HS BASKETBALL: Holy Cross coach Al Callejas still going strong; Surging Comets set up another showdown with Scranton Prep

That didn’t take long.

Almost a full 5 years ago — 1,819 days to be exact — Holy Cross boys basketball coach Al Callejas reached 400 career wins with a thrilling 52-48 victory over Mid Valley during the height of that rivalry.

Since that celebration, Holy Cross has won 100 of 137 games and its legendary coach reached the next flag pole milestone.

On Tuesday, the Crusaders defeated Carbondale Area, 67-32, and Callejas earned his 500th career win at his program’s home gymnasium.

500-WIN CLUB

Ken Bianchi	808*
Julius Prezelski	757
Jack Farrell	671
Al Callejas	500*

Active

This has been an incredibly rewarding three months for Callejas.

In late October, he was part of this year’s Northeast Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The 2019 Northeast Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame inductees are, first row, from left, Carly Graytock Shea, Peter Smith, Pamela Kiesel, Sara Harris Walsh, Al Callejas and James McAndrew. Back: chapter president Bob Walsh and inductees Thomas O’Donnell, Kevin Walsh, Kent Westling, John Marichak and Chris Snee.

Then, Callejas and Holy Cross started the season as the overwhelming preseason favorite to win the Lackawanna Division III championship. He also had the distinction of coaching his nephew, Caleb Callejas, for his fourth and final season with the program. The pair were featured heading into the 69th annual Lynett Memorial Basketball Tournament at the Lackawanna College Student Union.

JASON FARMER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Holy Cross head coach, Al Callejas, and his nephew Caleb Callejas.

At that Lynett Tournament, Callejas and the Crusaders rallied for an emotional and exciting championship with a win over Scranton Prep. It was the third Lynett Tournament title for Callejas, who also guided Bishop O’Hara (1998) and Holy Cross (2008) to championships.

And with a win over Carbondale Area, Callejas grabbed headlines again with his 500th win. The Crusaders are off to an 11-1 start and are ranked No. 1 in The Times-Tribune High School Basketball Poll and No. 4 in the Class 2A state rankings produced by The Sunbury Daily Item’s Michael Bullock.

IN THEIR WORDS

“He is a great dad and wonderful grandfather, and, yes, he has a soft side. We put together that video and what struck me is that every single player, guys from his first team at Bishop O’Hara to his current team, expressed what he has meant to them off the court. He is loyal to every single one of them when they play here and it doesn’t stop when they are 18 and they graduate.”

— AL CALLEJAS JUNIOR, son

“From the first day I got to play for him, and I’m sure Al Jr. would say the same, we looked up to him. I am so thankful to have him as a dad and also as a coach. He is a fiery guy, but off the court, he does so much for his former players. That’s what is most meaningful to me. I am so proud to be a part of this program he built.”

— CONNOR CALLEJAS, son

Al Callejas Jr., Coach Callejas, Connor Callejas.

“This is great for him. He deserves it more than anyone. He puts so much time into coaching this program. He does everything for us, he prepares us so well by watching so much film. We really wanted to go out and do this for him.”

— CALEB CALLEJAS, nephew

“Playing four years for coach has been an honor for me. My freshman year, I was scared out of my mind. He is a tough coach, but it’s out of love because he cares so much for us. He wants us to be the best that we can be. I am so happy for him to get this win. I know he doesn’t want the attention, but he deserves it.”

— KIERAN BURRIER, Holy Cross senior

That win and celebration has been a big part of an exciting start to the season for the Holy Cross program. Last week, Kieran Burrier scored the 1,000th point of his career in a win over Old Forge.

Here is the video courtesy of Holy Cross High School:

HS BASKETBALL: Congratulations to Holy Cross senior Kieran Burrier on his 1,000th point. (Video courtesy Kristina Wiedlich Toolan)

Posted by Joby Fawcett, The Times-Tribune on Wednesday, January 8, 2020

INSIDE DIVISION III

All of this has Holy Cross firmly in control of Division III, especially after a win over Lakeland last week.

But there are challenges ahead:

Holy Cross faces a talented Riverside team that has firepower on Thursday in a tough road game.

Holy Cross hosts Mid Valley, its closest rival in the division, Saturday night. Holy Cross holds a 12-8 edge in the last 20 meetings.

HOLY CROSS VS. MID VALLEY

SINCE 2012-13 SEASON

2013
	Holy Cross	59-56
	Mid Valley	56-54
	Holy Cross	41-35
2014
	Holy Cross	59-56
	Holy Cross	68-67
	Mid Valley	57-54
2015
	Holy Cross	52-48
	Mid Valley	51-35
	Holy Cross	54-43
	Mid Valley	37-33
2016
	Holy Cross	42-38
	Mid Valley	60-59
2017
	Holy Cross	54-41
	Mid Valley	58-38
	Mid Valley	45-31
2018
	Holy Cross	41-38
	Holy Cross	53-44
	Holy Cross	45-37
2019
	Mid Valley	48-45
	Holy Cross	40-35

STANDINGS

LEAGUE

OVERALL

	W	L	W	L
Holy Cross	3	0	11	1
Mid Valley	3	1	7	5
Lakeland	2	1	9	3
Dunmore	2	1	6	6
Riverside	1	2	6	6
Old Forge	1	3	5	6
Carbondale Area	0	4	3	9

SCHEDULE

THURSDAY

Riversides Michael Rickert.

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

SATURDAY

Division III
Old Forge at Lakeland, 6
Dunmore at Riverside, 7
Mid Valley at Holy Cross, 7:15
Crossover
Carbondale Area at Blue Ridge, 2:30

INSIDE DIVISION I

Scranton Prep has rebounded from its loss in the Lynett Tournament Championship game and has won four straight games. The Cavaliers are averaging 58.8 points in their wins and have defeated four straight teams ranked in The Times-Tribune Top 10 Poll.

JAKE DANNA STEVENS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Scranton Prep’s Robert Rossi scores as West Scranton’s Brandon Barnes defends in the second half at Lackawanna College.

Lo and behold, though, take a look which team is lurking and also in a tear. … The defending division champion Abington Heights Comets.

That’s right. After losing to Scranton in the Lackawanna League opener to end a 23-game league winning streak, and plunge their overall record to 4-5, the Comets have won four straight to move to 8-5. Those wins include one over previously undefeated Wallenpaupack.

Abington Heights 38, Berks Catholic 29
Abington Heights 33, Wallenpaupack 32
Abington Heights 35, West Scranton 27
Abington Heights 42, Western Wayne 39

ABINGTON HEIGHTS

AT

SCRANTON PREP

THURSDAY, 7:15 PM

DIVISION I CHAMPIONS SINCE MOVE TO FOUR DIVISIONS

	Division I
2013	Abington Heights Comets
2014	Abington Heights Comets
2015	Scranton Prep Cavaliers
2016	Scranton Prep Cavaliers
2017	Scranton Prep Cavaliers
2018	Abington Heights Comets
2019	Abington Heights Comets