Well, well, well. …

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

 

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.

 

COMETS 2021 RESULTS

Abington Heights 48, Scranton Prep 40
Abington Heights 40, Wallenpaupack 28
Abington Heights 46, Valley View 31
Abington Heights 45, Scranton 27

 

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

 

 

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

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.

 

 

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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.

 

 

 

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.”

 

CLICK TO READ ENTIRE GAME STORY

 

DIVISION II LEADERS

SCORING
Mike Leonardo		Delaware Valley	18.4
Zach Walsh		North Pocono	14.5
Jack Smith		Wallenpaupack	13.8
AJ Keller		Wallenpaupack	12
Ryan Ruddy		North Pocono	11
Jimmy Rodda		Honesdale	10.5
Nathan Hugaboom		Honesdale	8.5
Wyatt Peifer		Wallenpaupack	8.5
Karter Kromko		Honesdale	7.5
Mark Christina		Western Wayne	7.2

 

 

NO. 2 VS. NO. 1

 

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

 

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.”

 

 

 

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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.

 

 

 

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.”

 

CLICK TO READ ENTIRE GAME STORY

 

 

HOLY CROSS AND MID VALLEY SINCE 2013

Holy Cross 15 wins; Mid Valley 8 wins

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

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.

 

 

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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.

 

Elk Lake wins courtesy of Varsity570

Elk Lake 59, Blue Ridge 37
Elk Lake 53, Forest City 15
Elk Lake 73, Mountain View 43
Riverside 71, Elk Lake 52

 

DIVISION III LEADERS

SCORING
Matt Mowry		Elk Lake	20
Coleman McCain		Blue Ridge	16.5
Ryan Henke		Mountain View	15
Connor Cranage		Blue Ridge	14.2
Will Filan		Lackawanna Trail	13.3
Trevor Graham		Elk Lake	13
DJ Heath		Forest City	13
Sammy Stashko		Montrose	12
Garrett Decker		Susquehanna	12
Brycen Decker		Lackawanna Trail	11.5

 

 

BOMBS AWAY

 

The Lackawanna Division IV features eight players who are hitting 2 or more 3-pointers per game.

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

 

 

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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.

 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

Division I

Scranton at West Scranton 

Valley View at Scranton Prep

Division II

Wallenpaupack at Delaware Valley

Division III

Holy Cross at Dunmore

Riverside at Carbondale Area

Old Forge at Lakeland

Division IV

Lackawanna Trail at Blue Ridge

Montrose at Elk Lake

Mountain View at Forest City — PPD to FEB. 4

Crossovers

North Pocono at Abington Heights

Susquehanna at Mid Valley — PPD to FEB. 3

 

 

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