District 2 Girls Division Races (Wyoming Valley Conference)
Written by: Jon K on February 16, 2021
Wyoming Valley Conference Girls Division Races
DIVISION 1
Hazleton Area (6-1)
Wilkes-Barre Area (5-2)
Berwick (5-2)
Wyoming Valley West (5-3)
Dallas (3-4)
Crestwood (2-5)
Pittston Area (0-9)
Hazleton Area has taken a one-game lead in Division 1 after rolling off five consecutive wins following a 62-58 loss to Wilkes-Barre Area on February 3. Included were key victories over Dallas, Wyoming Valley West, and Crestwood. The Lady Cougars do not feature much height, but they make up for it with plenty of hustle from their talented guards. They are an experienced group with plenty of senior leadership. A trio of senior guards lead the way including Olivia Wolk (9 ppg), Julia Mrochko (10 ppg), and Brooke Borestski (10 ppg) at the point. Added contributions are provided by senior guard Jaya Franak (6.6 ppg), sophomore guard Lacie Kringe (5.6 ppg), and senior forward Carly Krizansky (4 ppg). Wilkes-Barre Area, with both division losses coming against Berwick, trail the Lady Cougars by one game. The Wolfpack are led by junior forward Gloria Adjayi who averages 17 ppg. In the backcourt, WBA has plenty of talent including senior Vanessa Luna (8 ppg) and Shelby Ardo Boyko (8 ppg). Surging toward the top of the division is Berwick Area. The Lady Dawgs two losses have been by a total of four points (52-50 to Dallas and 58-56 to Wyoming Valley West). And they may control their own destiny as they will take on division leader Hazleton Area twice next week. Berwick has a talented quartet of seniors that have terrific on-court chemistry. Katie Starr, their versatile 6-0 center, nets 16 ppg. She is joined by 5-10 forward Jackie Nevel (5 ppg). On the perimeter, Renny Murphy is outstanding hitting 12.7 ppg. Emily Quimet is their point guard. Sophomore guard Rachel Whitenight (6.5 ppg) was back in their lineup on Sunday after missing three games. Another team that has plenty of youthful talent is Wyoming Valley West. The Lady Spartans three loses have come against Hazleton Area (twice) and Wilkes-Barre Area. Their all-underclassmen lineup gets balanced scoring and is led by 6-2 junior center Trinity Johnson (13 ppg). She is complemented by 6-0 sophomore Kalia Saunders (7 ppg). Junior guard Kiara Kane is joined by a pair of sophomores contributing on the perimeter – Haylie Oliphant and Claudia Siegfried (8 ppg). Valley West is also getting strong efforts from freshman guard Mackenzie Perluke (5 ppg). Dallas has dropped back following consecutive losses to Hazleton Area, Berwick, and Valley West. The Lady Mounts are led by four talented seniors – guard Bella Hill (13 ppg), guard Deanna Wallace (5 ppg), guard Julia Kocher (7.6 ppg), and forward Claire Charlton (6 ppg). Nadia Evanosky contributes 5 ppg. A pair of newcomers have been getting plenty of playing time, sophomore forward Victoria Spaciano and freshman guard Elizabeth Viglone. Crestwood, one of the preseason division favorites, has struggled to find wins and will look to finish conference play strong and focus on district playoffs. The Lady Comets returned their entire lineup this season and are led by a pair of 3-year starters in senior guards Helena Jardine (14 ppg) and Jaden Weiss (6 ppg). Jardine hit a combined 37 points in recent losses to WBA and Hazleton Area. Inside, 5-9 senior forward Brianna Wickiser hits 8 ppg. A pair of sophomores, Isabella Caporuscio and Julia Glowacki, contribute a combined 10 ppg. Pittston Area is still seeking their first division victory while learning a new system under new head coach Jeff Gregory. The Lady Patriots got a recent non-league win over Tunkhannock as sophomore guard Kallie Booth (15 ppg) netted 32 points. On Tuesday, Berwick hosts Crestwood in a key matchup. Thursday features Crestwood entertaining Wyoming Valley West, Dallas visiting Wilkes-Barre Area, and Hazleton Area hosting Pittston Area. On Saturday, Berwick entertains Wyoming Valley West in a great matchup.
