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Trump wins South Carolina; Bush drops out

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Steve Stravinski was well aware he had yet to hit a shot in the final home game of his Wilkes career.</p><p>The first six tries for the Colonels senior wouldn&#8217;t fall. But here he was with the ball in the corner, his team clinging to a one-point lead over rival King&#8217;s with under two minutes to play.</p><p>A packed Wilkes student section was on its feet as the Pittston Area grad let the 3-pointer fly.</p><p>&#8220;No (hesitation),&#8221; Stravinski said. &#8220;Never. This is why we practice shooting so many shots every day. You&#8217;ve gotta have confidence. And it&#8217;s frustrating when I can&#8217;t get one to go, but I&#8217;m going to keep shooting.&#8221;</p><p>Naturally, this one went down. And the Colonels were on their way to the playoffs.</p><p>With their season on the line, it was Wilkes&#8217; veterans who came through in the clutch of an 83-77 win over the Monarchs Saturday at the Marts Center. Stravinski&#8217;s lone bucket was critical and fellow senior Alec Wizar played all but the last six seconds of the victory, scoring 17 points.</p><p>Sophomore Zach Brunner turned in a huge performance himself, finishing with 18 points and 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass. He added three assists, two steals and a block.</p><p>It all added up to the first playoff berth in four years for the Colonels (13-12, 8-6). They will be the No. 4 seed in next week&#8217;s Freedom Conference tournament and will hit the road to take on No. 1 DeSales at 8 p.m. Wednesday.</p><p>&#8220;It really means a lot to get (the seniors into the playoffs),&#8221; said Wilkes coach Izzi Metz, who had all four of them in the starting lineup Saturday. &#8220;This is something we talked about with them since before the season.&#8221;</p><p>The other semifinal will feature a rematch of last season&#8217;s conference championship as Misericordia hosts Delaware Valley at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Cougars knocked off Manhattanville on the road Saturday to wrap up the second seed and a home game.</p><p>King&#8217;s certainly wasn&#8217;t going to give Wilkes an easy path to the playoffs. Especially not from Chris Fazzini, who turned in a career-best performance with 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the loss.</p><p>The Monarchs (12-13, 6-8) erased a seven-point halftime deficit in less than two minutes, using a 9-0 run to take a 45-43 lead. With fifth-place Manhattanville leading Misericordia at halftime, the Colonels were heading toward the brink.</p><p>That&#8217;s what happened a year ago when the Monarchs knocked off Wilkes in the season finale to claim the final tournament berth themselves.</p><p>&#8220;We talked about it before the game,&#8221; Stravinski said. &#8220;It was the same case as last year. We win, we&#8217;re in. &#8230; We said we&#8217;re not going to have that feeling again. We&#8217;re not going to let that happen.&#8221;</p><p>This time around, Wilkes managed to take back the lead. But when King&#8217;s standout Dan Rutecki (20 points) scored off an inbounds play with 2:08 left &#8212; hitting 1,000 career points in the process &#8212; the Monarchs had cut the lead to 75-74.</p><p>Stravinski answered at the other end of the court with his big shot. Brunner then picked up a defensive rebound and spun through the lane at the other end to make it 80-74 and restore control for the Colonels.</p><p>&#8220;The second half, in my opinion, was just a great half of basketball,&#8221; Monarchs coach J.P. Andrejko said. &#8220;I thought both teams played really well and it was what I love about Division III basketball. The kids played their hearts out both ways.</p><p>&#8220;I thought people made plays. I didn&#8217;t think it was a matter of mistakes that determined the game. People made shots and defensive stops. A great half of basketball.&#8221;</p><p>And one of the best atmospheres of the season as a vocal Wilkes student section gave the gym an energy that only emerges a few times each season.