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NANTICOKE &#8212; Sophomore Jake Krupinski surrendered his normal starting spot Tuesday night so all of the Nanticoke Area seniors could begin the game on the court on senior night.Once he entered the game, Krupinski showed why he&#8217;s been a starter the past two seasons.Krupinski scored 19 points and completed his double-double with his 10th rebound at a key point of the fourth quarter as Nanticoke Area defeated GAR 74-65 to gain sole possession of first place in Division 2 of Wyoming Valley Conference boys basketball.&#8220;It didn&#8217;t mind it because I knew it was senior night,&#8221; Krupinski said of not starting. &#8220;I just had to play my game that I play every night.&#8221;Nanticoke Area (11-4 Div. 2, 16-4) needs to navigate two more games for its second consecutive divisional title.The Trojans are at Tunkhannock (6-7 Div. 2, 10-8) on Thursday and at Wyoming Area (1-11 Div. 2, 2-16) on Saturday. GAR (10-5 Div. 2, 13-7) finishes up the WVC season at Wyoming Area on Thursday and by hosting rival Meyers (5-9 Div. 2, 5-14) on Friday.&#8220;We&#8217;re happy with the one-game cushion on GAR, but we didn&#8217;t win anything tonight,&#8221; Nanticoke Area coach John Beggs said. &#8220;But it definitely gives us a little bit of an advantage.&#8221;GAR led just twice all game, both coming in the opening minutes &#8212; 5-4 and 7-6. Nanticoke Area then threatened to take control as consecutive 3-pointers by Nate Kreitzer, Krupinski and Colby Butczynski gave the Trojans a 21-10 advantage late in the quarter.But like all game, whenever Nanticoke Area created some space the Grenadiers closed the gap.Just not enough.&#8220;We got in hole that we had to chase all game,&#8221; GAR coach Jerry Altavilla said. &#8220;Then we got it down to four and we needed something to go our way.&#8221;The Grenadiers actually had the deficit whittled to three, 61-58, midway through the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by Tyler Young and two layups by Will Johnson, the first coming on a spinning move in the lane. Nanticoke Area, though, dominated the final minutes.The biggest momentum shift came after Butczynski missed the second of two free throws with 1:16 remaining. Krupinski grabbed the rebound &#8212; his 10th &#8212; and after a timeout found Kreitzer slicing to the basket for a 69-60 lead.&#8220;We knew they would fight to the last second and they did,&#8221; Kreitzer said. &#8220;They cut it to three and they were knocking down shots like we were. It was a really hard-fought game by both teams.&#8221;Frustration set in late for GAR, which was called for two technical fouls in the final minute. Kreitzer made all four technical free throws to finish off his 23-point night. Butczynski added 17 and Trahjan Krupinski, Jake&#8217;s older brother, had 10 and six boards.Johnson had 22 for GAR. Young had 16 and Jared O&#8217;Day 11, with the duo combining for seven 3-pointers that often tightened things up. Curtis Smith added 14.Hazleton Area 56, Crestwood 50Hazleton Area held Crestwood to 10 points in the first half and then held on to take a half-game lead in