David Jannuzzi’s steal led to Kaprie Cottle’s game-winning basket Monday night, completing Wilkes-Barre Area’s comeback for a 55-54 victory at Hanover Area in a non-league boys basketball game.
Hanover Area appeared to be in control, leading by a dozen points multiple times early in the third quarter before Wilkes-Barre Area closed to within three going to the fourth quarter.
The Wolfpack outscored the Hawkeyes, 7-2, over the last 1:54 of the third, then pulled out the win by scoring four of the game’s last five points.
Wilkes-Barre Area took its only lead of the second half on the last basket when Cottle drove to the basket in transition.
Hanover Area had eight seconds to try to go for the win, but could only manage a heavily contested 3-point attempt.
Wilkes-Barre Area had trouble completing the comeback because of 5-for-12 free throw shooting in the fourth quarter and 9-for-22 for the game.
Brandon Benjamin scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half while Jannuzzi had all 10 of his points.
Elijah Noe (14), Braydon Sock (11) and Sedrick Beasley (10) all scored in double figures for Hanover Area.
The Wolfpack scored 10 straight points early for a 10-3 lead.
Hanover Area dominated from there into the third quarter, outscoring Wilkes-Barre Area, 33-14.
In other Monday non-league boys basketball games:
Mid Valley 57, Scranton 45
Ricky Vinansky scored 27 points to lead Mid Valley to the road win in the meeting of defending Lackawanna League division champions.
Scranton, the two-time Division 1 champion, led 11-10 after one quarter, but the Spartans outscored the Knights in each of the three remaining quarters.
Danny Nemitz added 14 points in the fourth straight win by defending Division 3 champion Mid Valley.
Mason O’Malley came off the bench to score eight points in the first half.
Wyoming Area 62, Mountain View 33
Wyoming Area got at least six points from seven different players while rolling over visiting Mountain View.
Dane Schutter led the way with 14 points.
Matt Little had all eight of his points in a 17-5 second quarter that the Warriors used to open a 28-15 halftime lead.
Ryan Drake led Mountain View with 11 points.
North Pocono 66, Riverside 60
A.J. Nemitz scored early and late, finishing with 22 points to lead host North Pocono past Riverside.
Nemitz hit five 3-pointers and went 7-for-7 from the line. He had two 3-pointers and made all three free throws off another attempt in the first quarter, but Riverside still led, 21-20, after one quarter.
The teams were tied going into the fourth quarter before Nemitz scored 10 points by hitting wo 3-pointers and making four free throws.
Chris Walsh and Matt Seidita added 16 points each in the win.
Riverside hit 11 shots from 3-point range.
Matthew Godlewski had 20 points and four 3-pointers. Connor Monahan had 17 points and five 3-pointers.
Frankie Antoniacci added 11 points.
Dallas 61, Lewisburg 59
Mikey Timinski’s only basket of the game was a 3-pointer with five seconds left to lift Dallas over host Lewisburg after trailing by five entering the fourth quarter.
Michael Bufalino led Dallas with 17 points.
Cameron Faux drained four 3-pointers while scoring 15 points. Nick Williams added 11 points as the Mountaineers remained unbeaten with their fifth straight victory.
Elk Lake 48, Wyalusing Valley 36
Dawson Sherman and Logan Ayotte scored 15 points each in Elk Lake’s home-court win.
Wyatt Casselbury grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked 2 shots.
Isaac Gesford had six assists.
The Warriors trailed after one quarter, were tied at halftime and up two before outscoring the Rams, 20-10, in the fourth quarter.
Blake Morningstar led Wyalusing Valley with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Williamsport 67, Holy Redeemer 63
George Whaley scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half to rally host Williamsport from a three-point halftime deficit.
Jacob Hunter hit two 3-pointers while Zach Perta, George Sabatini and Mark Atherton made one each while Holy Redeemer outscored Williamsport, 23-7, in the second quarter to take a 33-30 halftime lead.
Hunter had 10 points in the second quarter, 15 in the first half and 23 total.
Sabatini added 17 points and Perta had 15.
Susquehanna Valley (N.Y.) 65, Susquehanna 57
Colton Stone’s 34 points were not enough for Susquehanna in its road loss.
Stone had 18 points in the fourth quarter when Susquehanna cut into a 49-33 deficit.
Northeast Bradford 53, Montrose 42
Northeast Bradford built a 14-point lead through three quarters at Montrose.
Alex Warriner led the Meteors with nine points.
Schuylkill Haven 59, MMI Prep 37
MMI Prep dropped the home game for its fourth straight loss.
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