</p><p>The bad news? Andrejko said next season&#8217;s conference schedule won&#8217;t feature another emotional King&#8217;s-Wilkes matchup as the finale. The second game between the city rivals will instead be earlier in February.</p><p>&#8220;You put this as the last game of the season with playoff implications on the line and this (environment) is what you get,&#8221; Andrejko said. &#8220;It&#8217;s fantastic. &#8230; It&#8217;s a shame that it&#8217;s been changed. I&#8217;m horribly disappointed by that decision.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Lady Monarchs roll</strong></p><p>The King&#8217;s women closed out the 2015-16 campaign with their biggest output of the season, cruising past Wilkes 88-59 in the first half of the doubleheader.</p><p>King&#8217;s senior Tara Zdancewicz led all scorers with 21 points in her final game, adding seven rebounds as the Lady Monarchs finished with a 63-40 edge on the boards.</p><p>Jennifer Fabian (18 points, eight rebounds) and Sara Krupinski (four points, five rebounds, three assists) also wrapped up their college careers.</p><p>&#8220;We feel good about this,&#8221; King&#8217;s coach Brian Donoghue said. &#8220;They&#8217;ve had a frustrating year or two (playing) with different combinations. And the three seniors really have had a good year. They did some really good things today.&#8221;</p><p>Emily Sofranko topped Wilkes with 11 points. The Lady Colonels honored Cara Basile (seven points, seven rebounds) and Chelsea Smelas (injured) in their senior day ceremony before the game.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>MEN</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Wilkes 83, King&#8217;s 77</strong></p><p><strong>KING&#8217;S (77)</strong> &#8212; Connor Hughes 2-4 0-0 5, John Fazzini 3-7 1-2 10, Chris Fazzini 8-15 6-9 25, Tom Heston 5-7 0-1 10, Dan Rutecki 8-16 4-6 20, Nate Oliver 0-0 0-0 0, Jake Barber 2-6 3-4 7, John Dini 0-1 0-0 0, Derek Wilkins 0-3 0-0 0. <strong>Totals 28-59 14-22 77.</strong></p><p><strong>WILKES (83)</strong> &#8212; Marcus Robinson 4-11 0-2 11, Alec Wizar 6-15 2-4 17, Amal Pillai 2-5 0-0 5, Steve Stravinski 1-7 0-0 3, Devin Dunn 1-1 0-0 2, Connor Evans 2-6 2-2 7, Tommy Bowen 1-2 0-0 3, John Goffredo 0-0 0-0 0, Clay Basalyga 4-5 2-2 11, Quinlin Parsons 1-1 2-4 4, Zach Walser 1-1 0-0 2, Zach Brunner 8-11 2-2 18. <strong>Totals 31-65 10-16 83.</strong></p><p><strong>Halftime </strong>&#8212; Wilkes, 43-36</p><p><strong>3-point goals</strong> &#8212; KC 7-13 (C. Fazzini 3-3, J. Fazzini 3-5, Hughes 1-2, Dini 0-1, Barber 0-2); WU 11-34 (Robinson 3-8, Wizar 3-10, Bown 1-2, Basalyga 1-2, Pillai 1-3, Evans 1-4, Stravinski 1-5)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>WOMEN</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>King&#8217;s 88, Wilkes 59</strong></p><p><strong>KING&#8217;S (88)</strong> &#8212; Olivia Hoffman 4-8 2-3 10, Sara Krupinski 0-2 4-4 4, Jennifer Fabian 6-16 4-5 18, Kayla Feairheller 4-15 6-6 14, Tara Zdancewicz 9-21 2-4 21, Madison Quinn 0-0 0-0 0, Mia Barbieri 0-0 2-2 2, Erin Schmidt 0-1 0-0 0, Alexis Steeber 2-6 1-2 5, Hayleigh Hanson 0-0 0-0 0, Cayle Spencer 3-7 0-0 9, Rachael DeTore 0-1 2-2 2, Maggie Michael 1-1 1-2 3. <strong>Totals 29-78 24-30 88.</strong></p><p><strong>WILKES (59)</strong> &#8212; Emily Sofranko 4-8 2-2 11, Cara Basile 3-17 0-0 7, Jamie Campbell 3-8 0-0 9, Haley Mesaros 1-4 2-4 4, Catey McFadden 2-8 2-4 8, Sarah Birchmeier 0-0 0-0 0, Missy Oertner 2-8 2-2 6, Emelie Meinhart 0-0 0-0 0, Nicole Farrell 2-3 4-6 8, Ashley Caster 0-5 2-2 2, Emily Sutton 2-5 0-0 4. <strong>Totals 19-66 14-20 59.