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TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2012 PAGE 3B
H I G H S C H O O L B OYS BAS K E T BA L L
Cougars have emerged as top team in the WVC The best team in the Wyoming Valley Conference resides at Hazleton Area. That couldn’t be said in the beginning of the boys basketball season with: · Wyoming Valley West expected to be a force with standouts Eugene Lewis and James McCann. · Meyers later getting a huge boost when Lewis transferred there. · And GAR returning its entire lineup that had all the pieces of a championship caliber team. But it can be said now after three very impressive perform-
JOHN ERZAR NOTEBOOK ances that answered a huge question about the Cougars. Were they going to settle for being a team that went 13-10 overall last season or were they going to mature with the same players? The latter happened, making Hazleton Area – in my opinion – the best the WVC has to offer. “It’s a really, really good group of guys,” Hazleton Area coach Mike Joseph said, “that since Jan. 6 they’ve really bought into playing for each other. It’s shown up and given some really good
results for us.” Teams usually have a go-to guy, a player that helps others look better and play better. Sophomore Sal Biasi is about as close to one for Hazleton Area. But shutting him down doesn’t mean disaster. A few days after Biasi helped pound Wyoming Valley West 71-43 with a cascade of threepointers, he scored a quiet 14 points in a rematch. Travis Buckner and Frankie Vito grabbed the reins, leading to 70-46 victory. Then there is point guard Tyler Plaksa, who battled the flu Friday night in a 49-35 victory over Crestwood. Joseph asked him to start and play just three
minutes; he played most of the game. While Plaksa might not be as flashy as some Cougar point guards of the past, he plays the game with a steadiness and intelligence like them. Three other seniors – starter Adam Hauze and reserves Ricky Gil and Corey Joseph – know their roles and play them as expected. Ideally, Joseph said, his team would have four guys averaging in double figures. He has three – Biasi, Buckner and Vito – and Plaksa is knocking on the door to be the fourth. That combination had led to the WVC Division I first-half title and a 13-3 overall record. “It makes us really tough be-
cause any night it could be one or two or even three guys stepping up and making shots for us and playing good defense,” Buckner said. “It’s definitely something we’re happy we have, a lot of guys who can put points on the board.”
(24) and Tunkhannock’s James Hawk (24). Stravinski also hung 28 on Hazleton Area.
ALEXIS MOVING ON Former Holy Redeemer standout Peter Alexis will be transferring from Penn State upon the BEST THUS FAR completion of his freshman seaPittston Area’s Steve Stravinski son. The 6-foot-11 center has seen scored 36 points Friday in a 52-51 no action thus far with the Nittaloss to Tunkhannock. His points ny Lions in his freshman season. Alexis was recruited to Penn total was the highest by a player State by head coach Eddie Dein WVC play this season. Chellis, who moved to Navy Ironically, four of the top-six before the 2011-12 season. A Division I scoring performances possible landing place for Alexis came against Pittston Area – is James Madison, which recruitValley West’s James McCann ed him and where his sister (29), Coughlin’s Marcus Cobb Meredith was a star. (26), Hazleton Area’s Sal Biasi
LOCAL ROUNDUP
NBA
Cougars tough out victory over Tigers
Iguodala shines in 76ers victory
The Times Leader staff
HAZLETON – Josie Bachman was Hazleton Area’s leading scorer with 10 points as she paced the Cougars to a tough 33-29 win over Tunkhannock Monday night in Wyoming Valley Conference girls basketball action. Tunkhannock was led by Lisa Kintner’s 14 points
TUNKHANNCOK (29): Ayers 1 0-0 2, Custer 0 0-0 0, Nafus 0 3-4 3, Proulx 0 0-0 0, Alguire 0 0-2 0, Williams 3 0-0 8, Kintner 4 6-8 14; Totals: 8 11-16 29 HAZLETON AREA (33): Buno 1 4-6 6, Schoennagle 2 0-0 5, Sitch 0 1-2 1, Pfeil 1 0-0 3, Woznicki 0 0-0 0, Bachman 4 2-2 10, Ciccozzi 0 0-0 0, Carter 1 0-0 2, Zamonas 2 0-0 6; Totals: 11 7-10 33 Tunkhannock.................................... 5 7 6 11 — 29 Hazleton Area .................................. 6 7 10 10 — 33 3-Point Field Goals— TUNK 2 (Williams 2); HAZ 4 (Zamonas 2, Pfeil, Schoennagle)
Wyoming Valley West 56, Coughlin 12
The Spartans gave up only four points during the second half to defeat the Crusaders. Kate Smicherko led all scorers with 19 points, including four 3-point field goals.
