There were just two league games played in District 2 basketball Saturday, but both impacted division leads.
The Dallas and Nanticoke boys posted victories.
Dallas broke out of a three-way tie, at least temporarily, on top of Division 1. Nanticoke remained in front of Division 2, doubling its lead to a full game.
Dallas 66, Berwick 53
Dallas followed up its Friday night win at Pittston Area to force a three-way tie at the top of Division 1 by winning at home Saturday to move a half-game in front of the Patriots and Hazleton Area.
Michael Bufalino scored 21 of his 26 points in the second half to break away from what had been a one-point game.
The Mountaineers won their sixth straight to improve to 5-1 in the division and 11-1 overall. Pittston Area and Hazleton Area are 4-1 in the division.
Berwick continues to be much more competitive than in recent seasons, but the Bulldogs lost for the sixth time in seven games to drop to 1-5 and 4-8.
Cameron Faux scored 12 points on four 3-pointers for the Mountaineers.
The Bulldogs were led by Sean Murphy with 21 points. Billy Hanson added 12.
Dallas led 13-12 after one quarter and 27-26 at halftime.
Murphy had nine points and Hanson five to account for all of the second-quarter Berwick scoring.
Jace Degroat had two of his three 3-pointers for the Bulldogs in the third quarter, but Bufalino scored 12 points to help the Mountaineers pull out to a 47-37 lead.
Bufalino had nine more points and Darius Wallace, who had all nine of his points in the second half, hit four straight free throws to keep Dallas in control in the fourth quarter.
Nanticoke 61, Wyoming Area 56
Jaidyn Johnson scored 28 points to lead the way as host Nanticoke defeated third-place Wyoming Area to set up Thursday’s game at defending champion Holy Redeemer, the other team that is unbeaten in the division.
As long as Holy Redeemer gets past Wyoming Seminary Tuesday, Thursday’s game will be for sole possession of the division lead.
Ibn Jordan Thomas scored 21 points to join Johnson in a combination the Warriors could not contain.
Both had at least two baskets in each quarter.
They accounted for all the points, 10 of them Johnson, in an 18-8 third quarter to break a 29-29 halftime tie.
Gavin Turak added 10 points for Nanticoke.
Brady Noone scored 23 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Warriors.
Dane Schutter had 11.
Nanticoke won its fifth straight. The Trojans improved to 5-0 in the division and 10-5 overall.
The Warriors are 2-2 and 6-8.
