YATESVILLE — Dallas made all eight of its free throws over the final 3½ minutes Tuesday night to fight off second-place Pittston Area to pick up a 49-44 road win and add to its Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 boys basketball lead.
In a game that featured 39 personal and three technical fouls, the Mountaineers got two late free throws each from Joey Nocito, Jack Dale, Jude Nocito and Tyce Mason to pin down the win.
The Mountaineers, who won the conference’s four-team postseason tournament a year ago, remained unbeaten through five Division 1 games this season.
Sophomore Pat Flanagan, who pulled down a team-high nine rebounds, joined freshman Joey Nocito in sharing the team scoring honors with 12 points each. Dale added 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.
The aggressive Dallas defense, including a strong effort from freshman Mason, held the Pittston Area backcourt combination of Silvio Giardina and Lucas Lopresto 20 points below its season average.
Pittston Area led at times in the first 10 minutes before Dallas used 10-0 runs in the second and third quarter to make sure it led for the entire second half.
The Mountaineers made just two 3-pointers, but converted four three-point plays on a night when they shot 25-for-30 from the line.
Paul Jordan McGarry hit four 3-pointers, including one to reduce the deficit to 45-43 with 36.7 seconds left, and led the Patriots with 18 points. Aiden Lynn grabbed 10 rebounds. Giardina had nine points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots.
Berwick 48, Hanover Area 44
Trailing by nine at halftime and by one headed into the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs shot 9-of-12 from the foul line in the final frame to edge past the Hawkeyes.
Billy Hanson scored six of his team-high 12 points in the fourth. Julian Howie and Carlos Guzman each finished with 11.
The Hawks’ Noah Dewey led all players with 17 points, followed by Jayden Coleman with 14.
Hazleton Area 61, Wyoming Valley West 48
After a slow start in which they scored five points in the first quarter, the Cougars found their rhythm as Dylan Stish fueled a rally with 25 points.
Valley West got 13 points from D’Vonte Rivers and 12 from Navion Terry.
Wilkes-Barre Area 53, Crestwood 30
David Jannuzzi scored 16 points to lead a balanced effort by the Wolfpack, who led 15-3 after one quarter en route to the win. Mike Keating and Reylie Ramirez added 11 apiece.
Ayden Agapito finished with eight points for the Comets.
Wyoming Seminary 39, MMI Prep 28
Antek Evan finished with 12 points and the Blue Knights held MMI to eight points in the first half en route to a home win. Brian Leahy and Jayden Arterberry added nine and eight points, respectively.
Nick Pantages scored 11 points to lead the Preppers.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Dallas 49, Pittston Area 44
DALLAS (49) –Jude Nocito 1 3-4 5, Joey Nocito 3 5-7 12, Dale 2 6-7 10, P. Flanagan 2 8-9 12, Mason 1 3-3 5, Zapoticky 0 0-0 0, Berry 0 0-0 0, Mizzor 1 0-0 3, C. Flanagan 1 0-0 2, McCann 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 25-30 49.
PITTSTON AREA (44) –Giardina 3 1-6 9, Lopresto 0 0-0 0, Walter 3 1-1 7, McGarry 5 4-6 18, Lynn 2 1-2 5, Clarke 1 1-2 3, Jadus 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 8-17 44.
Dallas`10`14`14`11 — 49
Pittston Area`11`9`10`14 — 44
Three-point goals – DAL 2 (Joey Nocito, Mizzor), PA 6 (McGarry 4, Giardina 2)
Berwick 48, Hanover Area 44
BERWICK (48) — Hanson 3 6-8 12, Howie 2 7-8 11, Marquez 0 2-4 2, Hickman 3 0-0 9, Guzman 4 0-0 11, Bankes 0 0-0 0, McCabe 1 0-0 3. Totals 13 15-20 48.
HANOVER AREA (44) — Kistner 2 0-0 5, Coleman 6 2-7 14, Sabecky 2 0-0 6, Williams 0 0-0 0, Dewey 6 5-7 17, Rivera 0 0-0 0, Craft 1 0-2 2. Totals 17 7-16 44.
Berwick`5`10`19`14 — 48
Hanover Area`12`12`11`9 — 44
Three-point goals — BER 7 (Hickman 3, Guzman 3, McCabe); HAN 3 (Sabecky 2, Kistner)
Hazleton Area 61, Wyoming Valley West 48
WYOMING VALLEY WEST (48) — Terry 5 2-2 12, Weatherspoon 3 0-0 8, Rivers 4 2-2 13, Shovlin 2 0-0 5, Stevens 3 0-2 6, Dittus 0 0-0 0, Estrada 1 0-0 2, Sabb 1 0-0 2, Collins 0 0-0 0, Ingram 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 6-6 48.
HAZLETON AREA (61) — Ritz 0 1-2 1, Stish 9 4-5 25, Staffin 2 0-0 6, Guzman 3 1-2 7, Perkosky 2 0-0 5, Smith 1 0-0 2, Cruz 0 0-0 0, Saladin 4 1-3 9, Melenciano 1 0-0 2, Moran 0 4-4 4. Totals 22 11-16 61.
Wyo. Valley West`16`11`5`16 — 48
Hazleton Area`5`19`20`17 — 61
Three-point goals — WVW 6 (Rivers 3, Weatherspoon 2, Shovlin); HAZ 6 (Stish 3, Staffin 2, Perkosky)
Wilkes-Barre Area 53, Crestwood 30
CRESTWOOD (30) — Sechleer 1 0-0 2, Feisel 1 1-2 3, Grevera 2 1-2 5, Agapito 3 2-3 8, Edwards 0 4-4 4, Barna 2 0-0 4, Wagaman 1 0-0 2, Scotti 0 0-0 0, Rogers 0 0-0 0, Biscotti 1 0-0 2. Totals 11 8-11 30.
WILKES-BARRE AREA (53) — Jannuzzi 7 0-0 16, Keating 4 2-2 11, Ramirez 4 0-2 11, Fuentes 1 0-0 2, Rodriguez 3 1-1 7, Johnson 1 2-2 5, Bolden 0 1-2 1. Totals 20 6-9 53.
Crestwood`3`7`8`12 — 30
Wilkes-Barre Area`15`8`19`11 — 53
Three-point goals — CRE 0; WBA 7 (Ramirez 3, Jannuzzi 2, Keating, Johnson)
Wyoming Seminary 39, MMI Prep 28
MMI PREP (28) — Kringe 2 1-2 7, Figueroa 1 2-2 4, Pantages 5 1-2 11, Hosier 0 0-0 0, Schwabe 0 0-0 0, Dovicak 2 0-0 6. Totals 10 4-6 28.
WYOMING SEMINARY (39) — Kraus 1 1-2 3, Ruderman 1 0-0 2, Arterberry 3 2-2 8, Leahy 4 1-2 9, Evan 4 2-3 12, Lucas 0 1-2 1, Latorre 2 0-1 4. Totals 13 7-11 39.
MMI Prep`3`5`8`12 — 28
Wyo. Seminary`9`10`11`9 — 39
Three-point goals — MMI 4 (Kringe 2, Dovicak); WS 2 (Evan 2)