Luke Gennaro was named tournament Most Valuable Player Wednesday night after the Hazleton Area boys basketball team navigated a close game for the second straight night to win the championship of the William Allen Holiday Showcase in Allentown.
Gennaro scored 21 points in the championship game when Hazleton Area defeated Bethlehem Liberty, 55-53.
The Cougars needed two overtimes to get through Tuesday’s first round by defeating Woodson from Fairfax, Va., 65-62.
Hazleton Area 55, Bethlehem Liberty 53
Hazleton Area overcame a four-point deficit in the fourth quarter to pull out the win.
The Cougars led, 16-9, after one quarter, but fell behind, 29-28, at halftime and remained behind, 41-37, going into the fourth quarter.
All-tournament selection Sam Guzman and Joey Marshall added nine points each.
Gennaro had 14 of his points in the first half.
Hazleton Area 65, Woodson, Va. 62
Hazleton Area shot 8-for-20 from 3-point range and Guzman led four Hazleton Area players scoring in double figures when he finished with 18 points in Tuesday’s double-overtime semifinal.
Guzman went 2-for-3 on 3-pointers and also grabbed eight rebounds.
Chris Catrone hit three 3-pointers while scoring 15 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 4 assists.
Gennaro had 14 points, with the help of two 3-pointers, and 3 steals.
Nikoli Santiago scored 12 points.
The teams were tied at 15 after one quarter, 48 at the end of regulation and 55 after one overtime. They were separated by just two points – once in each direction – after the second and third quarters.
