Warriors claim holiday crown, stay spotless in league

1-7-26

By Corey Gesford
Elk Lake left coal in their opponent’s stockings to capture another Community Foundation
Holiday Tournament and took that momentum into the New Year to add another win in the
resumption of league play.
The Warriors out scored the Meteors 33-22 in the second half to pull away for a 58-44 win for
their second consecutive tournament championship.
Chase Pond scored 10 of his game-high 22 points in the third quarter as Elk Lake expanded a
25-24 halftime lead to 43-35. Tournament MVP John Heitsman scored seven of his 14 points in
the final stanza to help seal the victory.
Pond was an all-tournament selection and the duo was joined in double figures by Connor
Stevens, who finished with 10 points. Jai Herman led Montrose with 14 points and was selected to the all-tournament team alongside Heitsman, Pond, Susquehanna’s Maso Keyes and Blue Ridge’s Paxton Pingarelli. Jude Adams chipped in with 13 points for the Meteors.
In the consolation game Susquehanna held Blue Ridge to six points in the second quarter to take a double digit lead into halftime and prevailed 67-57.
Griffin Fisk had 21 points to lead the Sabers while Keyes added 19 and Preston Wolf finished
with 11 points.
Pingarelli led the Raiders with 23 points while Brendan Marvin and Travis Rutter each had nine.
The Warriors reached the final by doubling up Blue Ridge after intermission, out-scoring the
Raiders 22-11 to take a 54-41 lead headed into the final stanza, and prevailing 73-57.
Heitsman had 23 to lead Elk Lake while Pond overcame first-half foul trouble to finish with 19
points. Kendal Jones chipped in with nine points.
Pingarelli led a balanced Raider attack with 16 points while Rutter added 13 and Landon
Bishop knocked down five threes to finish with 15 points.
Montrose used an early advantage to upset Susquehanna in the first night of action 58-52.
Evan McComb and Jude Adams combined for 11 points as the Meteors took a 14-7 lead after
the first quarter.
The Sabers, who were playing without leading scorer Griffin Fisk, got on track in the second
quarter making it 25-17 at intermission.
Herman finished with 19 points to lead Montrose while Adams added 13 and Sawyer Brown had
11. Keyes led all scorers with 26 points and was joined in double figures by Hudson Stengel
who finished with 13 points and Wolf who added 12.
Forest City struggled to score in both rounds of the Taylor Lions Christmas Tournament falling to
Lackawanna Trail 59-20 in the semifinal and 67-18 to North Pocono in the consolation.
Against Trail Enazer Jenkins had five points to lead the Foresters and Jacob Woodbridge had
six against North Pocono.
Mountain View out scored visiting Sayre 37-22 in the first half and pulled away for a 67-49
exhibition win.
Hudson Bain scored 15 of his game-high 26 in the half and was joined in double figures for the
game by Wyatt Thatcher who finished with 14 and Jordan Jagger who added 11.
Elk Lake held Carbondale to a single free throw in the first quarter and rolled to a 68-38 win in the resumption of Lackawanna League Division III play.
Heitsman had 18 points to lead the balanced Warrior attack that also got 13 points from
Brayden Miller, 12 from Pond and 10 from Stephens and eight from Parker Upright in spot start.
Susquehanna out scored Mountain View every quarter to defeat Mountain View 69-49 and keep
pace with Elk Lake for the division lead.
Keyes had 21 points – 17 in the first half – for the Sabers who led 31-18 at intermission. Fisk
came off the bench to score 17 while Wolf added 15.
Jagger connected for seven threes and finished with 29 points to lead the Eagles. Bain added
12.
Jai Herman and Sawyer Brown each scored nine points in the opening quarter as Montrose built
a 28-6 lead and cruised to a 71-43 road win over Forest City.
Herman finished with 27 points to pace the Meteors. Adams added 11 points and Kasey Carey
chipped in with 10 to go along with Brown’s nine.
Wyatt Reynolds had 10 points to lead the Foresters while TJ Collins added nine and Jaxon
Owens finished with eight.
Lackawanna Trail took the early lead and withstood any Raider push to down Blue Ridge 57-50.
Brendan Marvin’s 15 led the Raiders while Pingarelli added 12 and Rutter had 11.