Jannuzzi added one in their third to keep the Pack in front. The Cougars, meanwhile, came out of the break with some ball-handling miscues that added to their offensive frustrations.

This one began with both teams missing their initial shots and WBA being very patient. The Cougars grabbed their final lead of the game (10-8) after Luis Guzman scored inside. Mike Keating’s trey started a 9-1 run capped off by a nice drive down the lane by Ford. Jannuzzi converted a 3-point play with less than a second remaining to take a 20-13 lead into the second quarter.

Franklin Ritz netted back-to-back triples in the opening minutes of the period cutting it to 21-19 before Keating hit a clutch trey. The Cougars climbed back within a point (24-23) at the 3:50 mark after a basket by Stish and reverse layup by Saladin. Again, the Pack had an immediate response with scores by Keating and Jannuzzi (drive to the hoop) making it 28-23. A 4-0 run by HA was then met by consecutive treys by Ford giving the Wolfpack a ton of confidence and taking a 34-29 advantage into the locker room. After netting 11 points in the opening frame, David Jannuzzi cooled off as Keating and Ford combined for 12 points.

Hazleton Area got a pair of inside scores from Guzman (the first via a nifty feed from Ryan Staffin) cutting it to 34-33 just 75 ticks into the second half. The super-power theme then continued as Jannuzzi’s ensuing trey ignited a 10-2 run (44-35). Scores by Saladin, Guzman (on a fast break), and Stish cut it to 46-41 but four missed free throws kept it being an even closer game. WBA took their largest lead of the game so far (51-41) as Ford made an athletic tip-in off a missed Keating triple followed by another trey by Jannuzzi. Gavin Perkosky and Staffin combined for 5 points before Jannuzzi scored to make it 53-46 heading into the final eight minutes.

Wilkes-Barre Area got a pair of free throws and terrific driving scoop layup from Achilles Fuentes to go up by eleven points (57-46) and they used a triple by Jacob Johnson and driving score by Quran Brooks to maintain a ten-point edge midway through the period. Guzman added a nice spinning layup and pair of free throws over the next minute to bring the Cougars within 62-56. Cue Jannuzzi’s 6-1 scoring response to give the Pack a 68-57 with 1:34 remaining in the game. Saladin netted a triple and 3-point play wrapped around a pair of 1 for 2 trips to the charity stripe for the Pack. A turnover by WBA led to a pair of free throws by Guzman and a steal by Stish seconds later made it a 70-67 game with 40 seconds left. Jannuzzi hit 1 of 2 free throws followed by another pulsating triple by Saladin with 22 seconds left to cut it to 71-70. Ford went to the foul line with 19.4 left on the clock and made the first with the Cougars grabbing the ensuing miss. Without any timeouts left, HA quickly move it up court and worked it around the perimeter before Saladin’s last second shot was off the mark giving Wilkes-Barre Area an important 72-70 division victory.

Wilkes-Barre Area was led by David Jannuzzi with 31 points. Mike Keating and Nahsiem Ford (off the bench) each added 16 points. Jacob Johnson, Quran Brooks, and Achilles Fuentes combined for 9 points. The Wolfpack connected on 8 triples and made 14 of 19 free throws.

Hazleton Area was paced by Luis Guzman with 25 points. Dylan Stish added 16 points and Angel Saladin contributed 13 points. Ryan Staffin, Estarling Meneciano, Gavin Perkosky, Franklin Ritz, and Oscaudy Vasquez combined for 16 points. The Cougars hit 5 triples and converted 11 of 14 free throw attempts.

Both teams will be in action on Tuesday night. Wilkes-Barre Area will host Dallas and Hazleton Area will travel to play Nanticoke Area.