It is hard to believe, but the season is coming to a rapid conclusion.

Last week’s outcomes started to put into focus the chases for division titles in the Lackawanna League. They also set up a very intense and important finish to the regular season.

It also had some really heavy emotional moments as Coaches vs. Cancer ended with a ceremony at Scranton Prep’s Xavier Center on a wild Friday night.

We shall start this week’s ON THE BLOG with the touching and heart-filled speeches from Friday night.

Grace Stampien and Jake Kosierowski, two players in the Scranton Prep program who have gone through some really tough times in their young lives.

Jake Kosierowski, you may remember, had leukemia when he turned 4 years old and fought it for three years. We told his story when he first joined the Scranton Prep varsity team as a sophomore.

From 2018. …

Kosierowski ready to take place among survivors

Some time tonight, as part of tradition, Scranton Prep boys basketball coach Andrew Kettel will ask those who are battling or have beaten cancer to descend to the court for a parade and to be saluted.
Jake Kosierowski has taken that walk.
He is a fighter.
He is a survivor.
This time, he will march as a member of the Scranton Prep Cavaliers.
Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was 4 years old, Kosierowski will be celebrating almost four years being cancer free. He’s looking forward to this year’s ceremony, which will be part of the Coaches vs. Cancer pregame at the Xavier Center.
“To be able to be in the gym, with all of the people who will be there, after what I have been through, I could have never imagined it,” Kosierowski said. “I will play for those who can’t play and who are still fighting.”
As a student at Our Lady of Peace in Clarks Summit in 2005, Kosierowski was diagnosed with leukemia. He began treatment almost immediately. He endured chemotherapy and radiation. It caused nausea, fatigue and a loss of his full head of black hair.
“It was very hard for my parents to hear that news and it was very tough to get through that time,” Kosierowski said. “It was so difficult, because I saw all of my friends going out to play and I couldn’t even move. The treatments took so much out of me.
“All the support from my family and friends got me through it.”
He fought for 3½ years. Each day was a challenge, but he never lost hope.
“Driving down to CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) for weeks and weeks is so tough,”
On Feb. 17, 2009, a date he rattles off with enthusiasm, Kosierowski learned his cancer was in remission. He was given a 5-year window where if it stayed dormant, he would be declared cancer free.
In February, 2014, he cleared that threshold.
“I was so excited,” Kosierowski said. “That was the best day of my life. To start to be a normal kid again. When I was officially cured, now I could have fun again.”
Basketball is Kosierowski’s passion. The court is his sanctuary. His father, Joe, played for Scranton Prep and graduated in 1990.
He is a 3-point sharpshooter for the junior varsity team, and he is an inspiration, especially during the Coaches vs. Cancer week, which is in its 10th year in Northeast Pennsylvania, and raises money for the American Cancer Society.
“Having Jake with us and our program, knowing what he and his family have gone through, just shows you that we need to continue to have events like Coaches vs. Cancer to raise money for research,” said Kettel, who was at the forefront of the initiative and serves as the chairman each year.
“If there wasn’t the research when Jake was a younger boy battling cancer, who knows what could have happened? Research development probably saved his life and helped him get to where he is today.”
Tonight, Kosierowski will try not to look into the stands where his mom, Bridget, and dad will be proudly sitting.
“I’ll try not to cry,” he said. “Coaches vs. Cancer is so important. All the money raised through this gets the research done, so hopefully, doctors can find a cure for all cancers.
“That’s what I want.”

 

 

Then, just last spring, Grace Stampien, a member of the Classics team that was storming to a District 2 Class 4A title, received her diagnosis. She too had leukemia.