Division 1.Da&#8217;Mair Faison scored 28 points for Hazleton Area (12-2 Div. 1, 13-6). The Cougars, though, have two tough opponents remaining. They play at Pittston Area (8-6, Div. 1, 12-8) on Thursday and at Dallas (8-6 Div. 1, 11-8) on Saturday. Hazleton Area defeated Pittston Area in overtime and lost to Dallas earlier this season.Crestwood (11-2 Div. 1, 15-4) has a much easier schedule. The Comets play Wyoming Valley West (1-12 Div. 2, 1-18) on Thursday and Friday and finish with Coughlin (4-9 Div. 1, 5-13) on Saturday.Crestwood had just three field goals in the first half, but made a comeback bid behind Sean Murphy. The guard had 17 of his 19 points in the second half. Mike Palmiero added 11 and Ryan Petrosky had 10.Meyers 62, Tunkhannock 37The Mohawks beat Tunkhannock behind Kendall Brewster and his game-high 23 points.Blake Masker also scored 18 points to help lead Meyers offensive attack.Tyler Faux led the Tigers with 16 points.Coughlin 61, Wyoming Valley West 51, OTThe Crusaders took Wyoming Valley West to overtime and had dominated the extra four minutes.Brandon Hall led Coughlin with 19 points followed by Tony Egidio with 16 and Aaron Bennett, who had 14 on four 3-pointers.Pittston Area 50, Dallas 45Pittston Area topped Dallas in a close game.Luke DelGaudio had a game-high 13 points for Dallas.Brennan Higgins led the Patriots with nine points.Berwick 55, Wyoming Area 39The Bulldogs won their first game of the year behind 21 points from Zach Evans.Eric Montes was behind Evans with 15 points for Berwick.Dan Weidl scored 20 points for the Warriors.Hanover Area 38, Holy Redeemer 36Evan Materna knocked down three 3-pointers to finish with nine points and Asad Whitehead scored a game-high 19 points to lead Hanover Area past the Royals, who fell out of a first-place tie in Division 3 with Wyoming Seminary.Matt Prociak led Holy Redeemer with 14 points.Wyoming Seminary 63, MMI Prep 48The Blue Knights and Dimitri Gnall topped MMI Prep as the Blue Knights took over first place in Division 3 with the win and Holy Redeemer&#8217;s loss.Gnall led Wyoming Seminary with 22 points followed by Jeremy Callahan&#8217;s 12 points.Matt Marchetti had a game-high 29 points to lead the Preppers.Nanticoke Area 74, GAR 65GAR (65) &#8212; Will Johnson 9 2-2 22, Tyler Young 5 2-2 16, Jared O&#8217;Day 4 0-0 11, Curtis Smith 6 0-0 14, Shawn Adamson 1 0-0 2, Tyreek Green 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 4-4 65.NANTICOKE AREA (74) &#8212; Nate Kreitzer 7 5-6 23, Colby Butczynski 6 4-6 17, Trahjan Krupinski 4 2-4 10, Brandon Fontaine 0 0-0 0, Dylan Szychowski 0 2-2 2, Jake Krupinski 7 3-3 19, JJ Bielecki 0 0-0 0, Andy Kozlofski 1 0-0 3. Totals 25 16-21 74.GAR`14`17`15`19 &#8212; 65Nanticoke Area`21`15`18`20 &#8212; 74Three-point goals &#8212; GAR 11 (Johnson 2, Young 4, O&#8217;Day 3, Smith 2). NA 8 (Kreitzer 4, Butczynski, J.Krupinski 2, Kozlofski).Hazleton Area 56, Crestwood 50 CRESTWOOD (50) &#8212; Ryan Petroski 4 0-0 10, Frank Casarella 0 0-0 0, Brad Papura 1 0-2 2, Sean Murphy 6 7-8 19, Adam Gegaris 0 0-0 0, Camden Boris 1 2-2 4, Jacob Zaleski 1 2-2 4, Mike Palmiero 5 1-1 11. Totals 18 12-15 50. HAZLETON AREA (56) &#8212; Andrew Vayda 3 0-0 7, Sparky Wolk 1 0-0 3, Scott Campbell 3 0-0 7, Kyle Franek 1 0-0 3, Jecxander Moronta 0 0-0 0, Da&#8217;Mir Faison 12 4-7 28, Warren Seigendall 1 6-6 8. Totals 21 10-13 56. Crestwood`4`6`14`26 &#8212; 50 Hazleton Area`9`13`12`22 &#8212; 56 Three-point goals &#8212; CRE 2 (Petrosky 2). HA 4 (Vayda, Wolk, Campbell, Franek).BOYS BASKETBALLMeyers 62, Tunkhannock 37TUNKHANNOCK (37) &#8212; Tyler Faux 5 4-4 16, Ryan Harder 3 0-0 8, Jack Chilson 2 1-2 5, Avery Billings 2 1-1 5, C.J. Wright 1 0-0 3, Chris Trochak 0 0-0 0, Logan Helsel 0 0-0 0, Nick Reposa 0 0-0 0, Erik Bennett 0 0-0 0, Dylan Cavanaugh 0 0-0 0, Isiah Simon 0 0-0 0, Zach Rogers 0 0-0 0, Jaren Robinson 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 6-7 37.MEYERS (62) &#8212; Kendall Brewster 7 7-8 23, Blake Masker 9 0-0 18, Cole Walker 3 1-1 7, Keegan Brewster 3 0-1 6, Jack Gilgallon 2 0-0 5, Jordan Diggs 1 0-0 3, Jihad Yancey 0 0-0 0, Ryan Casey 0 0-0 0, Blake Bynon 0 0-0 0, David Kasper 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 8-10 62.Tunkhannock`8`14`4`11 &#8212; 37Meyers`15`9`17`21 &#8212; 62Three-point goals &#8212; TUNK 5 (Harder 2, Faux 2, Wright); MEY 4 (Kendall Brewster 2, Diggs, Gilgallon).Coughlin 61, Wyoming Valley West 51, OTWYOMING VALLEY WEST (51) &#8212; Saquan Portee 5 1-2 14, Roland Hamod 4 2-2 10, Danny Gibbons 2 3-4 7, Joey Lombardo 2 0-0 4, Tom Federici 1 2-2 4, Christian Machak 2 0-0 4, Tyler Gillespie 2 0-0 4, Anthony Jamison 0 0-2 0. Totals 19 10-16 51.COUGHLIN (61) &#8212; Brandon Hall 7 5-8 19, Tony Egidio 7 2-2 16, Aaron Bennett 4 2-6 14, Matt Egidio 1 4-6 6, Prince Allen 2 0-0 4, Damon Jones 0 1-2 1, Trent Zevada 0 1-2 1, Shawn Valenzuela. Totals 21 15-26 61.Wyoming Valley West`11`12`5`17`6 &#8212; 51Coughlin`10`9`10`16`16 &#8212; 61Three-point goals &#8212; WVW 3 (Portee 3); COU 4 (Bennett 4).Pittston Area 50, Dallas 45DALLAS (45) &#8212; Luke DelGaudio 5 3-4 13, Sam Nocito 4 4-4 12 Nick Nocito 4 0-1 9, Justin Finarelli 1 4-4 6, Jack Farrell 1 0-0 2, Dylan Schuster 1 0-0 2, Austin Finarelli 0 1-2 1. Totals 16 12-14 45.PITTSTON AREA (50) &#8212; Brennan Higgins 4 0-0 9, Mike George 0 8-12 8, Andrew Krawczyk 3 0-0 8, Sevion Leak 3 0-1 7, Matt Johnson 2 0-0 6, J.J. Walsh 2 0-1 6, Logan Booth 2 0-1 4, Adam Penya 1 0-0 2, David Behm 0 0-0 0. Totals 17, 8-15 50.Dallas`4`11`17`13 &#8212; 45Pittston Area`14`14`9`13 &#8212; 50Three-point goals &#8212; DAL 1 (N. Nocito); PIT 8 (Walsh 2, Krawczyk 2, Johnson 2, Leak, Higgins).Berwick 55, Wyoming Area 39WYOMING AREA (39) &#8212; Dan Wiedl 5 9-10 20, Nick Rubino 4 0-0 12, Jake Greenfield 2 0-1 4, Nick Elko 0 1-2 1, Jesse Mike Mikoliczyk 0 1-2 1, Sam Soloman 0 1-2 1, Evan Melberger 0 0-0 0, Jason Wiedl 0 0-0 0, Zach Capitano 0 0-0 0, Matt Sorick 0 0-0 0, FJ Braccini 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 12-17 39.BERWICK (55) &#8212; Zach Evans 7 7-8 21, Eric Montes 5 2-2 15, Jarrett Groshek 2 1-2 6, Miles Doll 2 1-1 5, Jake Seely 1 1-2 4, Devon Smith 1 0-0 3, Brayden Boone 0 1-2 1, Tasjee Taylor 0 0-0 0, NaQuan Smith 0 0-0 0, Peyton Williams 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 13-17 55.Wyoming Area`11`9`8`11 &#8212; 