Rachael Rose completed a tournament Most Valuable Player weekend with 16 points and Scranton Prep’s defense limited Dunmore to seven second-half points Sunday night when the Classics claimed the Lynett Memorial title with a 44-28 victory at the Lackawanna College Student Union.
The Classics both shut down the Lady Bucks attack and fueled their own offense with their play on the defensive end.
Scranton Prep forced 17 turnovers, which it converted into 20 points.
The Classics limited the Lady Bucks to 2-for-12 (16.7 percent) shooting in the second half. Dunmore missed all six of its 3-point attempts during that time.
Two of the 12 steals by the Classics came on the first two possessions of the second half, leading to baskets in the first 35 seconds to break a 21-21 halftime tie and put Scranton Prep ahead to stay.
The Classics stretched the lead from there to post the win in a game that matched teams with similar credentials. Both were defending Lackawanna League division champions and champions of their classifications in District 2.
Scranton Prep suffered just one regular-season loss in 2018-19, that coming to Dunmore when the Lady Bucks were on their way to their fourth straight Lynett title, a streak that ended Sunday. Dunmore only lost once in the entire 2018-19 season and that was not until the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 3A state championship game.
While Scranton Prep was ranked first among Big Schools in the Riverfront Sports Super Six Power Rankings of District 2 teams, Dunmore was listed second in Small Schools. Both teams ended last season on top of those lists, which are determined by NEPABasketball.com.
The Classics have now won 24 straight regular-season games and 25 straight against District 2 competition. The loss ended Dunmore’s streaks at 33 regular-season games and 36 within District 2, dating back almost 2 years.
The matchup reached the half living up to expectations.
Mia Blume’s two 3-pointers helped Dunmore to a 16-11 lead after one quarter, but the teams headed to the locker rooms tied, 21-21.
Scranton Prep wound up leading all but 10 seconds of the second half.
That’s how long it took Meredith Purcell to jump in front of an entry pass to the high post and go the other way for a layup.
The basket was the only one of the game for Purcell, who was the game's leading rebounder with nine.
Cecelia Collins came up with an errant pass in the lane in the next possession, took the ball all the way to the foul line on the other end, then found Lizzie Neville cutting to the basket for a 25-21 lead that led to a quick timeout by Dunmore coach Ben O’Brien.
Collins finished with 11 points and made the all-tournament team.
Neville's basket in the key stretch was also her only one of the game. She made her biggest contributions with a team-high four steals and also grabbed five rebounds.
Freshman Ciera Toomey led Dunmore with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocked shots, all team-leading totals, and was also an all-tournament pick.
Murray, a first-team Class 3A all-state selection last season as a freshman, was limited to three points, but did dish out five assists, including four in the first half, for the Lady Bucks. She also grabbed five rebounds before fouling out late.
There were seven lead changes and five ties in the first half before Scranton Prep took control early in the second half.
Holy Cross 53, Scranton 50
Kaci Kranson scored 21 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and made 4 steals while helping Holy Cross hold off Scranton in the consolation game of the Lynett Tournament.
Scranton trailed 15-2 early and 23-9 in the second quarter, but came back to get within one with a minute left. The Lady Knights had a 50-footer to try to force overtime bounce off the rim at the final buzzer.
Abbey Lentowski added 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals in the win and made the all-tournament team.
Lanie Olsen scored 17 points and all-tournament selection Sophia Glogowski had 11 for Scranton.
Ky'anhi Harbin scored 7 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Colette Mulderig added nine rebounds and six assists.