 

From March 2019. … 

Classics take up Stampien’s fight

BY MARTY MYERS

It was a win Grace Stampien won’t forget. Neither will her teammates.
Championship medals were no sooner draped around players’ necks — celebrating a second straight District 2 Class 4A title — than one was placed on a padded chair at Mohegan Sun Arena.
With it were the game ball, and orange ribbons, all carefully laid out on the seat Stampien normally would occupy.
Instead of celebrating on the court, Stampien was whooping it up from her hospital room with her mom, Susan, as they — and her nurses at Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania — watched streaming video of the 46-43 win over Lake-Lehman, where Stampien was about to undergo her first chemotherapy treatment for leukemia.
Just 24 hours earlier, head coach Bob Beviglia had to break the news of Stampien’s cancer to her teammates.
“She was having back pain and wasn’t able to practice and struggling really to move very well,” Beviglia said. “When we were told they were going to go down to CHOP, we thought the news that came back was going to be something with her back, something structural.”
Now, as the Classics prepare for Eastern Lebanon County, Saturday’s first-round PIAA playoff game opponent in the 4:30 p.m. tip at Marywood University, they are ready to face Stampien’s much tougher opponent, too.
“We want to dedicate this season to Grace, and we want to play every game for her now,” senior forward Kathleen Rose said. “It was heartbreaking when coach Beviglia told us at practice. I just saw all of our faces turn pale.”
Blindsided is the word Susan Stampien uses to describe the news she, her husband, Ted, and Grace received from the doctor.
“It was like somebody punches you in the stomach and all of the air goes out,” Beviglia said of the ensuing phone call he received from Susan. “When you hear the word leukemia, all of these things come into your head and none of them are good.”
Instead of panic, players rallied after the tears dried, immediately putting a plan into action to keep Stampien in the mix.
“Fortunately, the Stampiens have a great support system, one of which includes the group right here,” Beviglia said. “They’ve done a really good job of making Grace feel a part of everything we’ve done from the time she went down to Philadelphia until now.”
Before the game, freshman Lizzie Neville started a video diary of events, from the pre-game shoot around to boarding the bus to the post-game celebration, which included some very special photos sent to Grace’s phone.
“‘Play for Grace’ was on their sneakers,” Grace said Wednesday by phone from home, where she returned after a week’s stay at CHOP. “I watched the game via a live stream on Instagram. I was so happy.”
Then her phone blew up with messages.
“They all sent me pictures of their shoes,” Stampien said.
A rollercoaster 24 hours for the team ended with a victory, and a special reason to keep driving forward.
“That was very emotional,” senior center Elisa Penetar said. “It was rough on everyone. She doesn’t get a lot of playing time, but she does mean a lot to everyone. She’s always so happy. And for something like this to happen, it’s so terrible. We’re all praying for her and her family.”
The night she was diagnosed, Grace called Elisa Kopicki and Maggie Flynn, the other juniors on the team, who had to keep the secret until the end of practice the next day.
By the morning of the championship game, Stampien knew she wasn’t alone in her fight.
“The next morning I had a text from each and every one,” Grace said. “They all let me know that if I wanted to talk, they were there for me. It makes the whole thing easier.”
The road ahead is long. Treatment is expected to last 32 months, but her mother is optimistic Grace will be able to return to the court for senior season, where she’d join her sister, Caroline, a member of the freshman team who delivered the championship medal to her sister.
“She snap-chatted a picture of her wearing her medal and she said, ‘This is the best gift ever,’ ” Penetar said. “She’s been texting us, we’ve been texting her.”
The outreach has gone beyond her teammates and classmates.
Abington Heights’ girls basketball team sent purple and gold get-well balloons, Prep’s colors. Balloons from North Pocono’s soon followed.
“We want to win this for Grace,” Rose said. “We’re doing this for her now. The whole team is so close and we love each other so much that when someone gets hurt or sick, we have to pick them up and do whatever we can for them.
“Winning this game might mean a lot to her.”
Keeping her in the forefront of their thoughts might mean more.
“They have it very much in the front of their minds that one of our family isn’t with us,” Beviglia said. “But we’re going to try to make it as normal for Grace as we possibly can by making sure she knows that every step we move along the way, she’s right with us.”

 

 

Only two weeks ago, Kosierowski suffered a setback when he started to feel weak and dizzy. He was rushed to the University of Pennsylvania to have a tumor removed from his head.

