Scranton Prep’s Packy Doherty takes a shot during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Packy Doherty lifts the ball to the hoop during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Dallas’ Tyce Mason follows Scranton Prep’s Packy Doherty during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Chicky Skoff leaps towards the hoop during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s head coach Larry Reagan calls out to his players during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s bench cheers on their teammates during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Charlie Skoff (24) and Jimmy Doherty (23) defend Dallas’ Joey Nocito during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s head coach Larry Reagan talks to his players during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Dallas’ Pat Flanagan attempts a basket during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Dallas’ Joey Nocito takes a shot during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Liam Haggerty holds off Dallas’ Tyce Mason and Talan Geskey during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Chicky Skoff defends Dallas’ Tyce Mason during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Jimmy Doherty (23) pass the ball to teammate Brody Martin (2) during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep cheerleaders perform before the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep players celebrate during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Chicky Skoff signals to his teammates during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Dallas’ Talan Geskey defends Scranton Prep’s Chicky Skoff during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Dallas’ Talan Geskey defends Scranton Prep’s Max McGrath during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Scranton Prep’s Packy Doherty takes a shot during the D2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Larry Reagan didn’t need to dig deep for any sort of motivational halftime speech to get Scranton Prep going after suffering one of its most difficult second quarters on the defensive end of the floor this season.
Instead, while the Scranton Prep coaches were talking in the hallway, the players were doing the same thing in the locker room. They figured out what needed to be adjusted and how they needed to approach the final two quarters of Saturday’s District 2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game.
The Cavaliers believed everything needed to start on defense, which ultimately would lead to offense. The Cavaliers clamped down on defense, got out in transition and ran their way to a 68-52 victory over Dallas at Mohegan Arena.
Scranton Prep (20-5) wrapped up its third district title in the last four years and eighth since 2017. The Cavaliers will take on Schuylkill Valley in PIAA tournament on Friday at a site and time to be determined. Dallas (22-4) also advances and will play Northwestern on Friday. The Mountaineers saw their 14-game winning streak end.
“We knew it had to be on the defensive end,” Scranton Prep guard Chicky Skoff said. “We needed to get stops and get in transition. Just had to trust ourselves. Play man and just defend.”
Defend the Cavaliers did.
Scranton Prep outscored Dallas, 14-2, in the third quarter to overcome a 38-33 halftime deficit. The Cavaliers held the Mountaineers without a basket until Pat Flanagan scored on a drive to the basket with 1:50 remaining.
“The coaches went into the locker room at the half and everything was done,” Reagan said. “The players took care of it. They were very vocal in there while we were in the hallway. It’s a senior-led team. I’m really proud of them.”
While the Cavaliers were locking in defensively, Skoff was heating up offensively. After scoring seven of his 28 points in the first half, Skoff scored his team’s first 12 points of the third quarter as the Cavaliers took a 47-40 lead into the fourth quarter.
“I just trusted the coaches, they had the perfect game plan,” Skoff said. “I was ready for the moment. Focus on defense, get rebounds and be physical. Our run was huge. One person hits a shot and everyone feeds off it. That’s how we play.”
Dallas got as close as 55-52 with 2:15 left in the game, but didn’t score again. Scranton Prep ended the game with 13 unanswered points.
Reagan recalled back to Scranton Prep’s first game of the season when the Cavaliers lost by six points. It was a game where Skoff had 21 points in a high-pressure environment.
“In our first game of the season he had 21 points,” Reagan said. “Against elite competition he shows up. I never doubted him but I’m happy he was able to show it on the big stage.”