Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

WILKES-BARRE — There’s one thing Meyers enjoys better than defeating city rival GAR.

“It’s great, man,” Meyers junior guard Jawane Buckner said. “It’s even better than winning at our house. It feels better winning in their house.”

The house — aka GAR’s gym — was rocking Thursday night. So was Buckner in the final quarter.

Buckner put the final touches on Meyers’ 66-55 victory with a fabulous fourth quarter, keeping the Mohawks’ chances for the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 boys basketball title alive.

Meyers (14-2 Div. 2, 16-5 overall) can clinch the championship with a win at Hazleton Area (15-0 Div. 1, 19-2) on Friday night. Hazleton Area, the Division 1 champion, won its 18th consecutive game Thursday.

GAR (14-3 Div. 2, 16-6) is finished with its WVC games. But if Meyers loses to Hazleton Area, then GAR and Meyers will play at 3 p.m. Sunday at Wilkes University for the Division 2 crown.

“On the road at Berwick, tough game. On the road here and now to go to Hazleton is a lot to ask of the kids,” Meyers coach Pat Toole said. “You know what, we’re getting better. We still have our moments of a lack of discipline, but we’re getting better.”

There were a couple of lapses Thursday. Meyers surrendered seven consecutive points in the third, seeing its 16-point lead deflate to 40-31. Then after bumping the advantage back to double digits early in the fourth, again the Grenadiers moved within nine.

That’s when Buckner, who scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter, took over.

Buckner scored on consecutive drives and then, when it appeared he had another clean path to the hoop, pulled up for a jumper. Backcourt mate Matt Dessoye finished off an 8-0 run — and GAR as well — with another attack to the basket and a free throw for a 64-48 lead with 2:28 remaining.

“It was almost like him and (GAR’s) Will Johnson were going a little one-on-one,” Toole said of Buckner. “Neither team could stop the other guy. They are two awesome players and probably there could be an argument for both of them to be the MVP in our division.”

Johnson countered with nine of his 21 points in the final eight minutes. GAR, though, never recovered from a first quarter where it shot 2 of 14 from the field as Meyers led wire to wire.

Levaugn Solues added a loud 11 points for Meyers, with his two rim-shaking dunks enlivening the crowd. The 6-foot-4 center was more important on the boards as his team-high 11 rebounds gave the Mohawks a 38-24 edge.

Dessoye and Ryan Gilgallon added 11 points as well. Robbie Formola tossed in 10, putting all five starters in double figures. Formola, a 6-foot senior, did plenty of damage in the first half underneath.

“We felt that they would play Levaugn in the post,” Toole said. “We were flashing Gilgallon and then slipping Robbie on the weak side. GAR is very good at getting in the passing lanes, so we were able to find some creases and get a couple backdoor layups.”

GAR center Keyshawn Palmer finished with 14, but all came in the middle quarters when the damage was less evident. Three-point ace Andrew Campbell had 10, but his perimeter shooting was limited. Herman Suazo grabbed eight boards.

The game became a little heated with 1:27 left as a bit of shoving took place. GAR coach Jerry Altavilla pulled all his starters afterward and Toole did the same with a minute left.

Hazleton Area 80,

Dallas 67

Jeffrey Planutis led four Cougars in double figures with 22 points, followed by Josh Samec (19), Joe Grula (16) and Michael Cusatis (15).

Dallas got 19 points from Ben Donahue and 17 from Joey Parsons.

Holy Redeemer 48,

Lake-Lehman 36

Ten different Royals scored, led by 10 points by Nick Prociak in a home win.

Lake-Lehman’s Cole Spencer led all players with 13 points.

Berwick 52,

Tunkhannock 44

Jude Goddard finished with a game-high 21 points to lift the Bulldogs, who also got 12 from Damon Beckhorn.

Evan Turner topped the Tigers with 16 points. Tyler Faux added 10.

Crestwood 41,

Coughlin 26

Despite scoring no points in the first quarter, the Comets outscored Coughlin 12-2 in the second quarter en route to a win. Kyle Gegaris led the charge with 17 points and Noah Jackson finished with eight.

Coughlin’s Thomas Davis and Charles Cobb each scored eight.

MMI Prep 43,

Northwest 42

Phil Byriel scored 24 points, including four 3-pointers as the Preppers slipped past Northwest.

Sam Saxe scored a team-high 16 points and Mitch Mazonkey had 10 for the Rangers.

Nanticoke 38,

Wyoming Area 35

Trahjan Krupinski scored eight points, while Justin Casey finished with seven in the win.

Sam Greenfield had 11 points for the Warriors.

