WRIGHT TWP. — The basketball bounced from a battle underneath to the perimeter as the final seconds ticked off in the third quarter Tuesday night.
The way things were going for Crestwood at that point, it was no problem. Guard Kevin Klusewitz gathered the rebound and shot. The Comets regained the lead and didn’t let go of it this time.
Klusewitz’s buzzer beater was part of a 16-2 run that extended well into the fourth quarter as Crestwood handed Wyoming Area its first loss of the season, 41-34 in a Wyoming Valley Conference interdivisional game.
Crestwood improved to 5-1 in Division 1 and 8-3 overall, staying within striking distance of divisional front-runner Hazleton Area (5-0, 9-2). Kyle Richards led the offense with 15 points while Noah Jackson added 12 and was a force underneath on both ends.
Wyoming Area (5-1 Div. 2, 10-1) entered Tuesday in a four-way tie for first place and one of two teams in District 2 still unbeaten. But losses by previously unbeaten Berwick and GAR gave Meyers sole possession of Division 2.
“We went away from some of the stuff we did in the first 10 games,” Wyoming Area coach Pete Moses said. “That’s something we’ll talk about. Unfortunately, we have a game tomorrow so some of the things I saw tonight we will work on on Thursday.”
Wyoming Area built its biggest lead of the game, 28-23 at 4:28 of the third, on the strength of a pair of threes by Anthony Nardell. The Warriors, though, didn’t connect on another field goal until 1:11 of the fourth quarter.
“I thought the biggest thing was we were down five and then went up 30-28,” Crestwood coach Mark Atherton said. “The kids did a great job of answering.”
During the Wyoming Area drought, Klusewitz netted his outside basket to end the third, and Lance Blass started the fourth with an inside pass to Richards and short turnaround jumper.
Wyoming Area snapped the run when Tony Saitta scored with just over a minute to play. Even then, it was the Warriors’ fifth shot during the trip into the offensive end.
Wyoming Area started strongly, with Saitta and Sam Greenfield each nailing two 3-pointers in the first quarter for a 12-8 lead. The Warriors went scoreless in two three-minute segments of the second period, but Saitta closed out the half with another three for a 20-18 lead.
Hazleton Area 65, GAR 58
Joe Grula scored 17 points to lead four Cougars in double figures, followed by Josh Samec (14), Jeff Planutis (13) and Da’Mir Faison (12).
Will Johnson led the Grenadiers with 20 points. Andrew Campbell and Herman Suazo scored 13 apiece.
Meyers 75,
Wyoming Valley West 65
Juwane Buckner had a game-high 21 points for the Mohawks, who scored 46 points in the second half. Matt Dessoye added 14 while Levaugn Soules had 13 and Omar Kelly scored 12.
Draig Ruff (16), Noah Frace (14), Savion Saunders (13) and Aaron Austin (12) led the Spartans.
Holy Redeemer 54,
MMI Prep 32
Nick Prociak and Colin Cook scored 15 apiece to lift the Royals to a road win.
Kyle Williams also scored 15 to lead the Preppers.
Nanticoke 63, Coughlin 27
The Trojans hit 11 threes, led by five from Cody Piestrak, who finished with a game-high 15 points. Luke Butczynski added 10.
Thomas Davis topped the Crusaders with eight points.
Nanticoke 56,
MMI Prep 26
In a game played Monday, Nanticoke was led by Nate Kreitzer (19 points, five threes) and Luke Butczynski (15).
Phillip Byriel scored 10 points for the Preppers.
Dallas 58,
Tunkhannock 27
The Mountaineers held a 35-6 halftime lead and cruised to victory.
Jay Bittner led Dallas with 15 points, while Nick Kocher and Ben Donahue each chipped in with eight points.
Sean Harder led the Tigers with eight points.
Pittston Area 74,
Berwick 60
Three players scored in double figures led by Alex McAndrew who scored a team-high 16 points in the Patriots’ win.
