Wyoming Area is headed to Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament in girls basketball for the first time in school history.
First, however, the Lady Warriors will make their first stop at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza to face what may be District 2’s top team overall, Scranton Prep.
Olivia Rome and Morgan Janeski each hit two free throws in the last 47 seconds Friday night when Wyoming Area pulled out a 35-31 victory in the District 2 Class 4A semifinals.
The Lady Warriors (14-9) will open the series of District 2 championship games at the arena Thursday at 6 p.m. against six-time Lackawanna League Division 1 champion Scranton Prep. The Classics (20-2) are the No. 1 Big School in the Riverfront Sports Super Six Basketball Power Rankings of District 2 teams.
Janeski led Valley View with 17 points while Jocelyn Williams provided 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Giada Costa and Emma Maddage led Valley View with six points each.
Wyoming Area scored the game’s first nine points, but, after being held scoreless for the first 5:11, the Cougars made things interesting.
Valley View scored the last four points of the first quarter to cut the early deficit to five, then closed to within 17-14 at halftime.
The Lady Warriors carried a 23-21 lead into the fourth quarter before the Cougars took their first lead with 6:24 remaining.
Wyoming Area moved back in front, 28-27, with 4:35 remaining and held on from there.
The Lady Warriors carried a 31-30 advantage into the final minute.
Rome hit her free throws with 46.4 seconds left, then Janeski made both ends of a one-and-one with 26.8 left for a 35-30 lead.
In the other semifinal:
Scranton Prep 45, Nanticoke 26
Claire McGrath scored 17 points as top-seeded Scranton Prep shook off a sluggish start to defeat visiting Nanticoke.
The teams were tied, 6-6, after one quarter before McGrath scored seven points in the second quarter to help the Classics open an 18-10 halftime lead.
McGrath completed her scoring in the third quarter as Scranton Prep was building a 34-20 lead.
Natalee Atkins led Nanticoke with seven points.
