Chrissy Jacklinski and her Scranton High School girls basketball teammates knew the start to their season would be a challenge, and it was.

The Lady Knights lost six of their first seven games to opponents who are a combined 50-9 — Crestwood (12-0), Dallas (10-0), Hazleton Area (9-1), St. Thomas Aquinas from New Jersey (6-3), North Pocono (7-2) and York William Penn (6-3). Three of those defeats were by six points or fewer.

However, they also realized that schedule would benefit them in the long run.

“Even in the summer, we knew what our schedule was,” Jacklinski said. “We knew that playing against all those good teams would help us.”

It showed during the Lynett Memorial Tournament.

In the semifinals, Scranton built a 10-point halftime lead and withstood Scranton Prep’s comeback push in the second half for a 57-51 win. Then in the final against Dunmore, the Lady Knights rallied from a 15-point deficit early in the second quarter to win, 50-49, on Jaelyn Alers’ 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining.

“Those six losses, playing top teams, going down to Philly, playing a York team, playing the top two or three team in the Wilkes-Barre area, it made us stronger. It really did,” Scranton coach P.J. Hughes said. “The team never gave up. That’s the thing I’ve never had to worry about. Every practice, they still played hard. It got me home every night thinking, ‘We still have a chance at this. Our season’s not over.’

“They deserve that (Lynett) banner more than anybody.”

Alers and Jacklinski, who scored 24 points in the final and was named tournament Most Valuable Player, were the obvious heroines. But Scranton got contributions from everyone at various moments.

Rhylee Bell hit some clutch shots, including a 3-pointer with 1:11 left in the semifinal against Scranton Prep that sealed the victory. Emma Sweeney hit a 3-pointer in the second quarter of the final against Dunmore to help fuel the comeback. Abigail Stalica and Kori Ortiz had timely baskets. Bianca Perez dove on the floor for loose balls and had two steals in the final.

Now, the Lady Knights (0-1 league, 3-6 overall) will look to build off their Lynett title as Lackawanna League Division I play resumes Friday. They visit Scranton Prep for a rematch with the Classics (1-0, 5-3).

“The beginning of the season was very slow for us, but this is definitely going to bring us up a ton,” Jacklinski said. “This is going to get a lot of momentum going.”

Holiday wrap

Another Division I battle Friday has Valley View heading to North Pocono for a showdown between teams that won holiday tournament titles. Cora Castellani helped the Cougars (1-0, 8-1) capture the Lou Camoni Tournament crown. Ella Clementoni earned MVP honors after helping the Lady Trojans (1-0, 7-2) win the Taylor Lions Club Tournament title.

An intriguing matchup features Delaware Valley at Abington Heights. Behind tournament MVP Krystina Orby and all-tourney selection Amanda Aragona, the Lady Warriors (0-1, 7-1) won the title in their Holiday Classic. The Lady Comets (1-0, 6-3), meanwhile, lost two games at the Parkland Holiday Tournament.

Dunmore (1-0, 6-2) will look to rebound from its loss in the Lynett final by traveling to Western Wayne (1-0, 5-4) for the resumption of Lackawanna Division II play. All-tournament selection Amanda Dempsey totaled 20 points, 21 rebounds and 17 assists in the two Lynett games for the Lady Bucks.

Honesdale captured the Honesdale Jaycees Tournament title with MVP Ruby Martin leading the way, combining for 36 points in the two wins. The Lady Hornets (1-0, 7-2) visit Lakeland (0-1, 4-5) in Division II.

Madisyn Casselbury earned MVP honors after rallying Elk Lake to the title in the Reddon-Hoffman Christmas Tournament. Casselbury collected 33 points in two games. The Lady Warriors (0-1, 3-4) host Carbondale Area (0-1, 2-7) in Lackawanna Division III action.

Among the top offensive performances during the holiday tournaments was Ayla Seigle of Lackawanna Trail combining for 50 points in two games at the Taylor Lions Tournament, including 34 in the consolation-game loss to West Scranton. Morgan Baumgardner of the Lady Invaders had eight 3-pointers and 28 points in that game and 37 points for the tournament.

Blue Ridge’s Abigail Gelinger also combined for 50 points in two games at the Reddon-Hoffman Christmas Tournament. She had 27 in the semifinal loss to Elk Lake and 23 in the consolation-game win over Susquehanna.

Sadie Jones totaled 36 points to help Montrose finish second at the Reddon-Hoffman event.

Emma Coleman from Abington Heights had 47 points in two games at the Parkland Tournament, including 29 in the consolation game against Bethlehem Liberty.

Old Forge’s Lana Clements scored 29 points against Hanover Area in the semifinals of the Anthony “Badger” Marseco Memorial Tournament and 35 overall as the Lady Blue Devils placed second to Pittston Area.