COUGHLIN (12): Heyward 1 3-4 6, Oliver 0 0-0 0, Flaherty 2 0-0 4, Sebastian 0 0-0 0, Georgetti 0 2-4 2, Williams 0 0-0 0; Totals: 3 5-8 12 WYOMING VALLEY WEST (56): Judge 2 2-2 7, C. Smicherko 0 1-2 1, Reese 2 2-4 6, Reilly 0 2-2 2, K. Smicherko 5 5-6 19, Kane 2 0-0 4, Zdancewicz 6 1-2 13, Hoffman 2 0-0 4; Totals: 19 13-18 56 Coughlin.......................................... 2 6 0 4 — 12 Wyoming Valley West .................. 13 20 16 7 — 56 3-Point Field Goals— COU 1 (Heyward); WVW 5 (K. Smicherko, Judge)
to lead the Royals over the Warriors. Wyoming Area’s effort was led by Serra Degnan with 17 points.
Wyoming Seminary 49, MMI Prep 30
After jumping out to an 18-6 lead after the first period, Wyoming Seminary stayed aggressive in the victory.
WYOMING SEMINARY (49): Romanwoski 2 3-8 7, Neare 4 0-0 9, Gabriel 2 2-2 6, Karg 5 2-5 12, Davis 0 0-0 0, Henry 4 1-2 9, McMullan 2 2-3 6, Stemrich 0 0-0 0; Totals: 19 10-20 49 MMI PREP (30): Purcell 1 0-0 3, Stanziola 8 1-4 17, Lobitz 0 1-2 1, Carrato 1 0-0 3, Shearer 1 0-0 2, Karchner 1 2-2 4, Lara 0 0-0 0; Totals: 12 4-8 30 Wyoming Seminary ...................... 18 9 5 17 — 49 MMI Prep ........................................ 6 6 13 5 — 30 3-Point Field Goals— SEM 1 (Neare); MMI 2 (Purcell, Carrato)
Nanticoke 70, Northwest 35
Alex Brassington totaled 19 points and five three-point field goals as the Trojans doubled up the Rangers. Alivia Womelsdorf scored 20 points in the effort for NorthCrestwood 62, Pittston Area 37 west NORTHWEST (35): Shaffer 0 1-2 1, WoBehind 19 points from Sydney mesldorf 7 6-8 20, Koehn 3 0-0 6, Bosak 2 0-0 4, Gill 0 4-6 4, Yustat 0 0-0 0; Totals: 12 11-16 35 Myers, the Comets cruised to NANTICOKE (70): Brassington 6 2-2 19, Sugalski 1 0-0 2, Wolfe 2 5-6 9, Hughes 1 0-0 3, the victory. Schinski 5 0-0 13, Yalch 3 0-0 8, Gow 2 0-0 5, Holl Mia Hopkins scored 17 points 4 3-4 11, Higgins 0 0-0 0, Swanberry 0 0-0 0, Kile 0 0-0 0; Totals: 24 10-12 70 in Pittston Area effort. CRESTWOOD (62): Kendra 0 0-0 0, Andrew 1 3-4 5, Mazzoni 1 2-2 4, Rutkowski 5 2-5 12, Gegaris 5 0-1 10, Cronauer 1 0-0 3, Muse 1 0-0 2, Myers 8 3-4 19, Jesikiewicz 0 0-0 0, Hislop 1 2-4 4, Ciaverella 1 0-0 3, O’Brien 0 0-0 0; Totals: 24 12-20 62 PITTSTON AREA (37): Balchune 0 0-0 0, Barber 3 0-0 6, Fereck 0 0-0 0, Waleski 1 0-0 2, Mitchell 2 0-0 4, Bilinski 0 0-0 0, Rabender 0 1-2 1, O’Neil 2 0-0 5, Hopkins 7 3-5 17, Brady 1 0-0 2; Totals: 16 4-7 37 Crestwood .................................... 15 12 21 14 — 62 Pittston Ares................................. 11 10 13 3 — 37 3-Point Field Goals— CRE 2 (Cronauer, Ciaverella); PIT 1 (O’Neil)
