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Times Leader Sports Report: You’re never too big for the boot

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Wilkes-Barre expanding farmers market to 2 days a week

<p>WILKES-BARRE TWP. &#8212; A long layoff was going to be a problem for MMI Prep on Friday afternoon, no doubt.</p><p>The bigger issue, though, was Susquehanna. The Sabers were sizzling from the field in the first three quarters and that was more than enough to overwhelm MMI .</p><p>Mason Deakin and Tyler Williams led an attack that shot 55 percent in the first three quarters as Susquehanna built a big lead and went on to defeat MMI 55-32 in the District 2 Class A boys basketball championship game at Mohegan Sun Arena.</p><p>Neither team will play in the PIAA Class A state tournament. Susquehanna (9-15), which last won the D2-A title in 2012, was eliminated from the D2/11-A playoffs last week. MMI finished the season at 5-18. They played for the championship since they are the only Class A schools in District 2.</p><p>MMI last played Feb. 16 in its Wyoming Valley Conference regular-season finale. The Preppers closed out WVC play strongly, winning three of its last four. But they were out of the usual rhythm of playing twice a week.</p><p>&#8220;That was the wild-card question,&#8221; MMI coach Joe Flanagan said. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t sure if it would or wouldn&#8217;t (affect us). We came out a little sluggish, but thought we answered OK. I think it was more of them. I don&#8217;t know what they shot. They probably shot 65 percent from the field.&#8221;</p><p>Flanagan was close. Susquehanna was 7 of 11 (64 percent) from the field in the first quarter in building a 17-6 lead. The Sabers closed out the first on a 11-2 run as Deakin had three layups during the outburst with the help of five MMI turnovers.</p><p>Susquehanna coach Lawrence Tompkins emphasized the need to get easy shots early in the arena where the lack of a backdrop behind the baskets could make depth perception tricky on perimeter shots.</p><p>&#8220;It was different surroundings,&#8221; said Tompkins, who wore a snazzy blue plaid sportscoat. &#8220;We wanted to get easy baskets, using that defense and turning it into offense. We really did an awesome job with that.&#8221;</p><p>The Sabers extended their run into the second quarter, taking a 24-6 lead before MMI&#8217;s Matt Marchetti snapped it with a 3-pointer. Marchetti followed with another as the Preppers began to claw their way back.</p><p>Marchetti completed a 12-0 run with an inside basket with 1:45, moving MMI within 24-18. Susquehanna, though, scored the next 13 points with a run that extended into the third to pretty much end any Preppers&#8217; threat.</p><p>&#8220;We got down and I think when we made that little run right in the beginning of the second quarter we expelled a lot of energy,&#8221; Flanagan said. &#8220;There wasn&#8217;t much left in the tank. This is a much bigger court than we&#8217;re used to playing on.&#8221;</p><p>MMI went 2 of 23 shooting over the final two quarters.</p><p>Philip Byriel, a 6-foot-7 freshman, scored nine for MMI. Marchetti added eight. Kyle Williams, the only senior in the starting lineup and only starter back from last season, ended his Prep career with five.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>District 2 Class A Championship</strong></p><p><strong>MMI PREP (32) &#8211;</strong> Kyle Williams 2 1-2 5, George Palmero 0 1-2 1, Zack Young 0 2-2 2, Philip Byriel 3 3-8 9, Marcus Kassick 0 0-0 0, Nick Young 1 3-3 5, Kasin Patel 0 2-2 2, Matt Marchetti 3 0-0 8, Lucas Smith 0 0-0 0, Mike Badamo 0 0-0 0, Keefer Hoover 0 0-0 0, Dave Antolick 0 0-0 0, Tyler Degenhart 0 0-0 0, Josue Rodriguez 0 0-0 0, AJ Jordan 0 0-0 0, Reiley DeStefano 0 0-0 0, Jordan DeBelis 0 0-0 0. <strong>Totals 9 12-19 32.</strong></p><p><strong>SUSQUEHANNA (55) &#8211;</strong> Garret Grausgruber 4 1-3 11, Mason Deakin 7 6-0 20, Tyler Williams 8 4-4 20, Eric Lee 1 0-0 2, Bryce Baldwin 0 0-0 0, Canyon Stone 1 0-0 2, Adam Rockwell 0 0-0 0, Alex McHugh 0 0-0 0, Dave Armitage 0 0-0 0, Travis Craig 0 0-0 0, Anthony Dolfini 0 0-0 0, William Dixon 0 0-0 0, Devon Dubanowitz 0 0-0 0, Eric Hall 0 0-0 0, Tim Sweeney 0 0-0 0.