DIVISION 2
Lake-Lehman (4-2)
Holy Redeemer (4-2)
Wyoming Area (4-3)
Nanticoke Area (3-3)
Wyoming Seminary (2-2)
Tunkhannock (2-3)
Hanover Area (0-4)
In Division 2, there is a two-way tie atop the standings with several other teams just a game back. Lake-Lehman dropped a 32-30 road loss at Holy Redeemer on Saturday. Their other loss was 30-29 to Nanticoke Area earlier in the month. The Lady Knights are led by a pair of juniors in 6-1 center Claire Dougherty (17 ppg) and playmaker Chase Purdy (8.5 ppg). They also feature a trio of sophomores in 6-0 forward Haley Kline (5 ppg) plus guards Marissa Brdaric and Lia Keefe. Senior forward Hallie Jones adds 4 ppg. Holy Redeemer rallied in the final minute via a clutch triple by junior guard Faith Sekol (8.6 ppg) to defeat Lake-Lehman on Saturday. It was the third consecutive win for the Lady Royals. HR gets very balanced scoring and has a mostly underclassmen lineup. Senior leadership is provided by guards Lynzie Skoronski and speedy floor leader Karissa Spade (6 ppg). In the backcourt, Spade is joined by juniors Aleia Atherton (6 ppg) and Aubrey Curley (7 ppg). A pair of sophomores are also making an impact, guard Jillian DelBalso and forward Mia Ashton who net a combined 11 ppg. Wyoming Area halted a three-game losing streak by rallying for a 49-47 victory over Nanticoke Area on Saturday. A pair of sophomore guards led the way for the Lady Warriors in that win as Morgan Janeski (12.5 ppg) scored 22 points and Anna Wisnewski added 11 points. WA also gets contributions from seniors Maria Amato (guard, 4.5 ppg) and Kaitlyn Slusser (forward, 3.5 ppg). Another pair of sophomore guards, Hallie Kranson and Joselyn Williams, add a combined 10 ppg. Nanticoke Area started out division play at 3-0 but have since dropped three games in a row – by a total on only 13 points. The Trojanettes dropped down to Division 2 this season and are paced by junior guard Riley Baird (17 ppg). Senior Lauren Casey, a 5-11 center, contributes 7.5 ppg. Junior Brooklyn Biehl adds 6.5 ppg. GNA has also been getting solids efforts from freshman Claire Auffiero (4.7 ppg). Wyoming Seminary is led by sophomore guard Maddie Olshemski (12 ppg) and junior guard Margaret Mihalick (6.4 ppg). The Blue Knights will be making up some games due to their Covid-related pause. Tunkhannock has won four games in a row – division wins over Nanticoke Area and Wyoming Area plus non-league victories over Pittston Area and Northwest Area. The Lady Tigers got a terrific effort from sophomore Sable Stephens (10.4 ppg) who netted 36 total points in the wins over WA and GNA. Tunkhannock gets balanced scoring from juniors Haley Long (8 ppg) and Alaina Ritz (7 ppg) plus sophomores Anna Williams (7 ppg), Lexi Corby (6 ppg), and Macey Iddings (3.6 ppg). Williams scored 13 points in their win over Wyoming Area. Hanover Area, another team making up some missed games on their schedule, will be looking to finish on a positive note under their first-year head coach. The Lady Hawks are playing with a limited lineup of three sophomores and four freshmen. Key games this week include Nanticoke Area hosting Wyoming Area on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, Lake-Lehman travels to play Tunkhannock. On Thursday, Lake-Lehman entertains Wyoming Area.
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