Chris Klein scored 14 points and Brennan Higgins chipped in with 10 points.
Wyoming Seminary 48,
Northwest 31
Nick Ganter led all scorers with 17 points as Wyoming Seminary topped Northwest.
Dimitri Gnall added 12 points to the win.
Sam Saxe and Mitchell Mazonkey scored 12 points apiece for the Rangers.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Crestwood 41, Wyoming Area 34
WYOMING AREA (34) — Anthony Nardell 2 0-0 6, Kyre Zielinski 1 0-1 2, Sam Greenfield 3 2-2 10, Tony Saitta 4 2-2 13, Kyle Musto 1 0-0 3, Mike Bonita 0 0-0 0, Aaron Zezza 0 0-0 0, Ryan Shuleski 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 4-7 34.
CRESTWOOD (41) — Kyle Gegaris 0 2-3 2, Lance Blass 3 3-5 8,Kebin Klusewitz 1 0-0 3, Kyle Richards 5 0-1 15, Noah Jackson 5 2-2 12, Sean Murphy 0 0-0 0, Camden Boris 0 0-0 0, Nick Andrews 0 0-0 0, Evan Knapp 0 2-2 2, Mike Kozelsky 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 8-13 41.
Wyoming Area`12`8`10`4`—`34
Crestwood`8`10`14`9`—`41
Three-point goals — WA 8 (Nardell 2, Greenfield 2, Saitta 3, Musto). CRE 2 (Richards).
Hazleton Area 65, GAR 58
GAR (58) — Keyshawn Palmer 5 2-3 12, Will Johnson 7 4-7 20, Andrew Campbell 5 0-0 13, Herman Suazo 6 1-2 13, Kahlil White 0 0-0 0, Anthony Hawk 0 0-1 0. Totals 23 7-12 58.
HAZLETON AREA (65) — Josh Samec 6 2-2 14, Michael Cusatis 1 2-2 5, Joe Grula 6 2-2 17, Jeff Planutis 5 3-5 13, Da’mir Faison 4 4-5 12, Sparky Wolk 0 0-0 0, Aaron Kellmer 0 0-0 0, Scott Shamany 0 0-0 0, Isaac Perez 1 1-2 4, Nathan Begg 0 0-0 0, Frank Mussoline 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 14-18 65.
GAR`15`12`20`11`—`58
Hazleton Area`17`16`15`17`—`65
Three-point goals — GAR 5 (Campbell 3, Johnson 2); HAZ 5 (Grula 3, Cusatis, Perez).
Meyers 75, Wyoming Valley West 65
MEYERS (75) — Yuri Covington 0 1-2 1, Omar Kelly 4 2-4 12, Robbie Formola 3 0-2 7, Matt Dessoye 3 7-7 14, Juwane Buckner 4 12-17 21, Steve Morel 1 0-0 2, Levaugn Soules 6 1-2 13, Ryan Gilgallon 2 1-2 5. Totals 23 24-36 75.
WYOMING VALLEY WEST (65) — Sean Judge 1 3-6 5, Savion Saunders 5 0-0 13, Aaron Austin 5 0-2 12, Draig Ruff 6 4-5 16, Amistad Hackett 1 1-2 3, Noah Frace 6 1-1 14, Davis Weaver 1 0-0 2, Montel Jordan 0 0-2 0. Totals 25 9-18 65.
Meyers`15`14`21`25`—`75
Valley West`13`8`14`30`—`65
Three-point goals — MEY 5 (Kelly 2, Formola, Dessoye, Buckner); WVW 6 (Saunders 3, Austin 2, Frace)
Holy Redeemer 54, MMI Prep 32
HOLY REDEEMER (54) — Jason Stachokus 2 1-2 5, Joey Judge 2 0-0 4, Joe Layaou 1 0-0 2, James Kosik 1 0-0 3, Nick Prosiak 5 4-6 15, Bryce Yencha 0 0-0 0, Michael Lyons 0 0-0 0, Jake Adonizio 1 0-0 2, J.D. Turosky 4 0-0 8, Collin Cook 7 1-5 15, Luke Nealon 0 0-2 0, Anthony Khoudary 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 6-15 54.
