By Tom Fox
MaxPreps.com
When it comes down to State College and Altoona, it’s a pretty safe bet that all records are thrown out the window.
Pick the sport: Baseball, football, basketball, track and field.
Thursday night, another chapter in the girls basketball section of the rivalry was written as State’s Chrissy Cooper netted a career-high 35 points in a 68-65 victory.
The Little Lions needed every bit of Cooper’s 35 points as the team watched a 14-point, second-half lead dwindle to one.
It was the second time this season that she scored 30-plus points in a game.
“I was nervous because it was Altoona, but I was excited and amped up,” Cooper told the Centre Daily Times. “I was looking forward to getting some points. Things were just clicking. Everyone was setting picks, everyone was getting open and I felt like I had some free shots and they went in.”
Both teams were dialing it from long range with a combined 21 3-pointers.
“I couldn’t tell if it was lousy defense on both ends or both teams were just shooting very well,” State College coach Bethany Irwin told the Centre Daily Times. “They were both fighting and trying and doing everything but it was a battle.”
Lysa Mealing had a career-high 25 points for Altoona, while teammate Shelby Reimer chipped in with 14. The Mountain Lions have dropped three straight after winning their first nine.
Reimer heaved a last-second, off-balance shot that would have tied the game had it fell through the net.
“They shot the ball great,” Altoona head coach Craig Long told the State College newspaper. “Defensively, we weren’t getting out on them. We were trying to play our zone, our match-up zone, and just weren’t getting out on them.”
State College (8-4) has won five of its last six with the lone loss coming to District 2 power Hazleton Area. The team is 2-0 against District VI Class AAAA opponents, taking care of rebuilding Central Mountain late last week. State hosts Hollidaysburg on Jan. 16.
Shamokin programs back on top
Shamokin Area has always been known for consistent, strong basketball programs, and 2008-2009 is proving no different.
Both teams are highly-regarded in the state, and appeared to be heading toward Heartland Conference championships.
The girls are 9-1 after sustaining their only loss to Lourdes Regional, 41-39, at the annual Knights of Columbus Tournament in Coal Township during Christmas Week.
Shamokin responded after the loss by blitzing Jersey Shore.
The boys’ team, under the direction of long-time coach Joe Klebon, is 8-0 overall and had an early January showdown scheduled with Shikellamy on Tuesday, only to see Mother Nature wipe it out.
The Indians will be tested Friday by a pesky Montoursville team that pushed Triple-A power Susquehanna Township in a recent match-up at Bucknell University.
It’s toughest contest, without a doubt, will come on Jan. 22 against Quad-A and highly-regarded Williamsport.
Dunmore takes out Old Forge
Coming off a victory in the annual Lynett Tournament, the Dunmore girls basketball team had a tough challenge in local rival Old Forge.
Ranked No. 1 and No. 2 by the Scranton Times-Tribune, the Lady Bucks got a needed spark from Nicole Korgeski, who scored 10 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the first half en route to a 53-32 victory over the Blue Devils.
The boys’ contest was about the same as Matt Maldonato had 12 points in a 51-32 victory.
Anthony Koulavongsa had 14 points for Old Forge.
The Bucks followed it up with a lopsided win over Valley View. James Timlin and Mike Ehnot combined for 39 of Dunmore’s 63 points.
Prep pulls away from West Scranton
Scranton Prep used a 21-17 edge in the fourth quarter and a 17-8 second quarter to pull away from West Scranton, 65-57, Wednesday night in West Side.
Prep’s Adam Schroth scored 25 points in the victory, and handed the Invaders only their second loss of the season. Prep also has two losses.
“I saw an open look and Timmy gave it to me in a good spot, so I took it,” Schroth told the Scranton Times-Tribune of a big fourth-quarter shot to put the game out of reach. “This win is huge. Coming into a tough environment, we tried to come out strong and play tough for the rest of the game.”
Tom Horan had 16 points for West Scranton, while teammates Ethan Dunn and Gabriel Gilgallon added 15 and 13, respectively.
State wrestling bracket released
Although it’s a full month before the PIAA Class AAA Team Duals take center stage in Hershey’s Giant Center, the release of the state bracket has created quite the stir.
Nationally-ranked squads Central Dauphin (reigning AAA champ), Northampton and Central Mountain could all end up on the same half of the bracket.
All three teams, ranked in the top six of the nation, are currently undefeated. Should each win their respective district crowns later this month, it would prove for some interesting early showdowns.
Central Mountain and Northampton could end up meeting in the state quarterfinals with the winner advancing against possibly Central Dauphin in the semis.
The bottom half of the bracket is also challenging with possible teams like Cumberland Valley, Council Rock South and the champ of the WPIAL waiting in the wings.
Escape the Rock this weekend
Speaking of Central Mountain, the Wildcats head to Council Rock South’s Escape the Rock Tournament this weekend where several Northeastern Pennsylvania powers will be waiting for the challenge.
That includes Pennsylvania Prep school, Wyoming Seminary, currently ranked No. 7 in the nation behind Central Mountain. Seminary has several tough grapplers in Nicky Gordon (135), Simon Kitzis (125), Donald McNeil (189) and Joe McMullan (215). District 2 powers Delaware Valley and Hazleton Area are also at the event.
Phillipsburg (N.J), ranked No. 30 in the country, will participate along with Jersey power Lenape Valley Regional.
The championship bouts will take place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
Mild upset in District 2
It’s expected that Delaware Valley and Hazleton Area will battle for the right to represent District 2 at the Team Duals in Hershey.
Wallenpaupack must have different ideas.
The Buckhorns won four straight weight classes and defeated preseason favorite Del Valley, 31-28, in a Lackawanna League match.
Matt Abbruzzi, Taylor Newcomer, Jason Gardepe and Xavier Rake all scored victories in their respective weight classes to build a Wallenpaupack lead.
Del Valley rebounded with a 17-point victory over Abington Heights.
Speaking of Hazleton, the Cougars are 2-0 in dual meets and have a pretty good chance of entering the state tournament perfect should it win its district.
The Cougars, though, do have an interesting February dual meet when Hazleton travels to Bald Eagle Township to face off with the No. 6 nationally-ranked Central Mountain Wildcats.
Tom Fox is Sports Editor at The Express in Lock Haven (Pa.) and covers Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania for MaxPreps. He can be reached at tfox@lockhaven.com.