And on Friday, he gave a gripping speech to the audience at the game, two days after celebrating Senior Day with his Parents, Joe and Bridget.

 

JAKE KOSIEROWSKI

COACHES VS. CANCER: Emotional speech from Scranton Prep senior Jake Kosierowski

Posted by Joby Fawcett, The Times-Tribune on Friday, January 31, 2020

 

 

Grace, who just finished up her final round of chemotherapy, brought the fans to tears.

 

 

They are two of the reasons Coaches vs. Cancer is so important.

Jake Kosierowski and Grace Stampien are the faces of why Northeast Pennsylvania pours its heart and soul into raising money and awareness each January in a battle against (cancer.
The members of the Scranton Prep basketball teams are survivors.
They are fighters.
They are inspirations.
Banners fly at the Xavier Center for each: “Playing for Koz” and “Playing for Grace.” They are reminders of what drives the Cavaliers and Classics every practice and every game.
On Friday night, at a ceremony to conclude this year’s in-season fundraising campaign, Kosierowski and Stampien commanded the crowd.
Family, friends, classmates and fans squeezed tightly together, entranced by every word they spoke, pausing to wipe away tears before unleashing a thunderous round of applause.
This was their night.
Nobody deserved the adulation more.
“We are what Coaches vs. Cancer is for,” Kosierowski said before the event that proceeded the Cavaliers’ 77-59 win over West Scranton. “We are why we need the research. I feel like I am a living example of it. We have come so far, but we have to keep going. And maybe someday we can end cancer once and for all.
“That is why Coaches vs. Cancer is so special. I am so thankful to coach Andrew Kettel, my family, teammates, my classmates for all they have done.”
Stampien, a member of the girls basketball team, started chemotherapy treatments in March after being diagnosed with leukemia.
Soreness in her back and sluggishness at practice led Stampien and mom, Susan, and dad, Ted, to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
“From that day on, I have been fighting cancer and all of the challenges that come with it,” she said through a trembling voice. “Feb. 26 will, unfortunately, forever be a day that sticks out in my mind. They found cancer cells in my blood.
“I don’t think I will ever truly be able to describe how I felt after receiving that diagnosis. I was shocked, upset, angry and terrified.”
Through her fight, Stampien, 18, has some good days and some agonizing ones. They drain her of her strength, caused a need for a feeding tube and claimed her hair. They couldn’t conquer her spirit, however, as she is closing in on her final chemotherapy treatment.
“My life went from running up and down the court at practice to being so weak that I could barely stand up,” she said. “I am currently about to begin the last stage of my treatment. And I will be in this stage for the next year-and-a-half. I have been going to physical therapy and am looking forward to hopefully getting back on the court with my teammates soon.
“Although the last 11 months have been extremely tough for me, it’s made me more determined to raise awareness so no one has to go through what Jake and I have.”
Kosierowski was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was 4 years old and endured a more than three-year fight that he won.
Two weeks ago, however, he felt dizzy in school. His eyesight faded to dark.
Something was wrong.
His landed in the hospital at the University of Pennsylvania, where doctors removed a benign tumor the size of a peach from his brain, a byproduct of his treatment for his early battle with cancer.
His prognosis is encouraging and his smile remains engaging.
He celebrated Senior Night on Wednesday with his parents, mom, Bridget and dad, Joe. Kosierowski, 18, overwhelmed by his standing ovation that night, grinned as he locked in an embrace with coach Andrew Kettel and Stampien.
He closed his remarks Friday with a directive to all those listening.
“I ask that each of you remember how precious life truly is,” he said, pausing for just a moment to gather himself. “And to live each day to its fullest. Because you never know what tomorrow may bring.”

 

 

GRACE STAMPIEN

COACHES VS. CANCER: Emotional speech by Scranton Prep senior Grace Stampien

Posted by Joby Fawcett, The Times-Tribune on Friday, January 31, 2020

 

 


 

INSIDE DIVISION III

 

 

OK now to the on court action.

