Guess the “experts” were all wrong. Wait. .. experts? Nobody is an expert when it comes to high school athletics. That cannot be overstated. We trust the science. We take the data and come to an educated guess.
In the preseason, one where teams were getting limited practice in, basically you look at a roster, see who is returning and roll the dice.
Let’s take an in-depth look at, oh let’s take Division I for example.
The “favorites”
Scranton Prep — 4 starters returning including two honorable mention all-stars
Valley View — 3 starters returning including a first-team all-star and an honorable mention all-star
Scranton — 4 starters remaining including a first-team all-star and an honorable mention all-star
Abington Heights — 2 returning starters including an honorable mention all-star
West Scranton — 3 returning starters including a first-team all-star
Now, of course, once the games start being played, a more clear picture of where we stand develops.
COMETS SOARING
Abington Heights’ Michael Show. Photo by Christopher Dolan
Undoubtedly, Abington Heights, the defending three-time champion, entered the season with a chip on its shoulder. The Comets have opened up a can like Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Abington Heights has wins over all three teams predicted to finish ahead of it in The Times-Tribune Preseason Poll.
And this should come as no surprise. Abington Heights, with its fast start and four victories, now has a record of 99-9 since the Lackawanna League moved to four divisions for the 2012-13 season.
BY THE NUMBERS
DIVISION I
2021
Since 2013
Abington Heights
4–0
99–9
Scranton Prep
3–1
92–16
Scranton
2–2
57–51
Valley View
2–2
44–64
West Scranton
1–3
43–65
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
DIVISION I LEADERS
SCORING
Cayden Merrifield
West Scranton
20.8
Jason Shields
Scranton
19.0
Harry Johnson
Abington Heights
16.8
Gavin Bednarz
Scranton Prep
14.8
Zack Kovalchik
Valley View
14.3
Robert Rossi
Scranton Prep
13.0
Adam Howanitz
Valley View
12.5
Michael Skoff
Scranton Prep
12.0
MILESTONE WATCH
Cayden Merrifield
West Scranton’s Cayden Merrifield had a big week and is closing in on the 1,000-point mark for his career.
Year
Points
3-pointers
2018
143
31
2019
348
49
2020
407
64
2021
83
9
Total
981
153
CITY RIVALRY
This week, once the snow clears, the annual Scranton City Rivalry is scheduled to have its first game. While it doesn’t have a fancy reward like The Bell Trophy in football, bragging rights are always at stake when Scranton and West Scranton play.
SCRANTON vs. WEST SCRANTON
TUESDAY, 7:15 PM
SCRANTON HIGH SCHOOL
LAST 10 RESULTS
Scranton’s Marcus Bauman. 2019 City Rivalry Game
2020
West Scranton, 58-51
West Scranton, 47-32
2019
Scranton, 49-41
Scranton, 49-48
2018
Scranton, 67-60
Scranton, 46-45
2017
Scranton, 48-43
Scranton, 54-41
2016
West Scranton, 59-49
West Scranton, 40-30
NOTE: If the game is postponed Tuesday due to snow, they will play as part of a girls/boys doubleheader (varsity only) on Wednesday at Scranton High School, according to Scranton AD Ted Anderson.
NORTH POCONO CHARGING
For as far off as the “experts” were when looking into the crystal ball of Division I, they couldn’t have been more right about Division II.
North Pocono returned four of five starters from last season’s team including Zach Walsh and Ryan Ruddy who were honorable mention all-stars.
So far, so good.
The Trojans are off to an undefeated start after a good week that included a 55-50 win over Scranton on Sunday. Zach Walsh scored 20 points in the victory.
North Pocono’s Zach Walsh. Photo by Jason Farmer
Walsh helps North Pocono beat Scranton
SCRANTON – Zach Walsh got off to a fast start and didn’t want to waste it.
He scored North Pocono’s first four baskets, missed only one shot in the first half, and sparked a fourth-quarter sprint to the finish in a 55-50 win over Scranton in a boys basketball game Sunday afternoon in a Lackawanna Division I-II crossover.
Walsh had 20 points, five rebounds and five steals as the second-ranked Trojans remained undefeated and set up a showdown at Abington Heights, the new No. 1 team in The Times-Tribune Boys Basketball Poll, which is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday.
“It’s good to start off a big week for us with a win,” Walsh said. “We have some really tough opponents coming up. This is a big win to keep our momentum going.”
The league doesn’t always allow for this type of showdown, but we have it now.
In the aftermath of last week, there is a new No. 1 team in The Times-Tribune Basketball Poll (see above) and a new No. 2. Take a look.
Again, the weather is going to impact this schedule to say the least, but here is what is in store.
NORTH POCONO VS. ABINGTON HEIGHTS
TUESDAY, 7:15 PM
ABINGTON HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL
LAST MEETING
ABINGTON HEIGHTS 48, NORTH POCONO 46
FEBRUARY 18, 2020
LIFE SAVER
Abington Heights’ Corey Perkins. Photo by Jake Danna Stevens
SCRANTON — Corey Perkins wanted the ball for the shot to save Abington Heights’ season.
After gathering a tipped pass with the final seconds ticking away, he made a move to just beyond the 3-point line and let it fly.
He drilled it, then let out a roar as his excited teammates mobbed him.
Perkins’ basket as time expired lifted second-seeded Abington Heights to a 48-46 win over No. 7 North Pocono on Tuesday night at Scranton High School.
The Comets (17-6), who have won eight straight District 2 titles, advance to Class 5A semifinals, where they face third-seeded (Dallas on Friday at a site to be determined.
