The author of West Scranton’s only District 2 girls basketball championships is stepping down after 13 years at the helm.
West Scranton alumnus Leo Ciullo made the announcement before Friday’s season finale against Valley View, a 38-36 loss.
The Lady Invaders, the defending champions in Class 5A, announced Wednesday they would not participate in this year’s postseason prior to wrapping up a winless season.
“We had a young team and all new starters this season, and tonight they played very good against a good Valley View team,” Ciullo said. “We enjoyed the night. I wish we could have come away with the win, but we enjoyed it.”
Ciullo was the Times-Tribune Coach of the Year in 2010, and won the school’s first district title in 2011, defeating Holy Redeemer, 53-49, for the title.
West Scranton defeated Abington Heights, 37-33, a year ago, in the district final.
Ciullo’s teams won their first-round state playoff game in both appearances in the PIAA tournament.
In his finale, Skylar Bianchi scored 10 points to lead No. 9 Valley View to a Division I win.
Alexa Evangelista added eight points for the Cougars.
Olivia Dougher had 15 points for West Scranton and Mia Butka scored 11.
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Marty Myers began his career as a sports writer at The Wayne Independent in Honesdale, where he served as sports editor and later managing editor. After 10 years there, he joined The Times-Tribune in 1994 and has spent the ensuing years reporting on high school sports, local and professional golf. An award-winning journalist, he also enjoys his duties as a copy editor for The Times-Tribune, editing stories and designing pages. A native of Williamsport, Marty resides in Clarks Summit. Reach him at mmyers@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9100 x5437 or @mmyersTT.