MMI PREP (32) — George Palermo 1 0-0 2, Mike Badamo 1 0-0 2, Matt Marchetti 2 2-2 6, Lucas Smith 2 0-0 4, Kyle Williams 6 2-3 15, Nick Young 0 0-0 0, Dave Antolick 0 0-0 0, Keefer Hoover 1 0-2 3, A.J. Jordan 0 0-0 0, Tyler Degenhart 0 0-0 0, Harry Kress 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 4-7 32.
Redeemer`5`14`18`17`—`54
MMI Prep`10`2`11`9`—`32
Three-point goals — HR 2 (Kosik, Prociak); MMI 2 (Williams, Hoover)
Nanticoke 63, Coughlin 27
NANTICOKE (63) — Nate Kreitzer 3 1-1 8, Rich Wiaterowski 3 0-0 7, Cody Piestrak 5 0-0 15, Luke Butczynski 4 1-2 10, Justin Casey 1 1-2 3, Trahjan Krupinski 3 0-0 6, Zach Cardone 1 2-2 5, Alec Divers 0 0-0 0, Tyler Thomas 0 3-4 3, Matt Piontkowski 0 0-2 0, Dylan Szychowski 1 0-0 3, Terrel Telesford 1 0-0 3, Colby Butczynski 0 0-0 0, Jared Piontkowski 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 8-13 63.
COUGHLIN (27) — Thomas Davis 2 2-4 8, Melvin Robinson 1 1-4 3, Marco Deluco 0 0-0 0, Idris Hollis 0 1-2 1, Aaron Bennett 1 0-0 3, Dylan Thomas 0 0-0 0, Anthony Hinkle 2 0-0 4, Nyseem Johnson 0 0-0 0, Dominique Flippen 1 0-0 2, Javaun Kinlaw 0 0-0 0, Tony Egidio 0 0-0 0, Julius Morris 3 0-0 6, Shawn Valenzuela 0 0-0 0, Jesus Perdomo 0 0-0 0, Fahiyn Williams 0 0-0 0, Alkuan Cade 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 4-10 27.
Nanticoke`16`19`13`15`—`63
Coughlin`2`6`6`13`—`27
Three-point goals — NAN 11 (Piestrak 5, Kreitzer, Wiaterowski, L. Butczynski, Cardone, Szychowski, Telesford); COU 3 (Davis 2, Bennett).
Dallas 58, Tunkhannock 27
TUNKHANNOCK (27) — Avery Newhart 0 0-0 0, Stefano Sica 0 0-1 0, Sean Harder 3 1-3 8, Ethan Hoefert 1 1-1 3, Tyler Faux 2 0-0 5, C.J. Brennan 0 0-0 0, Nick Reposa 0 0-0 0, Matt Goodwin 2 0-0 5, Avery Billings 0 2-2 2, Evan Turner 1 2-2 4. Totals 9 6-9 27.
DALLAS (58) — Ben O’Connell 1 1-1 3, Collin Pertl 0 0-0 0, Alex Charlton 2 1-1 6, Nick Kocher 4 0-0 8, Steven Finarelli 0 1-2 1, Joey Parsons 2 3-4 7, Matt Mathers 0 0-0 0, Ben Donahue 3 0-0 8, Andrew Kovalick 0 0-1 0, Ethan Szczencinski 3 0-0 6, Brody Strickland 0 2-2 2, Jacob Serafin 1 0-0 2, Michael Farrell 0 0-2 0. Totals 23 9-16 58.
Tunkhannock`2`4`14`7`—`27
Dallas `14`21`10`13`—`58
Three-point goals — TUN 3 (Harder, Faux, Goodwin); DAL 3 (Charlton, Donahue 2).
