Wilson Dominates Dyb Playoffs

Auditor General Probing Pittston Pensions' Validity

By MICHAEL LELLO mlello@leader.net
 Wednesday, February 28, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1B 





SCRANTON - The whistle blew on Wyoming Valley West's season Tuesday night. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In a bitter end to a sweet season for the Spartans, a goaltending call with
one second left in the game gave North Pocono a 58-56 victory in a District 2
Class 4A boys basketball semifinal at Scranton's Catholic Youth Center. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; North Pocono advances to Friday's final against Williamsport and has locked
up a berth in the PIAA tournament. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Spartans (21-5) led 56-54 with 46 seconds to go when Matt Kieslawsky's
shot tied it for North Pocono (24-3). The Trojans' Bob Lynch then forced
Valley West guard Greg Pieczynski into a backcourt violation. On the ensuing
North Pocono possession, Lynch - who scored a game-high 20 points - failed to
connect on a mid-range shot with one tick left on the clock, but Spartan
center Brian Mattes, who appeared to grab the net, was called for goaltending. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We had the game to win,'' said Valley West coach Dan Messinger. ``I'm not
blaming the loss on that ref, but that should be a no-call with one second
left in the district game. I'm not saying that's a bad call, it may have even
been goaltending, but that's a no-call with one second left in the district
(semifinal) game.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Valley West indeed had its share of opportunities to finish off the
Trojans. With 1:28 left in the game, Valley West had a six-point lead. Mark
Franceski hit a layup off a backdoor cut and Lynch sunk two free throws to
bring the Trojans within two, setting up Kieslawsky's game-tying shot. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mattes led the Spartans with 14 points, but only hit two shots from the
floor. The junior was 10 for 14 from the free throw line. Pieczynski, who
played his final game for Valley West along with fellow senior starters Clancy
Boylan (nine points) and Francis Crossin (six points), scored nine of his 13
points in the second half. Junior sixth man Jeff Pianelli added eight points. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kieslawsky finished with 12 and Franceski had nine. The deep North Pocono
squad used a nine-man rotation to wear down the weary Spartans. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It was the final episode in a season of close calls for the Spartans.
Valley West managed to go 2-1 against Wyoming Valley Conference Division I
rival Hazleton Area with a total of only five points separating the two teams.
The Spartans also barely escaped divisional foe Tunkhannock, 39-38, in their
regular-season finale. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We had a heck of a year,'' said Messinger, who led the Spartans to the
Wyoming Valley Conference Division I title in his debut season. ``We surpassed
many expectations - not our expectations. We're proud to be where we are. This
loss hurts big-time, especially when you lose like that. To fight like that
and have the game decided on a whistle with one second left, that's what
hurts.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wvw Falls To North Pocono Last-second Goaltending Call Gives Trojans The Win And A Berth In Friday's Class 4a Final Against Williamsport.