Scranton Prep answered a Nanticoke comeback with one of its own.
Daniel Santaniello and Brycen Martin each scored eight fourth-quarter points Saturday afternoon as the Cavaliers fought past the visiting Trojans, 69-66, in the District 2 Class 4A boys basketball semifinals.
The Cavaliers earned a third shot at top seed and Lackawanna League Division 1 champion Valley View in the championship game March 4 at 4 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Valley View won the first two meetings, 74-57 and 69-66.
Scranton Prep had to overcome a pair of seven-point deficits in the third quarter after Nanticoke ran off 16 straight points.
Trailing by nine late in the second quarter, Nanticoke scored the last seven points of the first half and the first seven of the second half to take a 36-29 lead.
Scranton Prep closed to within 49-46 after three quarters then opened the fourth quarter with an 11-5 run.
Santaniello finished with 18 points. He went 3-for-3 from the foul line late while his teammates were struggling through a 6-for-12 effort from the line in the fourth quarter.
Martin, who finished with 15 points, had two of Scranton Prep’s four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. Santaniello and James Pettinato hit the other two.
Keith Pritchyk added nine points and Pettinato had eight.
Jaidyn Johnson, who has 59 points in 2 district playoff games, went 10-for-12 from the line while leading Nanticoke with 27 points. He had 11 points in the third quarter after Liam Mullery got the Trojans started with a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter.
Ibn Jordan-Thomas added 16 points.
Valley View 57, Tunkhannock 34
Eli Yusavage scored 20 points and the Valley View defense held an opponent to 40 or fewer points for the 15th time this season while shutting down visiting Tunkhannock in the other semifinal.
Tunkhannock came in averaging 58.3 points per game.
Valley View trailed, 10-9, after one quarter, but scored the first 14 points of the second on the way to a 30-16 halftime lead.
A.J. Kucharski added 12 points in the win.
Kyle Rupp had 6 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists while Taheed Jewell had 7 points and 5 assists.
Valley View takes a 21-3 record into the meeting with second-seeded Scranton Prep (15-9).
Nanticoke (16-9) hosts Tunkhannock (13-11) Wednesday night at 7 for third place.