Pittston Area 74, Berwick 60
BERWICK (60) — Justin Groshek 0 0-0 0, Ken Marshman 3 2-4 10, Matt Champ 4 0-1 9, Alec Markle 7 2-2 19, Jarret Groshek 0 0-0 0, Damon Beckhorn 0 6-8 6, Jude Goddard 6 3-8 16, Joe Norce 0 0-0 0, Kyle Pierce 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 13-23 60.
PITTSTON (74) — Chris Klein 5 4-8 14, Alex McAndrew 6 4-5 16, Matt McGlynn 0 1-2 1, Trevor Tigue 0 2-2 2, Naseem Guillaume 1 2-2 4, Kolton Zaffuto 0 1-2 1, Keemar Woodruff 2 2-2 6, Brennan Higgins 2 6-10 10, Jimmy Pliska 4 1-1 9, Mike Mazurkivich 3 0-0 6, Justin Coyne 0 0-0 0, Riley Brady 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 24-36 74.
Berwick`8`18`14`20`—`60
Pittston `16`26`16`16`—`74
Three-point goals — BER 7 (K. Marshman 2, Champ, Markle 3, Goddard); PA 0.
Wyo. Seminary 48, Northwest 31
SEMINARY (48) — Tyler Maddock 1 0-1 2, Noah Munley 2 0-0 5, Dimitri Gnall 6 0-0 10, Nick Bufalino 0 0-0 0, Noah Hammerman 0 0-0 0, Ryan Anderson 0 0-0 0, Todd Phillips 2 0-0 5, Jeremy Callahan 3 0-0 9, Alex Meuser 0 0-0 0, Johnny Kehl 0 0-0 0, Nick Ganter 8 1-2 17, Dan Paglia 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 1-3 48.
NORTHWEST (31) — Sam Saxe 4 3-3 12, Tyler Stevens 1 0-0 2, Jaxson Yaple 1 0-0 2, Nick Levandowski 0 0-0 0m Mitchell Mazonkey 4 3-4 12, Walker Yaple 0 0-0 0, Jesse Tarnowski 1 0-0 3, Bryce Koser 0 0-0 0, Sam Edwards 0 0-0 0, Marty Zugarek 0 0-0 0, Ethan Harvey 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 6-7 31.
Seminary`11`11`16`8`—`48
Northwest`5`7`12`7`—`31
Three-point goals — SEM 5 (Munley, Phillips, Callahan 3); NW 3 (S. Saxe, Mazonkey, Tarnowski).
MONDAY
Nanticoke 56, MMI Prep 26
MMI PREP (26) — Phillip Byriel 4 2-3 10, Kyle Williams 1 2-2 4, George Palermo 1 0-0 2, Nick Young 1 0-0 2, Kisan Patel 1 0-0 2, Matt Marchetti 0 2-2 2, Lucas Smith 1 0-0 2, Marcus Kassick 1 0-0 2, Mike Badamo 0 0-0 0, Zack Young 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 6-9 26.
NANTICOKE (56) — Nate Kreitzer 7 0-0 19, Luke Butczynski 6 0-0 15, Cody Piestrak 3 0-0 7, Trahjan Krupinski 2 0-0 4, Zach Cardone 1 0-0 3, Alec Divers 1 0-0 2, Tyler Thomas 1 0-0 2, Casey Justin 1 0-0 2, Jared Piontkowski 1 0-0 2, Rich Wiaterowski 0 0-0 0, Matt Piontkowski 0 0-0 0, Terel Telesford 0 0-0 0, Colby Butczynski 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 0-0 56.
MMI Prep`4`8`8`6`—`26
Nanticoke`16`12`18`10`—`56
Three-point goals — MMI 0; NAN 10 (Kreitzer 5, L. Butczynski 3, C. Piestrak, Cardone).