Wyoming Seminary 55,

Hanover Area 43

Wyoming Seminary’s Jeremy Callahan scored a game-high 27 points, in large part thanks to his hot shooting from behind the arc. Callahan sank seven threes.

Mike Piscotty scored 14 points in a losing effort for the Hawkeyes.

Wyoming Valley West 87,

Pittston Area 77

Sean Judge led the way for the Spartans, scoring 25 points. Draig Ruff and Noah Frace were right behind him, each scoring 17 points. Judge hit six 3-pointers in the win.

Pittston Area’s Chris Klein scored a game-high 30 points.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Meyers 48,

Wyoming Seminary 45

Gia Skaff hit six 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 28 points in the Mohawks’ win.

Alex Wesneski and Mia Raneiri led the Blue Knights with 19 and 15 points, respectively.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Meyers 66, GAR 55

MEYERS (66) — Robbie Formola 5 0-0 10, Matt Dessoye 4 3-3 11, Jawane Buckner 8 6-6 23, Levaugn Soules 4 3-4 11, Ryan Gilgallon 4 2-4 11, Yuri Covington 0 0-0 0, Willie Walace 0 0-0 0, Gabe Springer 0 0-0 0, Matt Manfre 0 0-0 0, Steve Morel 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 14-17 66.

GAR (55) — Keyshawn Palmer 5 2-3 14, Will Johnson 8 1-1 21, Andrew Campbell 4 0-0 10, Herman Suazo 4 0-2 8, Kahlil White 0 0-0 0, Anthony Hawks 1 0-0 2, Eli Ruiz 0 0-0 0, Muffe Burney 0 0-0 0, Jared O’Day 0 0-0 0, Cesbastian Murray 0 0-0 0, Ismeal Lake 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 6-8 55.

Meyers`11`25`11`19`—`66

GAR`5`18`15`17`—`55

Three-point goals — MEY 2 (Buckner, Gilgallon), GAR 8 (Palmer 2, Johnson 4, Campbell 2).

Hazleton Area 80, Dallas 67

HAZLETON AREA (80) — Josh Samec 7 3-4 19, Michael Cusatis 4 4-7 15, Joe Grula 7 1-4 16, Nolan Genasevich 2 2-2 6, Jeffrey Planutis 8 4-7 22, Sparky Wolk 0 0-0 0, Aaron Kellmer 0 0-0 0, Scott Shamany 1 0-0 2, Issac Perez 0 0-0 0, Nathan Begg 0 0-0 0, Frank Mussoline 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 14-24 80.

DALLAS (67) — Collin Pertl 0 0-0 0, Ben Donahue 6 6-9 19, Zach Charlton 1 0-0 2, Ethan Szczencinski 1 0-0 2, Michael Farrell 0 0-0 0, Ben O’Connell 1 0-0 2, Alex Charlton 5 2-3 12, Nick Kocher 3 4-4 11, Joey Parsons 3 10-11 17, Matt Mathers 1 0-0 2, Jacob Serafin 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 22-27 67.

Hazleton Area`17`19`23`21 — 80

Dallas`16`15`21`15 — 67

Three-point goals — HAZ 8 (Cusatis 3, Samec 2, Planutis 2, Grula); DAL 3 (Donahue, Kocher, Parsons)

Holy Redeemer 48, Lake-Lehman 36

LAKE-LEHMAN (36) — Walkker Shaw 1 0-0 2, Tyler Scharff 1 3-4 6, Garret Weston 2 0-0 5, Cole Spencer 4 3-4 13, Mike Sikora 1 0-0 3, John Pelton 1 0-0 2, Mahmoud Dabsheh 0 0-0 0, C.J. Cercone 1 1-2 3, Nate Labar 0 0-0 0, Adam Motovidlak 1 0-2 2, Dakota Heinrich 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 7-12 36.

HOLY REDEEMER (48) — Joe Layaou 0 2-2 2, James Kosik 2 2-2 7, Mike Lyons 0 0-0 0, Luke Nealon 1 2-4 4, Anthony Khoudary 1 0-0 3, Jason Stachokus 1 1-2 4, Joey Judge 0 4-4 4, Nick Prociak 5 0-0 10, Bryce Yencha 0 1-2 1, Jake Adonizio 0 0-0 0, J.D. Turosky 3 0-0 6, Collin Cook 2 3-3 7. Totals 15 15-19 48.