39Berwick`14`17`14`10 &#8212; 55Three-point goals &#8212; WA (Rubino 4, Wiedl); BER 6 (Montes 3, Seely, Groshek, D. Smith).Hanover Area 38, Holy Redeemer 36HOLY REDEEMER (36) &#8212; Matt Prociak 7 0-2 14, Justice Shoats 4 0-1 9, Jared Pointkowski 2 0-0 4, Derek Answini 1 0-0 3, Collin Cook 1 0-2 3, Mason Mendygral 1 0-0 3. Totals 16 0-5 36.HANOVER AREA (38) &#8212; Asad Whitehead 7 5-7 19, Evan Materna 3 0-0 9, Justin Kopko 2 0-0 4, Khairi Carson 2 0-0 4, Lamarr Nelson 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 5-7 38.Holy Redeemer`9`11`14`2 &#8212; 36Hanover Area`12`10`9`7 &#8212; 38Three-point goals &#8212; HR 4 (Mendygral, Cook, Shoats, Answini); HAN 3 (Materna 3).Wyoming Seminary 63, MMI Prep 48WYOMING SEMINARY (63) &#8212; Dimitri Gnall 7 8-8 22, Jeremy Callahan 2 8-10 12, Nick Gantner 4 3-6 11, Todd Phillips 4 0-0 10, Nick Bufalino 2 2-3 6, Ryan Anderson 0 2-2 2, Alex Meuser 0 0-0 0, Ethan Meuser 0 0-0 0, Andrew Maddock 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 23-29 63.MMI PREP (48) &#8212; Matt Marchetti 11 3-3 29, Tyler Degenhart 3 1-2 7, Keefer Hoover 2 1-2 5, Marcus Kassick 1 2-2 4, Mason Marchetti 1 1-2 3, AJ Jordan 0 0-0 0, Harry Kress 0 0-0 0, Josue Rodriguez 0 0-0 0, David Antolick 0 0-0 0, Leith Abdulrahamn 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 8-11 48.Wyoming Seminary`14`18`18`13 &#8212; 63MMI Prep`19`11`6`12 &#8212; 48Three-point goals &#8212; WS 2 (Phillips 2); MMI 4 (Marchetti 4).<style>
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<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke Area point guard Nate Kreitzer dribbles through a gap in the GAR defense on Tuesday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020619BBGARNant1.jpeg.jpg</photo0><caption0>Nanticoke Area point guard Nate Kreitzer dribbles through a gap in the GAR defense on Tuesday night. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020619BBGARNant2.jpeg.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke Area&#8217;s Coly Butczynski shoots a 3-pointer between the defense of GAR&#8217;s Jared O&#8217;Day (5) and Tyler Young (11) during Tuesday&#8217;s game. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020619BBGARNant2.jpeg.jpg</photo1><caption1>Nanticoke Area&#8217;s Coly Butczynski shoots a 3-pointer between the defense of GAR&#8217;s Jared O&#8217;Day (5) and Tyler Young (11) during Tuesday&#8217;s game. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020619BBGARNant3.jpeg.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke Area&#8217;s Jake Krupinski scores a layup against GAR&#8217;s Shawn Adamson during Tuesday&#8217;s game. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_TTL020619BBGARNant3.jpeg.jpg</photo2><caption2>Nanticoke Area&#8217;s Jake Krupinski scores a layup against GAR&#8217;s Shawn Adamson during Tuesday&#8217;s game. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Nanticoke Area tops GAR in Division 2 showdown</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By John Erzarjerzar@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar</shirttailMeta></div>

H.S. Boys Basketball: Nanticoke Area tops GAR in Division 2 showdown