a Te Tue POST Sunday, December 12, 2004 7 Sports Teams not exactly rebuilding, but there's work to be done By CHRIS BELL Post Correspondent While it’s just the beginning of the girls high school basketball season, the Dallas and Lake-Lehman teams have their sights set on the end of the sea- on. ' With five returning starters, second- year Lake-Lehman head coach Jim Spencer is hoping his team can improve on last year’s 8-16 record and make some noise once the playoffs roll around. Junior forward Sheree Horvath returns to lead the Knights after aver- aging more than 10 points and 10 rebounds per game as a sophomore. Senior center Jessica Turak also returns with a 10-point per game scor- ing average, while Tina Watkins, Savannah Coombs and Jill Chocallo are all returning starters at guard. Other players who figure to see plen- ty of playing time include Marissa Harrison, Emily Deubler, Samantha Krygier, Katie Heller and Brittany Shewan. “We'll look to rebound the ball and push it up the floor." Jim Spencer Lake-Lehman coach The Knights will play in Division II of the Wyoming Valley Conference and Spencer expects a very competitive league schedule. “Our division is probably the tough- est of the three divisions,” said Spencer, whose team will host Bishop O'Reilly in their league opener, December 20. “We want to be compet- itive in our division and advance in the playoffs.” Spencer expects the Knights to play solid defense and rebound well. “Our defense is the backbone of our team,” he said. “We’ll look to rebound the ball and push it up the floor.” So far, Spencer has been impressed by the team’s work ethic. “The kids are working really hard,” he said. “They have a better understanding of our sys- tem this year. In addition, the Knights have dis- played a wonderful attitude off the court. “We really have a great group of kids,” said the coach. “They are good students and really have a lot of fun together. They collected food for the needy over the holidays and we adopt- ed a family for Christmas. They are all just nice kids.” In his sixth year as head coach at Dallas, Joe Noon lost the entire start- See GIRLS, pg 9 BOYS BASKETBALL Dallas 65, Crestwood 53 Dec. 8 — Ryan Nemetz poured in a game-high 26 points to lead Dallas. Nemetz went to the free throw line 18 times, making 14 of his attempts. Brad Fagula chipped in 10 points for the Mounts, while Robbie Myers and Matt Wilson scored eight apiece. Nemetz and Matt Kelly each hit two 3-point- €rs. Bishop O'Reilly 70, Faith Christian 50 Dec. 8 — After watching their 22-point lead get chopped to seven, the defending Class A state cham- pions rebounded to a 70-50 victory in a game between two state-ranked teams. Led by guard Tim Crossin, the Queensmen used a 16-0 run to take a 31-9 lead with 4:19 remaining in @ second quarter. The senior capped the run with a three-pointer and finished the first half with 15 points. “I think our experience from last year helped greatly tonight,” said Crossin, who finished with a team-high 20 points. “We had a similar game last year and we had the same result. I think that experi- ence is definitely going to help us this year.” When the Lions did a good job of denying Crossin the ball in the second half, O'Reilly center Josh Aciukewicz picked up the scoring slack. The 6-foot-5 junior scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half, including nine in the fourth quarter. Ww . FOR THE POST/DON CAREY Dallas’ Matt Wilson goes in for a shot on a fast break layup as Jim DeMarco of Wyoming Area defends during the Dec. 6 game. FOR THE POST/AIMEE DILGER Bishop O'Reilly's Chris DeRojas looks to get around Faith Christian's Josiah Garhart during the Dec. 8 game. GAR 94, Lehman 68 point shots. Dec. 7 — Caleb Piatt led the Black Knights with 19 points. Alan Sheridan scored 16 and Steve Ide added 10. Sheridan and Chris Boyle each hit two 3- Bishop O'Reilly 71, Old Forge 47 Dec. 7 — Tim Crossin’s game-high 29 points led Bishop O'Reilly past Old Forge. Chris Kester added See ROUNDUP, pg © Lake-Lehman Jr. High wrestlers win Pittston Duals Lake-Lehman Junior High won four dual meets including a finals matchup against defending champions Wyoming Valley West to capture the Pittston Dual Meet Wrestling Tournament crown Dec. 4. Lehman defeated Valley West 72-30 in a contest that was high- lighted by the efforts of new team members seventh-grader Shane Stark (100) and ninth-grader Jordan Jiunta (122), who each earned victories by fall over returning West Sectional place winners. Also