<strong> Totals 19 11-17 55.</strong></p><p><strong>MMI Prep`6`12`8`6`&#8212;`32</strong></p><p><strong>Susquehanna`17`13`14`10`&#8212;`55</strong></p><p><strong>Three-point goals &#8211;</strong> MMI 2 (Marchetti 2). SUS 2 (Grausgruber 2).</p><p><ins>For other sports stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/sports" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Susquehanna&#8217;s Adam Rockwell attempts to block MMI Prep&#8217;s Nick Young. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030417MMISusquHSBB1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Susquehanna&#8217;s Adam Rockwell attempts to block MMI Prep&#8217;s Nick Young. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030417MMISusquHSBB2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">MMI Prep&#8217;s Kyle Williams looks past Susquehanna defenders Bryce Baldwin (25) and Canyon Stone. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030417MMISusquHSBB2.jpg</photo1><caption1>MMI Prep&#8217;s Kyle Williams looks past Susquehanna defenders Bryce Baldwin (25) and Canyon Stone. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030417MMISusquHSBB3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">MMI Prep&#8217;s George Palermo passes the ball to teammate Kyle Williams. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030417MMISusquHSBB3.jpg</photo2><caption2>MMI Prep&#8217;s George Palermo passes the ball to teammate Kyle Williams. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030417MMISusquHSBB4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">MMI Prep&#8217;s Nick Young guards Susquehanna&#8217;s Garret Grausgruber. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030417MMISusquHSBB4.jpg</photo3><caption3>MMI Prep&#8217;s Nick Young guards Susquehanna&#8217;s Garret Grausgruber. </caption3><photoCredit3>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030417MMISusquHSBB5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">MMI Prep senior Kyle Williams watches the final seconds of the game as Susquehanna defeated the Preppers 55-32 in the District 2 Class A Championship Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030417MMISusquHSBB5.jpg</photo4><caption4>MMI Prep senior Kyle Williams watches the final seconds of the game as Susquehanna defeated the Preppers 55-32 in the District 2 Class A Championship Friday. </caption4><photoCredit4>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By John Erzar</p><p>jerzar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>DISTRICT 2 BASKETBALL AT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA</strong></p><p><strong>Admission:</strong> $7 adults; $4 students</p><p>All games available on the internet at npfsports.com</p><p><strong>THURSDAY</strong></p><p><strong>Girls A Championship</strong></p><p>Susquehanna 34, Forest City 28</p><p><strong>Girls 4A Championship</strong></p><p>Nanticoke 52, Berwick 33</p><p><strong>Boys 3A Championship</strong></p><p>Holy Redeemer 38, Mid Valley 36</p><p><strong>FRIDAY</strong></p><p><strong>Boys A Championship</strong></p><p>Susquehanna 55, MMI Prep 32</p><p><strong>Girls 2A Championship</strong></p><p>Old Forge 42, Elk Lake 35</p><p><strong>Girls 6A Championship</strong></p><p>Hazleton Area vs. Scranton, 6 p.m.</p><p><strong>Boys 5A Championship</strong></p><p>Abington Hts. vs. West Scranton, 8 p.m.</p><p><strong>SATURDAY</strong></p><p><strong>Girls 3A Championship</strong></p><p>Holy Redeemer vs. Dunmore, noon</p><p><strong>Boys 2A Championship</strong></p><p>Holy Cross vs. Mountain View, 2 p.m.</p><p><strong>Boys 4A Championship</strong></p><p>GAR vs. Scranton Prep, 4 p.m.</p><p><strong>Girls 5A Championship</strong></p><p>Wyo. Val. West vs. Abington Heights, 6 p.m.</p><p><strong>Boys 6A Championship</strong></p><p>Hazleton Area vs. Williamsport, 8 p.m.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Susquehanna overwhelms MMI in Class A boys basketball title game