Holy Redeemer 73, Wyoming Area 22
Alexis Lewis totaled 21 points
The Associated Press
WYOMING AREA (22): Degnan 5 5-9 17, Bonita 0 0-0 0, Radzwilka 0 0-0 0, Bohan 0 0-0 0, Cumbo 0 0-0 0, Melvin 0 0-0 0, Hiedacavage 1 0-0 2, Blannett 0 0-0 0, Thornton 0 2-8 2, DeLucca 0 0-2 0, Bott 0 0-0 0, Coolbaugh 0 0-0 0, Turner 1 1-2 1; Totals: 6 8-21 22 HOLY REDEEMER (73): Malacari 0 0-2 0, Wignot 3 0-0 7, Makowski 2 0-0 4, Smith 2 0-0 5, Dougherty 1 1-2 3, Claherty 0 0-0 0, Warnagiris 3 2-4 8, Murray 0 0-0 0, Altemose 1 0-0 3, Slavoski 1 0-0 2, Frascella 0 1-2 1, Wilson 3 3-4 11, Platko 3 2-2 8, Lewis 10 0-0 21; Totals:29 9-16 73 Wyoming Area............................. 6 7 7 2 — 22 Holy Redeemer ........................... 18 24 19 12 — 73 3-Point Field Goals— WA 2 (Degnan 2); HR 6 (Wilson 2, Wignot, Smith, Altemose, Lewis)
Northwest ..................................... 3 14 11 7 — 35 Nanticoke...................................... 22 16 16 16 — 70 3-Point Field Goals— NAN 12 (Brassington 5, Schinski 3, Yalch 2, Hughes, Gow)
Lake-Lehman 59, GAR 32
Emily Sutton totaled 17 points and led all scoring as the Black Knights defeated the Grenadiers. Brea Seabrook totaled 10 points for GAR
GAR (32): Mosier 2 1-3 5, Domzalski 0 0-0 0, Nichol 0 0-0 0, Spence 3 1-3 7, Leco 1 0-0 3, Nealey 0 0-0 0, Seabrook 5 0-1 10, Quinniea Gross 2 0-0 4, Quieterriua Gross 1 0-1 3, Parrilla 0 0-0 0; Totals: 14 2-8 32
BILL TARUTIS/FOR THE TIMES LEADER
Holy Redeemer’s Alexis Lewis, left, drives the baseline past Wyoming Area’s Abby Thornton during Monday’s Wyoming Valley Conference Division II girls basketball game in Wilkes-Barre. LAKE-LEHMAN (59): N. Sutliff 7 9-10 24, Konopinski 0 0-2 0, Sutton 6 5-6 17, Mosier 0 0-0 0, Moosic 0 0-0 0, Williams 0 0-0 0, Leskowsky 1 1-3 3, Mahoney 2 5-8 9, Spencer 3 0-2 6, D. Sutliff 0 0-0 0; Totals: 19 20-29 59 GAR............................................... 9 7 9 7 — 32 Lake-Lehman............................... 12 12 20 15 — 59 3-Point Field Goals— GAR 2 (Leco, Quieterriua Gross); LEH 1 (N. Sutliff)
Dallas 41, Berwick 35
Down 18-11 going into the half the Mountaineers staged a second-half comeback, outscoring the Bulldogs 30-17 on their way to a victory Ashley Dunbar led Dallas with 14 points. Geena Palermo led Berwick with 12 points.