pinning for Lehman were Neil Dierolf (138), Chad Brudnicki (145) and Wally Simko (210). In a rematch of the 2003 semifinal, the Black Knights avenged themselves against Wallenpaupack by the score of 75-30. Lehman received a welcome boost as three first-time wrestlers — Mark Pachamovitch (90), D.J. Heller (185), and Josh Pfiefer (250) — each pinned their opponents. Stark, Dierolf, Brudnicki, Chris Barbacci (105), Adam Shefler (115), Nathan Walsh (130), Aaron Setzer (155) and Mike Prater (165) also recorded pins for the Black Knights. The second round of the tounament saw Lehman defeat Pittson 80-22 behind falls by Stark, Jiunta, Walsh, Brudnicki, Setzer, Heller, and Simko. Chris Barbacci scored a major deci- sion. & In the first matchup of the day Lake-Lehman defeated Athens 63-31. Stark, Walsh, Brudnicki, and Simko each pinned. Barbacci added a technical fall while Andrew Chorba (80) won by major decision over his opponent. SRST Lake-Lehman Junior High wrestlers hoisted the Pittston Duals trophy. In front: Chris Barbacci, Jordan Jiunta. From left, sitting: Kyle Shefler, Mark Pachamovitch, Shane Stark, Wade Howell, Andrew Payne. Kneeling: Justin Hossage, Roger Jayne, Josh Perkins, Michael Lipski, Frank Castrignano. Standing: Dean Kreidler, Andrew Chorba, Tyler McDonald, Coach Scott Carter, Mike Prater, Josh Pfiefer, D.J. Heller, Nathan Walsh, Neil Dierolf, Adam Shefler, Chad Brudnicki, Coach Alex Wilson, Aaron Setzer. Not in photo: Wally Simko. Ragukas named All-American Lake-Lehman junior Traci Ragukas has been named a Mideast Region All-American. There were 89 players named to six regional teams by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. They are eli- gible to be included on the NFHCA’s All-American team, which will be released shortly. There will be 16 first-team selec- tions and 16 second-team All-American selections. Send your sports reports by thepost@leader.net Lehman squads win Orlando bids Staff report LEHMAN TWP. — The Lake- Lehman freshman cheerleading squad has won an invitation to the 2005 National High School Cheerleading Championships, Feb. 11-25 at the Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. The Northeast Mustangs of Lake- Lehman also won the right to com- pete there in the National All-Star Cheerleading Championships March 11-15. Both teams earned the bids at the Pocono Mountain ¢ Regional Cheerleading Competition, held Dec. 5 at Lake-Lehman High School. More than 800 cheerleaders from 24 high schools participated. Brian Fisher, local regionals coordi- nator, said competitive cheerleading is a sport that requires a “huge amount of sacrifice and dedication,” helps participants develop teamwork, responsibility and character, and pro- vides “a sense of belonging and a huge sense of accomplishment.” “Their playing field is just as impor- tant to them as the playing field is to any other athlete in football, basket- ball, hockey,” Fisher said. A team from Tunkhannock Area won third place in the Small Varsity category, and one from Northwest Area finished second in Medium Varsity. Burgermen notch a win behind balanced offense Scott Gallup led Burger King in its first win, 45-43 over Bishop Photo, with 14 points, followed by Marc Ye Fa Noyalis with 10 DYB points, Tyler Patton 7-502 I with 9 points and 7-8 Boys Brian Haughwout had 8 points. Garrett Konecke and Vincent Oliveri added 2 points apiece for the winners. D.J. Berley led Bishop Photo with 24 points, followed by Ed Stredney with 8 points and Chris Dailey with 6. Tony Bevevino chipped in 3 and Ryan Williams added 2. Januzzi's Pizza 59, Burger King 39 David Zurek led Januzzi’s with 13 points, followed by Nick Lombard with 12, Derek Martin with 10 and Scott Daube with 6 points. Ryan McAndrew chipped in 4 points and Stephen Zapoticky added 3 for the winners. Scott Gallup led Burger King with 23 points, Chris McAndrew followed with 8 points. Vincent Oliveri had 6 points and Tyler Patton added 2. D.J. Charlie Hayes 52, Dr. Jack Ellis 39 Steve Meskers led the D.J.’s with 20 points, followed by Mike Mazur with 18 points and Ryan Urzen with 8 points. Jim Bopp chipped in 4 points and Peter Recchia added 2 for the winners. Jackie Ellis led the Docs with 14 points, Chris Ellis followed with 13 points. Brad Johnson, John Prater and Tyler Rice added 4 points apiece. Fieldhouse 44, Januzzi's Pizza 33 Josh Backes led the Fieldhouse with 18 points, Hunter Englehart fol- lowed with 15 points. Alex Slocum See DYB, pg 8
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