2 weeks Ago By Steve Bennett
Wilkes-Barre Area’s David Januzzi (2) goes up for a shot between two Dallas defenders during the Division 1 Championship Game. (Frank C. Lauri / Contributing photographer) Dallas’ Jack Dale (3) puts up a three pointer against Wilkes-Barre Area during the Division 1 Championship Game.
(Frank C. Lauri / Contributing photographer) Wilkes-Barre Area’s Davie Januzzi (2) goes up for a shot and is fouled by Dallas’ Pat Flanagan (10) during the Division 1 Championship Game. (Frank C.
Lauri / Contributing photographer) Dallas’ Jude Nocito (10) moves the ball past Wilkes-Barre Area’s Jordany Rodriguez (25) during the Division 1 Championship Game. (Frank C. Lauri / Contributing photographer) Dallas’ Joey Nocito (2) moves the ball down the court against Wilkes Barre Area during the Division 1 Championship Game.
(Frank C. Lauri / Contributing photographer) Wilkes-Barre Area’s Mike Keating (5) tries to block the shot from Dallas’ Tyce Mason (3) during the Division 1 Championship Game. (Frank C.
Lauri / Contributing photographer) Wilkes Barre Area’s Achilles Fuentes (20) tries to stay the ball from Dallas’ Joey Nocito (2) during the Division 1 Championship Game. (Frank C. Lauri / Contributing photographer) Dallas’ Pat Flanagan (10) tries to move the ball around a Wilkes-Barre Area defender during the Division 1 Championship Game.
(Frank C. Lauri / Contributing photographer) Wilkes-Barre Area’s David Januzzi (2) goes up for a shot between two Dallas defenders during the Division 1 Championship Game. (Frank C.
Lauri / Contributing photographer) EXETER — With the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 regular season championship hanging in the balance, Mike Keating and David Jannuzzi’s contributions went far and away higher than any number of points they scored Monday night. Because when things went a little sideways for the Wolfpack in the fourth quarter, Keating and Jannuzzi, who scored 29 points including the 1,000th of his career, made sure they had the basketball as many times as possible. But when the ball found its way to Jacob Johnson, the junior guard made several key shots in the fourth quarter, as Wilkes-Barre pulled away with a 73-62 victory over Dallas at Wyoming Area High School and wrapped up the Division 1 title.
It also means Wilkes-Barre Area will be the No. 1 seed out of the division when the Wyoming Valley Conference Tournament gets underway Thursday night at Hazleton Area. Wilkes-Barre Area will face the No.
2 seed from Division 2, Holy Redeemer. Dallas will get the No. 1 seed from Division 2, Wyoming Area.
“I think at the end of the season we were able to find our mojo defensively,” Wilkes-Barre Area coach Jim Lavan said. “Defensively we were able to get some stops when we needed. They are a good offensive team, they have guys who can score.
To be able to stop them here and there was big.” Keating had 14 points and Johnson finished with 12, all in the second half, for the Wolfpack (15-8). Wilkes-Barre Area was ahead by one at the end of the first quarter and by nine at the half.
The Wolfpack benefitted from Dallas struggling shooting the ball from the field as the Mountaineers were 3 of 12 from behind the 3-point line in the first half. “We didn’t make shots,” Dallas coach Mark Belenski said. “You make shots, you win the game.
I’m proud of our effort. Both teams played hard and both teams played well. Everything is still out there in front of us.
” Dallas trailed by eight points going to the fourth quarter, but it was at that point in the game when it employed its diamond pressure and was able to catch Wilkes-Barre Area off guard. The Wolfpack went four consecutive possessions without getting a shot off and finished the quarter with eight turnovers. Slowly but surely, the Mountaineers got back in the game.
Joey Nocito converted a layup as part of a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to four points with 5:15 left. That’s when Johnson, coming out of a Wilkes-Barre Area timeout, made a 3-pointer to settle things down. Johnson made another 3-pointer to increase the Wilkes-Barre Area lead to 10.
The Wolfpack then went 12 of 14 from the foul line in the final 2:24 to put the game away. “Jacob might be one of our best shooters,” Lavan said. “He sacrifices a bit for us to come off the bench.
He plays that role. When he is open, he is not scared to take the big shot. He started for us until the end of the December before we went with a bigger lineup to get some help on the glass.
Jacob is ready for when he gets those moments.” Jude Nocito scored 22 points to lead Dallas (15-8). Pat Flanagan added 16 points, while Joey Nocito added 11.
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