Arvel Chandler scored 21 points and joined Jason Shields and Dillon Lazdowsky in leading Scranton through overtime Sunday afternoon when the Knights survived an overtime battle with Garnet Valley to advance in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 6A boys tournament with a 52-49 victory at Bethlehem Freedom.
Scranton, the Lackawanna League Division 1 and District 2-4 Class 6A Subregional champion, had to come from behind three times during overtime against the sixth-place team from District 1.
The Knights (23-2) advance to play a third straight District 1 opponent, district champion Lower Merion (26-3) in Wednesday’s state quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. at Bethlehem Liberty.
Before facing the suburban Philadelphia power, the Knights had to get past District 1’s Cinderella team. Garnet Valley (18-11) entered the postseason as the 24th seed in a 24-team field, but beat three teams seeded ninth or higher to finish sixth.
Chandler made the last of his five 3-pointers for the first lead change of overtime.
Shields rallied the Knights the next two times.
After scoring just 3 points in the first 3 quarters, Shields had 5 in the fourth quarter and 4 in overtime to finish with 12. He hit a difficult shot, while moving left to right across the lane, with 14 seconds left to put Scranton ahead to stay, 50-49.
Shields then helped provide the pressure near midcourt that led to an errant pass that Dillon Lazdowsky intercepted. Lazdowsky was fouled and hit two free throws with 4.6 seconds left for a three-point lead.
At that point, the best Garnet Valley could hope for was another overtime.
Ryan Wootten’s attempt from beyond 30 feet hit the front rim and backboard before bouncing away.
Logan McKee led Garnet Valley with 22 points.
Scranton struggled at the foul line late in regulation with a chance to put the game away earlier.
The Knights advanced to their third state tournament meeting with Lower Merion.
In 1996, Kobe Bryant led Lower Merion past Scranton, 79-39, in the second round. The teams met again in the opening round in 2011 with Lower Merion winning, 44-42.
Scranton matched its 2010 team for the deepest trip into the state tournament in school history.
MORE PLAYOFF COVERAGE
Scranton’s first-round game: https://nepabasketball.com/2021-22/Playoffs/BoysScrantonWCEast.
Other Sunday games involving District 2: https://nepabasketball.com/2021-22/Playoffs/Bulletin0313.
