By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
FORMAT: The six-team, three-round tournament uses home courts of higher seeds in the quarterfinals and semifinals before moving to Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza for the final. The top two teams advance to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament.
SCHEDULE CHANGE: The quarterfinal round was moved back from Wednesday to Thursday because of weather.
2022 RECAP: Scranton defeated Williamsport, 47-42, in the championship game. Third-seeded Williamsport got to the final by beating second-seeded Hazleton Area, 44-39.
HIGHEST SEEDS: 1. Williamsport; 2. Hazleton Area; 3. Scranton.
REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS: None.
RANKED TEAMS: Hazleton Area is the No. 4 Big School boys team in the Riverfront Sports Super Six Power Rankings of District 2 teams.
BEST OPENER: Wilkes-Barre Area and Delaware Valley each showed some early promise, but they arrive at the quarterfinals with combined 15-29 records. The Wolfpack opened Wyoming Valley Conference play with a win over eventual division champion Dallas. It also, however, started with a five-game losing streak and took a six-game skid into the last week of the regular season. Delaware Valley opened the season with six straight wins, but is just 3-13 since and 5-13 on the season in games against in-state opponents.
KEY GAME: Scranton is likely to travel to Hazleton Area for the semifinals as long as it can repeat its 11-point win over Wyoming Valley West from the regular-season finale. Hazleton Area had the better season overall, but both teams have been up and down at times to the point where Scranton has clearly had nights when it was the better team. The Knights finished the regular season on a five-game winning streak and went 8-3 in the second half after being 3-8 midway through the season. Hazleton Area is on a four-game winning streak, with three of the wins by six points or less, immediately after losing our out of its previous five. The winner goes to the state tournament.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: George Whaley and Caleb Fausnaught, Williamsport; Luke Gennaro and Chris Catrone from Hazleton Area; Oliver Almonte and Dillon Lazdowsky from Scranton; Jake Brower and Ronnie McManus from Delaware Valley; Brandon Benjamin from Wilkes-Barre Area; Zach Konopke from Wyoming Valley West.
NOTEWORTHY: An extra team in Class 6A means the subregional gets two state representatives this season rather than the usual one. … Williamsport is 2-1 this season against District 2 teams, beating Crestwood and Holy Redeemer while losing to Scranton Prep. … The Milionaires have won 11 straight. … Scranton has won the last two titles. … Williamsport has been to the arena four times, but has lost three, including the last two.