On the same night of Scranton Prep’s Coaches vs. Cancer ceremony, ON THE BLOG hustled to get to Holy Cross High School, where the doors were locked and nobody was being allowed to enter the crowded gymnasium.

As luck would have it, we were able to gain access to the hallway where — with the use of our credentials —  we were allowed entrance.

And it is a good thing we got in.

Holy Cross and Lakeland waged an epic battle that will leave a lasting impression on the league and Division III.

 

Holy Cross senior Kieran Burrier.
Photo by Jake Danna Stevens

 

 

 

HOLY CROSS 76, LAKELAND 72, 2 OT

DUNMORE — Sweat poured down his face, his nose bloodied and his drenched shirt hung off his shoulders as trainers and coaches helped Kieran Burrier to the bench.
A cramp on a hard foul in the final seconds of a grueling clash that lasted two overtimes forced him out of the lineup.
He earned the rest.
Burrier did all he could (in those 40 minutes inside the packed Holy Cross (gymnasium.
His 33 points, five crucial rebounds, and a relentless defensive effort lifted No. 1 Holy Cross to a 76-72 win in double overtime over No. 6 Lakeland on Friday night in a boys basketball game between the teams fighting for the Lackawanna Division III title.
“We just weren’t backing down,” Burrier said. “It was exhausting because it went into two overtimes and because of how hot it was in the gym. Lakeland is an amazing team with great guards and really good bigs.
“We were prepared for this battle. I just kept telling our guys we needed to kick it up a notch.”
Holy Cross (16-2 overall, 7-1 in Division III) seized a one-game lead over the Chiefs (14-4, 6-2) and Riverside (12-6, 6-2) in the division by overcoming four deficits in the first overtime, and hitting all 13 of its free throws in the second. Burrier scored 14 points in the extra time.
His resolve helped the Crusaders withstand a dogged charge by Lakeland’s Caleb Vigil. The junior guard scored 38 points, including eight in the final 33 seconds of the second overtime.
“It was a tough game,” Vigil said. “Every time we made a push, they pushed back. We just kept going at it, but we fell a little short, so we have to keep working to get better.”

 

 

KIERAN BURRIER | Holy Cross

HS BASKETBALL: Holy Cross senior Kieran Burrier scored 33 points and had 5 rebounds in a 76-72 double-overtime win over Lakeland

Posted by Joby Fawcett, The Times-Tribune on Friday, January 31, 2020

 

 

THE FALLOUT

 

Holy Cross’ win broke the tie for first between the Crusaders and Chiefs. It also brought Riverside into striking distance of first place.

The Vikings, who handed Holy Cross its only loss in the division this season, hosts Lakeland on Tuesday and plays at Holy Cross on Friday.

Riverside also took Lakeland to the final possession in the first meeting between those teams.

 

 

STANDINGS

 

LEAGUE

OVERALL

W

L

W

L

Holy Cross

7

1

16

2

Lakeland

6

2

14

4

Riverside

6

2

12

6

Mid Valley

5

4

10

8

Dunmore

3

6

7

11

Old Forge

2

7

7

10

Carbondale Area

1

8

4

14

 

 

SCHEDULE

 

Riverside’s Michael Rickert.

TUESDAY

Division III
Lakeland at Riverside
Mid Valley at Old Forge
Holy Cross at Carbondale Area
Crossover
Forest City at Dunmore

 

FRIDAY

Division III
Riverside at Holy Cross
Dunmore at Lakeland
Carbondale Area at Mid Valley
Crossover
Montrose at Old Forge

 

 


 

 

 

INSIDE DIVISION IV

 

 

Early last week, Mountain View locked up with Lackawanna Trail in an important game which also served as a Coaches vs. Cancer event.

Lackawanna Trail and the Eagles went back and forth early, but a second half outburst by Mountain View led to an upset win.