</strong></p><p><strong>King&#8217;s`24`25`24`15`&#8212;`88</strong></p><p><strong>Wilkes`17`17`10`15`&#8212;`59</strong></p><p><strong>3-point goals</strong> &#8212; KC 6-27 (Spencer 3-6, Fabian 2-6, Zdancewicz 1-5, Krupinski 0-1, Schmidt 0-1, Feairheller 0-8); WU 7-18 (Campbell 3-7, McFadden 2-5, Sofranko 1-1, Basile 1-2, Oertner 0-1, Mesaros 0-2)</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wilkes&#8217; John Goffredo dribbles past Kings&#8217; Connor Hughes at the Marts Center on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116KingsWilkesMBB2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wilkes&#8217; John Goffredo dribbles past Kings&#8217; Connor Hughes at the Marts Center on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116KingsWilkesMBB3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes&#8217; Alec Wizar (left) drives past Kings&#8217; Jake Barber at the Marts Center on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116KingsWilkesMBB3-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wilkes&#8217; Alec Wizar (left) drives past Kings&#8217; Jake Barber at the Marts Center on Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116KingsWilkesMBB4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Kings&#8217; Chris Fazzini (center) goes up for a shot against Wilkes&#8217; Marcus Robinson (left) and Zachary Brunner at the Marts Center on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116KingsWilkesMBB4-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Kings&#8217; Chris Fazzini (center) goes up for a shot against Wilkes&#8217; Marcus Robinson (left) and Zachary Brunner at the Marts Center on Saturday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022216KingsWilkesGBB1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Kings&#8217; Kayla Feairheller (left) goes up for a basket against Wilkes&#8217; Sarah Birchmeier during the game at the Marts Center on Saturday. 2/20/16. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022216KingsWilkesGBB1-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Kings&#8217; Kayla Feairheller (left) goes up for a basket against Wilkes&#8217; Sarah Birchmeier during the game at the Marts Center on Saturday. 2/20/16. </caption3><photoCredit3>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022216KingsWilkesGBB2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wlkes&#8217; Ashley Caster (left) reaches up to block Kings&#8217; Tara Zdancewicz (32) during the game at the Marts Center on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022216KingsWilkesGBB2-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Wlkes&#8217; Ashley Caster (left) reaches up to block Kings&#8217; Tara Zdancewicz (32) during the game at the Marts Center on Saturday. </caption4><photoCredit4>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022216KingsWilkesGBB3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Kings&#8217; Jennifer Fabian (23) takes a shot against Wilkes&#8217; Nicole Farrell (right) during the game at the Marts Center on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022216KingsWilkesGBB3-1.jpg</photo5><caption5>Kings&#8217; Jennifer Fabian (23) takes a shot against Wilkes&#8217; Nicole Farrell (right) during the game at the Marts Center on Saturday. </caption5><photoCredit5>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022216KingsWilkesGBB4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Kings&#8217; Rachael DeTore (left) hustles around Wilkes&#8217; Cara Basile at the Marts Center on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022216KingsWilkesGBB4-1.jpg</photo6><caption6>Kings&#8217; Rachael DeTore (left) hustles around Wilkes&#8217; Cara Basile at the Marts Center on Saturday. </caption6><photoCredit6>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116KingsWilkesMBB1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes&#8217; Amal Pillai (center) goes for a layup against Kings&#8217; Connor Evans (left) and Chris Fazzini at the Marts Center on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL022116KingsWilkesMBB1-1.jpg</photo7><caption7>Wilkes&#8217; Amal Pillai (center) goes for a layup against Kings&#8217; Connor Evans (left) and Chris Fazzini at the Marts Center on Saturday. </caption7><photoCredit7>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit7></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Wilkes edges King&#8217;s to reach postseason</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Derek Levarse</p><p>dlevarse@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Big victory for Wilkes basketball sends Colonels into the playoffs