Danny Nemitz waited for a hurrying defender to fly past, then launched himself into the record books and Mid Valley into the lead.
Nemitz became the Spartans’ career scoring leader on a corner 3-pointer with three seconds left in the first quarter and Mid Valley gradually built on the lead from there to defeat visiting Dunmore, 49-33, Tuesday night in a District 2 Class 3A boys basketball game.
While Nemitz scored a game-high 14 points, Ricky Vinansky added a double-double for the Spartans, who limited the Bucks to single digits in scoring in each of the last three quarters.
The record-setting shot by Nemitz lifted Mid Valley to an 11-10 lead after one quarter. He surpassed the 1,238 points scored by 2013 graduate Ronny Tomasetti.
Vinansky scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Mason O’Malley added 10 points. O’Malley also made two steals while Jakob Lesher blocked two shots to lead the defense.
Cullen Smith led Dunmore with 14 points. Nico Ruggiero dished out five assists.
Mid Valley made 14 free throws, half of them during the fourth quarter. Dunmore was just 3-for-10 from the line in the game.
Dunmore scored six straight points for a 10-6 lead.
Nemitz scored five points in the last minute of the quarter to put the Spartans back in front.
The Bucks led for the last time at 13-11 before the Spartans ran off the next seven points, then seven more in a row to end the half with a 25-17 lead.
Dunmore scored first to begin the fourth quarter and get within 31-26. The Bucks stayed within 34-28 before Mid Valley held the Bucks scoreless for 5:13 as the Spartans ran off nine straight points, six of them by Vinansky.
Second-seeded Mid Valley (18-5) advanced to host third-seeded Old Forge (17-6) Friday night at 7. The teams split their meetings in Division 3 of the Lackawanna League.
