Christmas is a time to enjoy family.
In the Clark household, as it has for decades, the large gatherings include sharing stories and reflections on memories. Many were created on the hardwood floors of the iconic former Catholic Youth Center, now known as the Lackawanna College Student Union.
Competing in basketball, a sport they all love.
Dunmore senior Jimmy Clark is part of the next generation. He, along with his sister, Maggie, a sophomore forward at Scranton Prep, will write their own chapters when they compete in the Lynett Memorial Basketball Tournament that starts on Dec. 27.
In the first game of the 74th boys tournament, Scranton Prep faces Scranton at 6 p.m., and Dunmore challenges defending champion Holy Cross at 7:30 p.m.
“Everyone always talks about the Lynett tournament,” Jimmy said. “It is the best Christmas tournament. This is going to be really nice. All of my uncles are looking forward to the game. My whole family is going to be there.”
Playing in the Lynett Tournament is as much a tradition as opening presents for the Clark family.
Jimmy’s father, Pat, played on the 1997 tournament championship team for Dunmore. Pat introduced the game and how it should be played to his oldest of six children.
“My dad coached me from when I was younger, but he stopped after my freshman year,” Jimmy said. “He shaped who I am. He never asked me how many points I scored, only if the team won. He always stressed to me to be the hardest-working player on the court. He says to me that he wasn’t the most skilled guy on the court, but that he was always the hardest working.
“He was the biggest influence in my life, and I look up to him.”
Pat’s success at Dunmore only scratches the surface of the impact the family has had on the holiday event that has spanned decades.
The Clarks are a basketball family.
Brian Clark, who scored 14 points to lead Scranton Prep to the tournament title in 1972, and his wife, Margi, have eight children. Pat is the oldest; Maggie, Chael, Jordan, Kevin, Courtney, Allie, and Matthew all competed in the sport.
Pat’s wife, Kristen, also has ties to the Lynett Tournament. Her brother Peter Mackrell won a championship at Scranton Prep in 1983, 1984, and 1985, and her brother, Paul, won a title at Dunmore in 1995.
“It’s a big deal for our family and always has been,” said Pat, who led the Bucks to the championship with 11 points and 10 rebounds, 25 years to the day after his father’s tournament win.
“We probably do more talking than we should. My dad won it back in the 1970s, and when we talk about it, we almost just use codes. We ask whether you are early or late. Meaning, are you playing the first game or the second game on the first day? We tell Jimmy, you’d better be in a prime time game on the second day.”
Jimmy listens to all the stories.
They include Chael’s tournament most valuable player award effort in 2002, Jordan’s all-tournament selection in 2004, Kevin’s two all-tournament teams, Courtney’s debut in the fourth girls tournament, and Matthew’s all-tournament effort.
Those are his inspirations as he leads the Bucks into this year’s tournament.
“You get razzed a lot,” Jimmy chuckled. “Everyone asks if this is the year I am going to win the Lynett. I tell them, I hope so. But I do think we could get it done. They have all played, and I see the banners and 1,000-point scorers, and their names are up there. It’s a legacy thing. I just try to pick things up where they left off and build upon that.
“My family is always asking how I am doing. They are engaged with it. They are all phenomenal basketball players. It is a lot to live up to, but I do my best.”
A sharpshooter, Jimmy is a multi-sport athlete at Dunmore, also excelling in baseball. He has developed into a weapon on offense for the Bucks. He also provides an intense focus on the defensive end.
In his freshman season, Jimmy saw some minutes of action. He scored 12 points and knocked down four 3-pointers. The following year, he scored 47 points with 10 3-pointers.
“Growing up, I wasn’t overly into basketball,” Jimmy said. “In eighth grade, I didn’t start, and that really motivated me. I started to work hard at my game at Riverfront with my uncle, Kevin. They have a shooting machine, and that was when I focused on basketball. Uncle Kevin helped me develop my jump shot, which wasn’t very good. I played JV as a freshman, and that was where I learned how to play against older and bigger players.”
As a junior, Jimmy made huge strides and elevated his game. He scored 240 points with 40 3-pointers. He finished as the third-leading scorer for the Bucks. Brayden Canavan had 325 points, Carter Sload added 257, and Nate Aviles was fourth with 221 points.
All four players returned to the lineup this year, which heightened expectations.
So far, so good.
Dunmore entered the holiday break 7-0. The Bucks average 70.6 points per game, and Jimmy is averaging 11.6 points per game with 13 3-pointers.
“We have done a good job,” Jimmy said. “Nate started as a freshman, and Brayden played. We had a good group in our grade. We have worked our way up. We have almost the same starting group as last year’s team, and we have built toward this year. It is the culmination of our work, and we are ready to make a big jump.”
Jimmy’s goal is to earn some family bragging rights and lead the program to its first Lynett title since 2009.
“We like to play fast,” Jimmy said. “But we have to stay calm and under control. Our goal is to play unselfish basketball. We don’t care who scores as long as we win. We have to focus on defense.”
While Jimmy is a senior, playing in his final Lynett Tournament, it won’t be the last one where a Clark will add to the family legacy.
Maggie has already been part of a Lynett title winner at Scranton Prep. The siblings also have a younger brother, Brian, and three younger sisters, Annie, Cecelia, and Noelle, all coming up through the basketball ranks.
Jimmy is looking forward to taking the court with his family filling a huge section of the bleachers, as they have for decades.
