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James Kelly won the hearts of Warrior and Patriot fans alike.

Lifelong sports fan and coach Joe Fahey exhibits the new Patriot-Warrior rivalry, donning the colors of both teams for the game.

DeLucca

Anyone who has lived in the Greater Pittston Area or has attended Pittston Area or Wyoming Area understands fully the intense rivalry and history that exists between the two schools.

Over the years, the rivalry may have softened a bit, but it still remains strong. Many things account for this softening including the many once Warriors and Patriots who are living on opposite sides of the river from where they grew up.

Take me for example. I graduated from WA in 1990, played and coached several sports for the Warriors, then married an outstanding Patriot student-athlete named Maria Adonizio. It was not too long after we wed that she dragged me under protest across the river. I have to say that after 15 years, I am finally very happy and content. We have three awesome boys who are now Patriots, but who also have tremendous respect for WA because of their father.

Then, there are others like Charlie Turco, a Patriot great who married a Warrior cheerleader; Carl DeLuca (we believe no relation, but he looks a lot like my dad and cousin), one of the best QBs in PA history now lives with his three children in Warrior Country; the current head basketball coach of the Warriors, Alex Brogna was a Patriot; Coach Ken Yakobitis, who scored 1,000 points for WA, has been back and forth so many times, I don’t think he knows where he belongs; pr take Mr. Vito Quaglia, who is the principal at Wyoming Area High School and has three children who attend PA.

Because so many more Patriots and Warriors have crossed the border, I believe we need to remove words certain words from our vocabulary when referring to our rivals. We need to continue to strive for mutual respect while maintaining the pride and identities we hold for our own schools.

This mutual respect surfaced at last Friday’s boys’ basketball game between PA/WA. Those in attendance who stayed long enough witnessed something special. Throughout history it is no secret that Pittston has dominated the hardwoods. This night was no different. What was different occurred with time running out.

The hype had been building days prior to the game. The Patriots student section, which has brought a college like atmosphere back to PA games, was fired up for this game. The Warrior students were prepared not to be outdone on their home turf.

During the course of the game both sections were taking their best shots at each other. The chants back and forth became a game within the game. At one point when it was 12-0 PA, the PA students chanted “why so quiet?” WA very quickly responded, “We have no points”! This was the first thing that drew the appreciation of the Patriot section.

With around three minutes left, and the game well in the Patriots hand, the Warriors wanted their seniors in the game and let Coach Brogna know it. One player in particular was James Kelly, a sentimental favorite. Coach Brogna appropriately obliged. Kelly said, “I was a little surprised that coach called my name, but at the same time relieved to hit the floor my last game as a Warrior.”

What happened next was something that you see on ESPN. With everyone in the gym now wanting this humble Warrior to score a basket, he got his first chance. Kelly took a shot that missed everything. Later he would admit it was his “nerves.”

The next time down the court, he took another shot and was “fouled” – quote intentional. For those of you that think that all referees are “bad” guys, Bob Bertoni, very aware of the situation, made the call on the “phantom” foul to set up the magic.

As Kelly stepped to the line for his first of two shots, the crowed got quiet. Then the Warrior students raised their “spirit hands” and so, too, did their so called “enemies” from across the floor. Kelly’s first shot almost went sideways and missed everything. Nobody laughed, nobody jeered. They all got quiet again and raised their hands in unison. This time, Kelly’s second shot found all net as the Warrior and Patriot students forcefully dropped their hands with one giant “whoosh”! Even Patriot head coach Alan Keisinger could not help but clap emphatically.

With both the Warriors and Patriots chanting his name, anything was possible. Kelly, not wanting to disappoint all his fans, drained a 3-pointer with time running down as the gym erupted one more time.

“It was an amazing feeling,” Kelly said later, “hearing all the fans chanting my name felt fantastic! I am grateful to my entire team for my first ever varsity 3-pointer, especially E.J. (Driving Hawk) for getting me open and Colin (Kirby) for the assist.”

The moral of the story is that there are great kids who attend Pittston and Wyoming Area. Kids today usually get a bad rap. These kids taught us adults something that night. Something called perspective.

Long live the rivalry!

Joe DeLucca Jr. has spent his career in education and now works for Intermediate Unit 18 as Director of Federal, state and Non-public programs.

Kids today usually get a bad rap. These kids taught us adults something that night. Something called perspective.