DALLAS (41): Dunbar 4 5-7 14, Englehart 3 2-5 8, Slatkowski 0 6-8 6, Hiscox 2 0-2 5, Missal 2 2-2 6, Comitz 0 2-2 2, Zurek 0 0-0 0, Michael 0 0-0 0, Flaherty 0 0-0 0; Totals: 11 17-26 41 BERWICK (35): Steeber 0 0-0 0, Davenport 2 2-3 6, Shortlidge 0 2-2 2, Welsh 0 0-0 0, Bridge 2 0-0 4, Palermo 6 0-1 12, Sheptock 2 5-7 9, Floryshak 1 0-2 2; Totals: 13 9-15 35 Dallas .............................................. 7 4 8 22 — 41 Berwick ........................................... 8 10 12 5 — 35 3-Point Field Goals— DAL 2 (Dunbar, Hiscox)
BOYS SWIMMING
Wyoming Seminary 56, Berwick 44
Phillip Metzger and Alex Kolessar won two events each
to lead the Blue Knights to a win over the Bulldogs in a boys swimming event from January 24
GIRLS SWIMMING
Berwick 67, Wyoming Seminary 35
The Bulldogs placed first in 11 events as they defeated the Black Knights in girls swimming in an event that took place January 24.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
PSU-Wilkes-Barre 75, PSU-Lehigh Valley 64
Frank Peters totaled 18 points as Penn State Wilkes-Barre defeated Penn State Lehigh Valley. Matt Clemons contributed with 11 points while Keith Johnson and Jared James each totaled 10. For Lehigh Valley, Javier Rivera led all scoring with 23 points and Angle Vargas contributed 14 points.
NHL
Streaking Penguins are resurging into second half The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins milled quietly about their dressing room deep inside Consol Energy Center on Monday, slowly getting back to work following a welcomed few days off for the All-Star break. As the players chatted about their current seven-game winning streak, the spectacular play of center Evgeni Malkin and the prospects of catching the New York Rangers for the Eastern Conference lead, a familiar image flickered on a nearby TV. More than one player stopped to watch. There was Sidney Crosby, streaking down the ice against the New York Islanders on Nov. 21, scoring in spectacular fashion. As solid as the NHL’s hottest team has looked over the last two weeks, the main question head-
ing into the stretch remains the same now as it did when the season began in October. When is Sid the Kid coming back? And while coach Dan Bylsma refuses to put a timetable on Crosby’s return, there at least appears to be a sense of optimism despite news over the weekend the 24-year-old superstar suffered a neck injury last January that perhaps complicated his nearly 11-month recovery from a concussion. Crosby skated on the Consol ice for the first time in more than six weeks on Monday, joining fellow injured teammates Simon Despres and Jordan Staal for a brief workout. Bylsma said Crosby worked at a “pretty good clip” during his session, adding Pittsburgh’s captain was “pretty excited” to be
back at work, even in a limited capacity. At least it gave Crosby a respite from the latest round of drama surrounding his comeback. The team acknowledged on Saturday that neurological spine specialist Dr. Robert S. Bray in Los Angeles discovered an unspecified neck injury that was “fully healed.” An independent physician is studying the findings before the team makes any sort of determination on Crosby’s next step. Though the revelation about the game’s most famous player seemed to overshadow the AllStar festivities, Crosby’s teammates took it in stride. “Anything that’s progressing for him to get healthy and getting back to 100 percent and feeling like Sidney Crosby does is a positive,” Pittsburgh forward Chris Kunitz said. “If he’s skating and
doing things, that’s good for him as a person and that’s what counts.” Bylsma declined to get into specifics about Crosby’s condition and prognosis pending a report from the independent physician, saying only Crosby was “nowhere” close to being cleared for contact. Crosby hasn’t played since the concussion-like symptoms resurfaced following a loss to Boston on Dec. 5. He skated with his teammates during a swing through Florida earlier this month but hadn’t been on his home ice in 54 days. He’s spent the last couple weeks visiting several specialists hoping for answers, and though Bray’s findings were a surprise, Crosby’s teammates don’t believe it’s a sign Crosby has no faith in the team’s medical staff.
PHILADELPHIA — Andre Iguodala had 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to their third straight win, 74-69 over the Orlando Magic on Monday night. The Sixers raced to their best start in nearly a decade by taking advantage of a soft schedule for the first third of the season. It gets tough from here. Orlando was the first opponent in a long run of games against winning teams that includes home games this week against Chicago and Miami. Led by Iguodala’s burst in the third quarter, the Sixers outlasted the stumbling Magic. Dwight Howard’s 17 points and 11 rebounds weren’t enough in Orlando’s fourth straight loss. Howard wants out of Orlando and criticized his teammates Friday for not playing hard enough in a loss to New Orleans. Heat 109, Hornets 95 MIAMI — LeBron James and Dwyane Wade each scored 22 points, Mike Miller added 14 off the bench and the Miami Heat shook off a slow start to run away from the New Orleans Hornets. James added 11 rebounds and eight assists for Miami, which won for the eighth time in nine games and ended up with six players in double figures. Chris Bosh and Norris Cole each scored 12 for the Heat. Miami was down 45-33 midway through the second quarter, then outscored New Orleans 76-50 the rest of the way.