That certainly had an impact on the standings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eagles storm past Trail

KINGSLEY — Preston Petts sprinted down court in the waning seconds of the first half, powered toward a rebound, then softly lofted it through for a quick bucket as time expired.
It seemed like just a good putback, cashing in a second-chance opportunity.
A small part of a bigger picture.
Actually, it turned out much more important.
A rowdy home student section went berserk, and Petts, who came off the bench in the first quarter, darted toward the locker room through a series of high-fives from teammates.
That hustle play energized Mountain View and it carried over into a decisive third quarter.
With Petts’ effort capturing the intensity they had (all night, the Eagles stormed to a 61-42 win over Lackawanna Trail on Tuesday at (the J. William McLaughlin gymnasium.
Mountain View (8-8 overall, 7-1 in division), which has won six straight, and the Lions (11-6, 7-1) are now in a tie for first in the Lackawanna Division IV with four games to play.
“I think, the energy in the building, with a lot of people here, and with a big crowd really behind you, it makes you want to go out there and give your best effort,” said Petts, who finished with 10 points and five rebounds. “We all played well as a team. We all have our own roles on the team and I am doing mine, and we are starting to kick it into high gear for the end of the season.”

 

 

 

MIKE FANELLI | Mountain View

18 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks

HS BASKETBALL: Mountain View’s Michael Fanelli had 18 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks in a 61-42 win over Lackawanna Trail

Posted by Joby Fawcett, The Times-Tribune on Tuesday, January 28, 2020

 

 

THE FALLOUT

It sets up a race for the title and the potential for a tie when all is said and done.

Lackawanna Trail and Mountain View split their meetings already. Lackawanna Trail will also finish its regular season before Mountain View.

There is work to be done by both teams.

 

STANDINGS

 

DIVISION

OVERALL

W

L

W

L

Lackawanna Trail

8

1

12

6

Mountain View

7

1

8

9

Blue Ridge

5

4

7

10

Susquehanna

4

4

5

13

Elk Lake

3

5

8

10

Forest City

2

7

3

13

Montrose

1

8

1

17

 

 

SCHEDULE

Mountain View’s Mike Fanelli.
Photo by Jake Danna Stevens

TUESDAY

Division IV
Lackawanna Trail at Montrose
Susquehanna at Blue Ridge
Elk Lake at Mountain View
Crossover
Forest City at Dunmore

 

FRIDAY

Division IV
Mountain View at Susquehanna
Forest City at Elk Lake
Blue Ridge at Lackawanna Trail
Crossover
Montrose at Old Forge

 

 


 

 

 

INSIDE DIVISION I

 

In addition to hosting the emotional CvC event, Scranton Prep took control of its destiny in Division I.

The Cavaliers won three very important games that earned them a one-game lead in the standings over rival Abington Heights.

 

  • Scranton Prep’s Brady Stallman.
    Photo by Christopher Dolan

    SCRANTON PREP 61, WESTERN WAYNE 60

    • Robert Rossi wins it with a last second put back

 

  • SCRANTON PREP 61, VALLEY VIEW 49
    • Sophomore Andrew Ferguson came off the bench to score 13 points

 

  • SCRANTON PREP 77, WEST SCRANTON 59
    • Brady Stallman and Gavin Bednarz had 17 points each for the Cavaliers

 

 

 

 

ANDREW FERGUSON | Scranton Prep

HS BASKETBALL: Scranton Prep’s Andrew Ferguson scored 13 points off the bench including a four-point play in 61-49 win over Valley View

Posted by Joby Fawcett, The Times-Tribune on Wednesday, January 29, 2020

 

 

STREAKING

 

Abington Heights is at it again.

The Comets have won four straight and are in position to defend their division title. Mike Malone is averaging 12.3 points per game in the winning streak.

Abington Heights has a big game coming up Tuesday against Valley View.

In the first meeting, Valley View rolled to a 60-33 win.