That is what will make his experience the most special.
“You are probably going to be able to hear my family in the stands,” Jimmy said. “I am really excited. I want to win it for my school and for them. I want to be able to look back 20 years and say, “That was my team that won a Lynett tournament.”
74th LYNETT MEMORIAL BOYS TOURNAMENT
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RESULTS
1951: St. Rose 65, Old Forge 62
1952: Old Forge 54, Swoyersville 53
1953: Old Forge 71, Scranton Central 62
1954: Scranton Prep 39, Swoyersville 30
1955: Scranton Prep 43, Swoyersville 42
1956: Scranton Central 67, Luzerne 48
1957: Scranton Central 53, Scr. Prep 50
1958: Old Forge 51, Scranton Central 39
1959: Nanticoke 74, Dunmore 47
1960: Scr. Prep 64, South Catholic 45
1961: Cathedral 49, Scranton Central 46
1962: Scranton Central 76, Dunmore 62
1963: Swoyersville 54, Scranton Prep 52
1964: Scranton Central 80, Old Forge 56
1965: Cathedral 74, Scranton Tech 50
1966: Nanticoke 74, Montrose 68
1967: Cathedral 88, Pittston Area 74
1968: Nanticoke 63, Williamsport 42
1969: West Scranton 65, Dunmore 57
1970: Nanticoke 68, Scranton Prep 67
1971: Riverside 80, Scranton Prep 68
1972: Scranton Prep 73, Scranton Central 49
1973: Nanticoke 58, Riverside 56
1974: Nanticoke 80, Scranton Prep 48
1975: Nanticoke 73, Scranton Central 54
1976: Scranton Central 66, Nanticoke 63
1977: Scranton Central 72, Pittston Area 59
1978: Scranton Prep 77, Riverside 59
1979: Nanticoke 47, Scranton Central 30
1980: Dunmore 58, Scranton Central 47
1981: Bishop O’Reilly 70, Scranton Prep 60
1982: Bishop Hannan 80, Scranton Tech 66
1983: Scranton Prep 81, Old Forge 57
1984: Scranton Prep 73, Scranton Central 59
1985: Scranton Prep 66, Scranton Central 61
1986: Scranton Prep 77, Valley View 59
1987: Scranton Central 44, Scranton Prep 42
1988: Scranton Prep 57, Scranton Central 46
1989: Dunmore 47, Scranton Prep 43
1990: Scranton Prep 74, Dunmore 54
1991: Scranton Prep 59, Dunmore 58 (OT)
1992: Dunmore 54, Scranton Prep 48
1993: Dunmore 39, Bishop O’Hara 32
1994: Dunmore 55, Bishop O’Hara 44
1995: Dunmore 45, Scranton Prep 35
1996: Scranton Prep 63, Scranton 58
1997: Dunmore 66, Bishop O’Hara 38
1998: Bishop O’Hara 59, Scr. Prep 38
1999: Dunmore 62, Bishop O’Hara 50
2000: Scranton Prep 61, Dunmore 54
2001: Dunmore 54, Scranton Prep 53
2002: Dunmore 54, Bishop O’Hara 47
2003: Scranton 58, Scranton Prep 47
2004: Scranton 42, Dunmore 40
2005: Scranton 49, Scranton Prep 45
2006: Scranton Prep 58, Bishop O’Hara 33
2007: Scranton Prep 53, Holy Cross 50
2008: Holy Cross 68, Dunmore 47
2009: Dunmore 71, Holy Cross 57
2010: Scranton 77, Dunmore 47
2011: Scranton 68, Dunmore 49
2012: Scranton 52, Scranton Prep 45
2013: Scranton Prep 69, Holy Cross 59
2014: Scranton Prep 71, Holy Cross 39
2015: Scranton Prep 72, Scranton 46
2016: Scranton Prep 67, Scranton 49
2017: Scranton Prep 70, Dunmore 46
2018: Scranton Prep 63, Holy Cross 36
2019: Holy Cross 55, Scranton Prep 54
2020: Canceled COVID-19
2021: Scranton 50, Scranton Prep 46
2022: Scranton Prep 39, Scranton 35
2023: Scranton 48, Holy Cross 46
2024: Holy Cross 51, Scranton 35
20th LYNETT MEMORIAL GIRLS TOURNAMENT
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RESULTS
2003: North Pocono 52, Bishop Hannan 39
2004: North Pocono 35, Scranton Prep 33
2005: Scranton Prep 42, Abington Heights 37
2006: Abington Heights 44, Dunmore 43
2007: Abington Heights 41, Dunmore 34
2008: Dunmore 51, Abington Heights 45
2009: Abington Heights 68, Scranton 64
2010: Scranton Prep 48, Abington Heights 41
2011: Abington Heights 39, Dunmore 29
2012: Scranton Prep 29, Abington Heights 24
2013: Dunmore 30, Scranton Prep 28
2014: Scranton Prep 40, Dunmore 30
2015: Dunmore 53, Scranton 36
2016: Dunmore 44, Scranton Prep 39
2017: Dunmore 45, Abington Heights 29
2018: Dunmore 57, Holy Cross 25
2019: Scranton Prep 44, Dunmore 28
2020: Canceled COVID-19
2021: Dunmore 46, Scranton Prep 17
2022: Scranton Prep 52, Dunmore 33
2023: Scranton 65, Scranton Prep 54
2024: Scranton Prep 56, Scranton 41