Lake-Lehman`4`13`4`15 — 36

Holy Redeemer`8`14`10`16 — 48

Three-point goals — LL 4 (Spencer 2, Scharff, Weston); HR 3 (Kosik, Khoudary, Stachokus)

Berwick 52, Tunkhannock 44

TUNKHANNOCK (44) — Avery Newhart 2 0-0 6, Sean Harder 1 2-2 4, Ethan Hoefert 3 0-0 7, Tyler Faux 4 0-0 10, Evan Turner 6 4-4 16, Stefano Sica 0 0-0 0, C.J. Brennan 0 0-0 0, Matt Goodwin 0 0-0 0, A.C. Macko 0 1-2 1. Totals 16 7-8 44.

BERWICK (52) — Justin Groshek 0 0-0 0, Matt Champ 3 1-2 9, Jude Goddard 8 3-6 21, Austin Markle 0 0-0 0, Kyle Pierce 0 1-2 1, Ken Marshman 0 0-0 0, Alec Markle 2 5-5 9, Damon Beckhorn 5 2-3 12, Zach Evans 0 0-0 0, Joe Norce 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 12-18 52.

Tunkhannock`10`13`8`13 — 44

Berwick`8`17`12`15 — 52

Three-point goals — TUN 5 (Newhart 2, Faux 2, Hoefert); BER 4 (Champ 2, Goddard 2)

Crestwood 41, Coughlin 26

CRESTWOOD (41) — Kyle Gegaris 6 5-8 17, Lance Blass 0 3-6 3, Frank Casarella 0 0-0 0, Kevin Klusewitz 0 2-5 2, Kyle Richards 0 0-0 0, Sean Murphy 0 0-0 0, Camden Boris 1 2-2 4, Nick Andrews 0 0-0 0, Adam Gegaris 0 0-0 0, Mike Ayala 1 0-0 3, Mike Kozelsky 0 0-0 0, Jimmy Curry 0 0-0 0, Noah Jackson 3 2-3 8, Evan Knapp 2 0-0 4, Mike Palmiero 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 14-24 41.

COUGHLIN (26) — Thomas Davis 3 0-0 8, Melvin Robinson 2 0-0 4, Charles Cobb 4 0-0 8, Dylan Thomas 0 0-0 0, Anthony Hinkle 0 0-0 0, Myseem Johnson 0 0-0 0, Marco Deluco 0 0-0 0, Idris Hollis 0 0-0 0, Dominique Flippen 2 2-4 6, Jesus Perdomo 0 0-0 0, Aaron Bennett 0 0-0 0, Tony Egidio 0 0-0 0, Javaun Kinlaw 0 0-0 0, Shawn Valenzuela 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 2-4 26.

Crestwood`0`12`10`19`—`41

Coughlin`7`2`12`5`—`26

Three-point goals — CRE 1 (Ayala); COU 2 (Davis 2).

MMI Prep 43, Northwest 42

MMI PREP (43) — George Palerno 1 0-0 3, Nick Young 0 0-0 0, Phil Byriel 8 4-4 24, Zach Young 0 0-0 0, Patel K. 0 2-2 2, Matt Marchetti 2 0-0 4, Marcus Kassick 4 0-2 8, Kyle Williams 0 2-2 2. Totals 15 8-8 43.

NORTHWEST (42) — Sam Saxe 6 2-3 16, Jaxson Yaple 3 0-0 8, Nick Levandowski 1 0-1 2, Mitch Mazonkey 4 0-3 10, Jesse Tarnowski 1 0-0 2, Bryce Kesler 2 0-0 4. Totals 17 2-7 42.

MMI Prep`9`12`10`12`—`43

Northwest`15`13`10`4`—`42

Three-point goals — MMI 5 (Palerno, Byriel 3); NW 6 (S. Saxe 2, Yaple 2, Mazonkey 2).

Nanticoke 38, Wyoming Area 35

NANTICOKE (38) — Nate Kreitzer 2 0-1 6, Rich Wiaterowski 1 0-0 2, Cody Piestrak 1 2-4 4, Trahjan Krupinski 4 0-0 8, Luke Butczynski 3 0-0 6, Zack Cardone 1 0-0 3, Alec Divers 1 0-0 2, Matt Piontkowski 0 0-0 0, Dylan Szychowski 0 0-0 0, Justin Casey 3 1-1 7. Totals 16 3-6 38.

WYO. AREA (35) — Anthony Nardell 1 0-0 3, Kyrie Zielinski 4 0-1 8, Sam Greenfield 5 1-2 11, Tony Saitta 3 1-1 8, Matt Wright 0 0-0 0, Kyle Musto 0 0-0, Mike Bonita 0 2-2 2, Ryan Shuleski 1 0-0 3, Cole Keating 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 4-6 35.

Nanticoke`9`7`11`11`—`38

Wyo. Area `10`6`6`13`—`35

Three-point goals — NAN 3 (Kreitzer 2, Cardone); WA 3 (Nardell, Saitta, Shuleski).