“My teammates believed in me,” Perkins said. “My coaches believed in me. I believed in myself to get that shot. I was working on my pull-up jump shot in practice, so that came up big for me.
“I just hit it.”
FIERCE RIVALRY
When Bishop O’Hara and Bishop Hannan merged so many years ago and Holy Cross emerged, many wondered which team would take over as the top rival for the Crusaders.
Dunmore certainly ranks up there since Holy Cross High School is located in the borough. Mid Valley, though, has certainly taken the mantel and run with it. The school’s are located close geographically, and the Spartans under the guidance of Mike Abda have gone from a middle-of-the-pack program to a yearly contender and division power.
The two teams met last week. Holy Cross earned a hard-fought, 52-50, win to remain the team to beat in Division III.
Holy Cross’ Hayden Hosie. Photo by Christopher Dolan
FIGHT TO THE END
THROOP – Hayden Hosie stood alone, poised at the free throw line.
Without a crowd or the noise that usually comes with it at
Mid Valley Secondary Center because of coronavirus restrictions, the sophomore swished four straight free throws, a result of drawing a foul and cashing in on an ensuing technical foul.
His drive to the basket with
64 seconds remaining led to his clutch shooting and helped No. 6 Holy Cross regain a lead that slipped away under intense defensive pressure by the Spartans. The four points provided just enough of a push to the finish line for the Crusaders, who held on for a 52-50 win over No. 8 Mid Valley on Thursday night in another tight showdown in the in the Lackawanna Division III boys basketball rivalry.
“That was great,” said Hosie, who finished with 15 points and four assists. “I knew we had to attack the basket because we were down. That is what we were looking for, got a little lucky and got two extra free throws. It was just like practice, the ball in my hand with no one else there, and I had to knock them down.”
2020
Holy Cross 51, Mid Valley 40
Holy Cross 50, Mid Valley 30
2019
Holy Cross 40, Mid Valley 35
Mid Valley 48, Holy Cross 45
2018
Holy Cross 45, Mid Valley 37
Holy Cross 53, Mid Valley 44
Holy Cross 41, Mid Valley 38
2017
Mid Valley 45, Holy Cross 31
Mid Valley 58, Holy Cross 38
Holy Cross 54, Mid Valley 41
2013 Mid Valley’s Matt Tanner. Photo by Jason Farmer
2016
Mid Valley 60, Holy Cross 59
Holy Cross 42, Mid Valley 38
2015
Mid Valley 37, Holy Cross 33
Holy Cross 54, Mid Valley 43
Mid Valley 51, Holy Cross 35
Holy Cross 52, Mid Valley 48
2014
Mid Valley 57, Holy Cross 54
Holy Cross 68, Mid Valley 67
Holy Cross 59, Mid Valley 56
2013
Holy Cross 41, Mid Valley 35
Mid Valley 56, Holy Cross 54, 2 OT
Holy Cross 59, Mid Valley 56
Holy Cross 56, Mid Valley 51
DIVISION III LEADERS
SCORING
Brandon Reed
Riverside
21.1
Patrick Bennie
Holy Cross
16.8
Caleb Vigil
Lakeland
16
Dante Lucarelli
Old Forge
15.7
Gabe Tanner
Mid Valley
14.5
Kevin Walsh
Dunmore
14
Ray Ofner
Carbondale Area
12.5
Danny Nemitz
Mid Valley
12.5
Michael Rickert
Riverside
12
Hayden Hosie
Holy Cross
11.8
NEXT UP
Well, if Mid Valley is the rival for Holy Cross in Division III, Dunmore isn’t far behind. And, after starting the season with a pair of losses, the Bucks have won three in a row and are chasing the Crusaders.
HOLY CROSS VS. DUNMORE
TUESDAY, 7:15 PM
DUNMORE HIGH SCHOOL
NOTEWORTHY
Holy Cross has won 10 of the last 11 meetings with Dunmore’s last win coming in the 2017 Lynett Memorial Basketball Tournament.
FAMILIAR FACE
Elk Lake has returned to the top of the Division III standings. The Warriors are off to a 3-0 start in the division after bouncing back from a Division III-IV crossover loss to Riverside.
In keeping with our theme today, the “experts” did have Elk Lake projected as the “favorite” in this division based upon it returning four starters.
The Lackawanna Division IV features eight players who are hitting 2 or more 3-pointers per game.
McCAIN
Coleman McCain, Blue Ridge 5.0
Will Filan, Lackawanna Trail 3.3
DJ Heath, Forest City 3.0
Tanner Stout, Mountain View 2.5
Trevor Graham, Elk Lake 2.5
Connor Cranage, Blue Ridge 2.4
Matt Mowry, Elk Lake 2.3
Justin Holgash, Montrose 2.0
A LOOK AHEAD
We already have two games in the Lackawanna Division IV postponed ahead of this snow storm. Stay Tuned on Tuesday for updates ON THE BLOG.
Joby Fawcett has covered high school sports — including football, girls and boys volleyball, girls and boys tennis, girls and boys swimming, boys basketball, girls and boys track and field, and girls and boys lacrosse — for 22 years. The High School Sports Blog offers deeper insights plus statistical and historical information for fans and features photos, videos and graphics along with Top 5 polls for tennis and volleyball. Contact: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5367; @sportsTT
Joby Fawcett has covered high school sports -- including football, girls and boys volleyball, girls and boys tennis, girls and boys swimming, boys basketball, girls and boys track and field, and girls and boys lacrosse -- for 22 years. The High School Sports Blog offers deeper insights plus statistical and historical information for fans and features photos, videos and graphics along with Top 5 polls for tennis and volleyball. Contact: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5367; @sportsTT