 

 

STANDINGS

 

LEAGUE

OVERALL

W

L

W

L

Scranton Prep

9

1

16

3

Abington Heights

8

2

13

6

Valley View

6

3

13

5

West Scranton

3

7

11

8

Scranton

3

7

8

10

 

 

SCHEDULE

 

TUESDAY

Division I
Valley View at Abington Heights
Scranton Prep at Scranton

FRIDAY

Division I
Abington Heights vs. West Scranton at Lackawanna, 6:45
Scranton at Valley View

 

 


 

 

INSIDE DIVISION II

 

 

Wallenpaupack got back on track and clinched a tie for first place. Next up, however, is Wayne County rival Honesdale.

That should be a dandy.

If Wallenpaupack wins, it defends its division championship.

WALLENPAUPACK vs. HONESDALE

Past 10 meetings

 

  • 2016: Honesdale 63, Wallenpaupack 54
  • 2017: Honesdale 55, Wallenpaupack 21
  • 2017: Wallenpaupack 61, Honesdale 59
  • 2018: Honesdale 51, Wallenpaupack 43
  • 2018: Wallenpaupack 47, Honesdale 37
  • 2019: Honesdale 56, Wallenpaupack 43
  • 2019: Wallenpaupack 57, Honesdale 42
  • 2019: Wallenpaupack 61, Honesdale 52
  • 2020: Wallenpaupack 53, Honesdale 42
    • Elijah Rosenthal scored 30 points to lead the Buckhorns

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS

 

In what has been a milestone season in Division II, Honesdale’s Joey Scarfalloto joined Western Wayne’s Zach Rovinsky and Wallenpaupack’s Elijah Rosenthal in hitting one.

The senior scored the 1,000th point of his career in a loss to Abington Heights last week.

 

JOEY SCARFALLOTO | Honesdale

Video courtesy of Diane Scarfalloto

 

HS BASKETBALL: Honesdale’s Joey Scarfalloto scores his 1,000th point. (Video courtesy of Diane Scarfalloto)

Posted by Joby Fawcett, The Times-Tribune on Wednesday, January 29, 2020

 

 

STANDINGS

 

LEAGUE

OVERALL

W

L

W

L

Wallenpaupack

8

2

17

2

Honesdale

4

6

9

10

North Pocono

3

5

8

9

Western Wayne

2

7

8

10

Delaware Valley

2

8

6

13

 

SCHEDULE

 

TUESDAY

Division II
North Pocono at Delaware Valley
Honesdale at Wallenpaupack

 

FRIDAY

Division II
Wallenpaupack at North Pocono
Delaware Valley at Western Wayne

 

 


 

 

DISTRICT 2 PLAYOFFS

 

STANDINGS

 

CLICK HERE

http://districtxi.gimpsoftware.com/Rankings/Basketball%20-%20Boys2Ranking.html

 

 

INFORMATION

 

District II Boys (AAAAA, AAA) – Girls (AAAA, AA):

  • Quarterfinals Tuesday, February 18
  • Semifinals Friday, February 21

 

District II Boys (AAAA, AA) – Girls (AAAAA, AAA)

  • Quarterfinals Wednesday, February 19
  • Semifinals Saturday, February 22

 

District II/XI Boys A/ Girls A Subregional

  • Boys Quarterfinals Thursday, February 20
  • Girls Quarterfinals Friday, February 21
  • Boys Semifinals Monday, February 24
  • Girls Semifinals Tuesday, February 25

 

District II/IV Boys AAAAAA/Girls AAAAAA Subregional

  • Girls Quarterfinals Tuesday, February 18
  • Boys Quarterfinals Wednesday, February 19
  • Girls Semifinals Friday, February 21
  • Boys Semifinals Saturday, February 22

 

CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND at MOHEGAN SUN ARENA

Thursday, February 27

4 p.m. A Girls
6 p.m. AAAA Girls
8 p.m. AAA Boys

Friday, February 28

4 p.m. AA Girls
6 p.m. AAAAAA Girls
8 p.m. AAAAA Boys

Saturday, February 29

Noon AAA Girls
2 p.m. AA Boys
4 p.m. AAAA Boys
6 p.m. AAAAA Girls
8 p.m. AAAAAA Boys