Apr. 5—PLAINS TWP. — Once Luis Guzman got warmed up Friday night, he became the player he was all season for Hazleton Area.
Guzman scored all 20 of his points in the second half as the Blue team held off the White team 98-91 in the 56th George P. Moses Boys Basketball Senior All-Star Classic at Wilkes-Barre Area High School.
“I didn’t feel well,” Guzman said via translator Juan Silva about his first half. “I didn’t warm up enough.”
Guzman also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and was named the MVP of the Blue.
Wyoming Area’s Lukas Burakiewicz scored 12 points and was selected the White’s MVP.
“I love basketball,” Burakiewicz said. “Every time I step on the floor I’m going to give it my hardest. I think that’s the same for everyone here.”
Guzman’s consecutive baskets with five minutes remaining gave the Blue an 84-76 lead. Pittston Area’s Paul Jordan McGarry then hit a 3-pointer for the Blue for the first double-digit lead by either team.
The White spent a good portion of the second half trying to chase down the Blue’s slim lead. The score was tied four times before Wyoming Seminary’s Antek Evan hit a 3-pointer to give the White a 70-69 lead with 9:40 remaining. (Two 20-minute halves were played).
Hanover Area’s Noah Dewey followed with an inside basket to bump the White’s lead to 72-60.
But after two more ties, Guzman scored inside and McGarry nailed a 3-pointer in a 6-0 run to put the Blue ahead for good 80-74.
The Blue received a strong first half from Dallas teammates Jack Dale and Jude Nocito, who a day earlier were on the baseball field in an 11-1 win over Wyoming Valley West. Dale scored all 13 of his points in the first half while Nocito had 10 of his 15.
The Blue had its lead up to eight points late in the first half, but baskets by Berwick’s Billy Hanson and Evan moved the White within 46-42 at halftime.
Hanson finished with 12 points and Evan had 10. They tied for the team lead in rebounds with seven. Holy Redeemer’s David Popson led the White with 13 points.
Wyoming Seminary’s Teddy Kraus won the 3-point shooting contest, topping Guzman 12-8.
The game was different than in the past when the players took a more laid back approach and defense was far from regular-season levels. Both teams played with intensity throughout.
“It was wonderful,” said Guzman, who was looking forward in particular to playing with Nocito. “It was one thing playing against them, but now we were playing together.”
Blue 98, White 91
BLUE (98): Brady Grevera 3 0-0 7, Ryan Sechleer 2 0-0 4, Jack Dale 5 0-0 13, Jude Nocito 6 0-0 15, Luis Guzman 9 0-0 20, Gavin Perkovsky 0 0-0 0, Ethan Ball 0 1-2 1, RJ Brogan 2 0-0 4, Aiden Lynn 1 0-0 2, Paul Jordan McGarry 3 0-0 9, Matt Walter 1 0-0 2, Quran Brooks 4 0-0 8, Jordany Rodriguez 1 2-4 4, Navion Terry 3 0-0 6, Lamar Weatherspoon 1 0-0 2. Totals 41 3-6 98.
WHITE (91): Billy Hanson 5 2-2 12, Julian Howie 2 0-0 4, Noah Dewey 3 0-0 7, Gernard Williams 2 0-0 4, David Popson 5 2-2 13, Brayden Sock 3 0-2 7, Spencer Smith 3 0-0 7, Nick Pantages 2 0-0 4, Lukas Burakiewicz 5 0-0 12, Anthony DeLucca 2 0-0 6, Antek Evan 4 0-0 10, Teddy Kraus 1 2-4 5. Totals 37 6-10 91.
Blue’46’53 — 98
White’42’49 — 91
Three-point goals: Blue 13 (Dale 3, Nocito 3, Grevera 2, McGarry 3, Guzman 2). White 11 (DeLucca 2, Burakiewicz 2, Kraus, Smith, Sock, Evan 2, Popson, Dewey).