Wyo. Seminary 55, Hanover Area 43

HANOVER AREA (43) — Mike Piscotty 6 0-0 14, Desmond McCance 4 1-1 10, Evan Materna 3 0-0 9, Tyler Diggs 2 0-0 6, Luis Rivera 1 0-0 2, Asad Whitehead 0 1-2 1, Abaad Hamlet 0 1-2 1, Danny Marcincavage 0 0-0 0, Devin Senk 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 3-5 43.

WYOMING SEMINARY (55) — Jeremy Callahan 9 2-4 27, Nicholas Gunter 4 3-3 11, Tyler Maddock 1 4-5 6, Johnny Kehl 2 0-0 4, Noah Munley 1 0-0 3, Todd Phillips 1 0-0 2, Dimitri Gnall 1 0-0 2, Noah Hammerman 0 0-0 0, Samir Singh 0 0-0 0, Dan Paglia 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 9-12 55.

Hanover Area`11`4`19`9`—`43

Wyoming Seminary`5`17`16`17`—`55

Three-point goals — HAN 8 (Materna 3, Diggs 2, Piscotty 2, McCance); WS 8 (Name x).

Valley West 87, Pittston Area 77

PITTSTON AREA (77) — Chris Klein 10 7-11 30, Keemar Woodruff 4 3-4 11, Patrick Mitchell 3 5-8 11, Matt McGlynn 3 0-0 8, Brenna Higgins 2 0-0 5, Naseem Guillaume 1 2-2 4, Justin Coyne 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 19-27 77.

VALLEY WEST (87) — Sean Judge 9 1-4 25, Draig Ruff 5 7-10 17, Noah Frace 7 0-1 17, Aaron Austin 5 2-2 14, Savion Saunders 0 0-0 0, Davis Weaver 0 0-0 0, Montel Jordan 0 0-0 0, Tayshawn Moore 0 0-0 0. Totals 33 10-17 87.

Pittston Area`15`19`21`22`—`77

Valley West`16`10`30`31`—`87

Three-point goals — PIT 6 (Klein 3, McGlynn 2, Higgins); WVW 11 (Judge 6, Frace 3, Austin 2).

GIRLS

Meyers 48, Wyoming Seminary 45

SEMINARY (45) — MT Lehman 0 0-0 0, Alex Wesneski 7 2-4 19, Julia Gabriel 3 1-2 7, Brenna Satkowski 1 0-2 2, Ally Vezendy 1 0-0 2, Mia Raneiri 7 1-1 15. Totals 19 4-9 45.

MEYERS (48) — Bella Gray 0 0-0 0, Erin Morris 1 0-0 2, Amanda Gray 1 2-2 4, Bella Skaff 4 2-2 10, Devon Keiper 0 0-2 0, Gia Skaff 8 0-0 28. Allycia Harris 0 2-4 2. Totals 18 0-6 48.

Seminary`7`15`12`11`—`45

Meyers`6`19`9`14`—`48

Three-point goals — SEM 3 (Wesneski 3); MEY 6 (Skaff 6).

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_podcast-icon-10.jpg.optimal.jpg

GAR’s Herman Suazo grabs a rebound away from Meyers’ Robbie Formola on Thursday night during a WVC Division 2 boys basketball game.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_gar_mm1_faa-1.jpg.optimal.jpgGAR’s Herman Suazo grabs a rebound away from Meyers’ Robbie Formola on Thursday night during a WVC Division 2 boys basketball game. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

GAR’s Kahlil White pursues Meyers’ Jawane Buckner down court.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_gar_mm3_faa-1.jpg.optimal.jpgGAR’s Kahlil White pursues Meyers’ Jawane Buckner down court. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Meyers’ Robie Formola looks to pass as he dribbles down the court.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_gar_mm4_faa-1.jpg.optimal.jpgMeyers’ Robie Formola looks to pass as he dribbles down the court. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

GAR’s Keyshawn Palmer guards Meyers’ Ryan Gilgallon as he looks to pass.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_gar_mm5faa-1.jpg.optimal.jpgGAR’s Keyshawn Palmer guards Meyers’ Ryan Gilgallon as he looks to pass. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Meyers’ Jawane Buckner drives toward the basket as GAR’s Kahill White defends.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_gar_mm2_faa-1.jpg.optimal.jpgMeyers’ Jawane Buckner drives toward the basket as GAR’s Kahill White defends. Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Meyers prevents GAR from clinching Division 2

By John Erzar

[email protected]

PODCAST

To hear the latest on the WBS Penguins, the outdoors, the RailRiders, Penn State football and girls and boys basketball, check out The TL Sports Report at tlgets.me/kdu

Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar