Pittston Area went into Monday night with two opportunities to secure its Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 girls basketball title repeat and two chances to get help with the process, if needed.
The Lady Patriots quickly went to work on making sure they would not need a second try or the help that wound up coming later in the night.
Kallie Booth fueled a fast start and Daniella Ranieli scored 19 points as Pittston Area rolled over host Tunkhannock, 51-31.
Pittston Area opened a three-game lead with just one game remaining. The Lady Patriots, who are 12-1 in the WVC, also improved District 2’s best overall record to 20-1.
Last-place Tunkhannock fell to 1-12 and 7-13.
Pittston Area left no doubts while winning its sixth straight.
The Lady Patriots never trailed. They scored the first eight points and led 15-2 after 5:14.
Booth had six points, four rebounds and a blocked shot during the start and the undersized Lady Patriots put a rebounding advantage to good use.
The first points came on a Booth 3-pointer from the top of the key after she grabbed the first rebound on defense and the Lady Patriots maintained possession with another rebound after missing their first shot.
Pittston Area’s defense did more than just contain Tunkhannock early. It also set up the offense.
Booth’s blocked shot was controlled by Ranieli, who went coast-to-coast for a 5-0 lead.
Taylor Baiera’s steal led to Booth’s drive for a three-point play and an 8-0 lead with 4:43 left in the first quarter.
After Tunkhannock scored its first points, Ranieli hit Maddie Karp on a pick and roll, then converted two foul shots before Ava Callahan’s corner 3-pointer made it 15-2.
The scoring pace slowed, but Pittston Area’s defense allowed just two field goals in the first half for a 21-6 lead.
Booth finished with 16 points.
Anna Williams led Tunkhannock with 14.
In other Monday WVC Division 1 games:
Hazleton Area 62, Wyoming Valley West 59
Sophia Shults scored 20 points to lead 4 players in double figures and host Hazleton Area made it through a tight game while withstanding a big night from Wyoming Valley West’s Mackenzie Perluke.
Perluke had 26 points in her first game back from injury.
Wyoming Valley West entered the night with slim title hopes, but those were gone before the game concluded because of Pittston Area’s victory in a game that finished first.
Shults scored eight points in the first quarter when Hazleton Area took a 15-10 lead. She had six points in the fourth quarter, including making both her free throws while her teammates were going 1-for-4.
Alexis Reimold added 16 points. Brianna Kennedy had 11 points, including going 5-for-6 from the line. Olivia Williams had 8 of her 10 points in the second half.
Perluke made four 3-pointers in the game. Two of them came in the third quarter when she scored 12 to pull the Lady Spartans within 47-44 with eight minutes to play.
Claudia Siegfried had 11 points and Kierstin Rinehimer 10 for the Lady Spartans.
The result leaves the two teams tied for second place in the division at 9-4 with one game remaining. The second-place team makes the WVC Tournament. Wyoming Valley West finishes at first-place Pittston Area while Hazleton Area plays Dallas.
Hazleton Area also passed Wilkes-Barre Area in the ratings race for the top seed in the District 2-4 Class 6A Subregional playoffs.
Berwick 39, Wilkes-Barre Area 31
Berwick broke out of a tie after three quarters to also rise out of a tie for the last spot in the standings.
The upset kept Wilkes-Barre Area from joining a three-way tie for second place in the division.
RaeAnna Andreas scored 9 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter when the Lady Bulldogs outscored the Wolfpack, 16-8.
Alyssa Lewis made three 3-pointers while adding nine points.
Berwick was 6-for-6 from the line in the fourth quarter.
Carly Ochs, who added a 3-pointer while scoring all five of her points, and Rachel Whitenight also made both of their attempts.
Shelby Ardo Boyko led Wilkes-Barre Area with 14 points.
Dallas 66, Crestwood 57
Molly Walsh and Victoria Spaciano each had double-doubles as Dallas continued its late-season surge to move back above .500 overall.
The Lady Mountaineers, who hit their season scoring high, have won five of their last six with the only loss coming to division champion Pittston Area. Dallas improved to 6-7 and 11-10.
Walsh had 23 points, Spaciano 18 and Elizabeth Viglone 14.
Dallas used a big first quarter to play with a comfortable lead throughout, then ran away in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Mountaineers outscored the Lady Comets, 13-2 in the first quarter and 23-6 in the fourth.
Keira Dougherty led Crestwood with 12 points.
