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Williamsport comes up just shy against Scranton Prep in boys basketball

By JIMMY DEROGATIS 4 min read

A very hot start for Williamsport’s boys basketball team ended in heartbreak for the Millionaires players, coaches and fans in attendance as the Millionaires fell to Scranton Preparatory, 55-53, on Tuesday night at the Magic Dome.

The game, which started off like it was going to be a an easy win for Williamsport, wasn't how the game ended as it would take several comebacks by Scranton Prep to set up the crazy ending or even more so chaotic ending to the game.

Scanton came back to tie the game at 45-all at the mid-point of the fourth quarter, after which they had been trailing the whole game. With the game hanging in the balance it was Williamsport senior guard Chris White putting up a good looking 3-pointer that bounced in and out of the rim, giving the Cavs the exciting victory.

Williamsport’s George Whaley seemed to be the featured guy for the Millionaires offensively. Whaley had a hot hand from beyond the arch as he was the guy to try and get an open look for three.

Whaley was also very exciting with his ball handling skills as he did some jukes and ball fakes to either fake out or drive by the Scranton defenders. Whaley would also dribble behind the back and through the legs and then put up a three or power the lane for a layup attempt like Vince Carter, much to the delight of the crowd. The other Millionaire who impressed tonight was tall Jakiha Kline who was tough on defense such as guarding, boxing out as well as collecting rebounds, and finding open guys down court on a couple of those rebounded balls. Whaley ended with a team-high 13 points and Chris White added 11. Thomas Takach scored eight for Williamsport and Caden Hott added nine.

"We have to play better defense. We have to play defense. We did not guard the ball well at all, we just let (James) Pettinato just kind of drive right down the court and we let him just have his day out there,” Williamsport coach Allen Taylor said. “If you're not scoring or creating many scoring opportunities for someone else then it'll be hard to win. We were doing to much. We we're over dribbling just moving the basketball trying to split double teams when it was unnecessary and we ran a much better offense the first half, but like I said defensively we did not play with that grit that we're accustomed to and we didn't rebound that well.”

Pettinato scored 11 points for the Cavs and Brycen Martin added 15. Scranton Prep also received nine from Kellen Casey and seven from Roman Valvano.

“There were a few times that the ball bounced and they ran it and got the basketball while we were standing around watching," Taylor said. "So it was like I told the guys, it’s a 22-game season. It’s a marathon not to let this failure be a waste and just get ready for Woodland Hills. They’re bigger, faster, stronger, more athletic and there gonna wanna get up and down so we got two days to prep.

Williamsport led 18-7 after the first quarter before Scranton cut the deficit to 31-25 leading into the half. By the third quarter’s end, Scranton only trailed by two points, 41-39.

"A lot of our guys do play other sports like track and some play baseball or football. I want our guys and encourage our guys to go out for other sports. It gives the body a chance to work other muscles that aren’t being used, like in football I can't simulate running through a blocker like a football practice can," said Taylor. "Yes we did do some stuff that I was pleased with, we had a very good first half and I thought we shot the ball well in the first half and we definitely had a great pace of play,” Taylor said. “So I was very pleased with that we just have to clean up those mistakes that I mentioned and I think we'll be in good shape.”

SCRANTON PREP (55)

James Pettinato 4 2-2 11, Jordan Odom 0 0-0 0, Chase Scanlan 1 0-0 2, Brycen Martin 6 0-0 15, Kellen Casey 2 5-7 9, Roman Valvano 2 2-2 7, Joe Ramey 1 0-0 2, Ambrose Rossi 4 1-2 9.

WILLIAMSPORT (53)

Jamaire Harden 1 0-0 2, Zach Lake 1 0-0 2, Caden Hott 3 1-1, 9,Jakiha Kline 1 0-0 2, George Whaley 5 1-3 13, Thomas Takach 4 0-0 8, Chris White 3 2-2 11, Naamir Lowe 0 0-0 0, Mahki Johnson 0 0-0 0, Caleb Fausnaught 3 0-0 6.

Scranton Prep 7 18 14 16–55

Williamsport 18 13 10 12–53

3-point goals: Scranton Prep 5 (Martin 3, Pettinato 1, Valvano 1), Williamsport 7 (White 3, Whaley 2, Hott 2)

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