Bucks 103, Pistons 82 MILWAUKEE — Brandon Jennings had 21 points, reserve Mike Dunleavy added a seasonhigh 20 on 8-of-10 shooting and the Milwaukee Bucks rolled to a victory over the skidding Detroit Pistons. Drew Gooden shot 7 of 9 and scored 16 points for Milwaukee, including 10 straight early in the third quarter during a decisive 12-2 run to open the second half. Detroit, which has lost five straight and nine of 10, never led in falling to 4-18. Rodney Stuckey led the Pistons with 19 points, and Greg Monroe added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Timberwolves 120, Rockets 108 HOUSTON — Michael Beasley scored 34 points, Ricky Rubio had 18 points and 11 assists and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Rockets 120-108 on Monday night in Rick Adelman’s return to Houston. Kevin Love had 29 points for the Timberwolves, who blew open a close game with 42 points in the third for their highest scoring quarter this season. Minnesota shot a season-best 58 percent (43 of 74) from the field and eclipsed its previous high point total for the season by 14.
Bulls 98, Wizards 88 WASHINGTON — Derrick Rose scored a season-high 35 points, Carlos Boozer had 18 and Kyle Korver added 17 to lead the Chicago Bulls to a win over the Washington Wizards. One day after a four-point loss in Miami, the Bulls rebounded to improve their Eastern Conference-leading Spurs 83, Grizzlies 73 record to 18-5. They had lost MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Matt two of their last three. Bonner scored 15 points, going Meanwhile, the Wizards 5 of 9 from outside the arc, and have lost 16 of 20. Washington Tim Duncan added 14 points as won two of its previous three the San Antonio Spurs sent games — both against the Memphis to its fourth straight woeful Charlotte Bobcats, who loss with a victory over the have the worst record in the Grizzlies. NBA. Rookie Kawhi Leonard had Rose, who was 10 for 20 from 12 points and 10 rebounds for the field and 14 of 15 from the the Spurs, who snapped a two- free-throw line, had 34 points game skid. Richard Jefferson in his previous two games. He scored 13 points, while Danny had 13 in the first quarter for Green finished with 11 points. the Bulls, who never trailed. O.J. Mayo led Memphis with John Wall led the Wizards with 17 points, shooting 7 of 11. 20 points, while Nick Young Mike Conley had 15 points for had 17 and JaVale McGee scored 16. Memphis.
MOHAWKS Continued from Page 1B
keyes with six points each. Hanover Area never led in this one, its third loss to Meyers in 33 days. “Two-foot jump shots,” Hanover Area coach Steve Horensky said. “If we make them, this is a game. We missed (five of)
our first six shots. It could have been 11-10 instead of 11-2.” Meyers 42, Hanover Area 25
MEYERS (42): Brianna DiMaggio 1 0-5 2, Cathy Quinones 2 0-0 4, Amy Kowalczyk 2 9-10 15, Salimah Biggs 4 3-8 11, Angela Moses 0 0-0 0, Brandilee Soto 0 0-0 0, Jazma Robertson 5 0-0 0, MacKenzie Winder 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 12-23 42. HANOVER AREA (25): Julia Smith 1 1-2 4, Julia Mizenko 2 0-0 4, Sam Masher 0 0-0 0, Katie Zuranski 1 0-0 2, Amber Grohowski 0 0-0 0, Mickey Kaminski 2 0-0 6, Sam Cefalo 0 0-0 0, Brittney Miller 3 0-0 6, Danielle Tuzinski 1 1-2 3, Tiffany McCary 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 2-4 25. Meyers ......................................... 10 13 14 5 — 42 Hanover Area.............................. 4 7 13 1 — 25 3-Point Field Goals— MEY 2 (Kowalczyk 2); HAN 3 (Kaminski 2, Smith)