Riverside’s Faith Pavalonis attempts to evade Old Forge’s defense during the basketball game at Old Forge High School on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Riverside’s Faith Pavalonis lines up with the hoop during the basketball game at Old Forge High School on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Riverside’s Faith Pavalonis attempts to evade Old Forge’s defense during the basketball game at Old Forge High School on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Riverside and Old Forge already have an intense rivalry in all sports. But things should be interesting in girls basketball for the next three years.
That is because each team has a talented freshman helping to lead them this season. Faith Pavalonis is at Riverside and Lana Clements is at Old Forge.
As the second half of the Lackawanna League campaign gets under way Friday, Pavalonis leads Division II in scoring with 15.1 points, which ranks 10th overall in the league. She also ranks among the top foul shooters at 75.9 percent (66 for 87).
“It feels good,” Pavalonis said about her season thus far. “But a lot of the shots wouldn’t be able to get down without my team. My three-ball hasn’t been hitting a lot this season, but I’ve been living at the free throw line.”
Clements, meanwhile, is fourth in Division II in scoring and 19th in the league with 10.8 points.
“It’s been going well, I feel like I’ve improved a lot,” Clements said. “I’m starting to play with more confidence thanks to my coaches and teammates. My teammates are a very big part of my confidence and how I play.”
Each has a season-high of 29 points. Pavalonis got hers Jan. 15 against Lakeland, while Clements did it against Hanover Area on Dec. 27.
They are different players. Pavalonis is a 5-foot-9 guard who can handle the ball and drive to the basket. She also can hit from the outside, although she only has 14 3-pointers this season.
“I think I need to get my shot off quicker,” Pavalonis said. “Once that’s down, I can definitely be more of a dominant scorer than I already am now. I’m quick enough to get to the basket, but I still have to hit the threes.”
First-year Lady Vikes coach Jamie Armillay calls Pavalonis a gym rat with a strong work ethic who is always looking to get better.
“She’s in the gym working hard to improve her craft every single day and developing into a nice leader,” Armillay said. “It’s no secret. Anybody who picks up a newspaper or any sports outlet that has high school knows what she’s doing offensively every night. And she still finds ways to get better, create different ways to score and get her teammates involved.”
Last summer, Pavalonis gained valuable experience playing in the United World Games in Europe and helping Team USA win gold in the 14U division.
Old Forge coach Dante Lucarelli said the 5-foot-9 Clements gives the Lady Devils something they’re not used to having: an inside presence.
“It’s definitely a culture that’s not really known here,” Lucarelli said. “We usually have good shooters, good scorers. Now inside, we might have finally found something with a big body in there.
“She has great moves to the basket, gets a lot of boxouts on rebounds. She’s tough inside. Even when it’s not her night scoring the ball, she can do other things to make sure we still get the ball on offense, get opportunities. She’s our anchor on offense and defense.”
One thing Clements is working on is her mindset and learning not to let it affect her when shots aren’t falling or things aren’t going her way. That will come, though, as she gets older.
“Being so young and playing varsity as a freshman, it definitely affects me when I mess up,” Clements said. “I come with the mindset that I’m supposed to outplay the seniors when I’m really not.”
In addition to Clements, Old Forge also has a freshman starting at point guard in Mikaela Lohman, who averages 5.9 points and has hit 19 3-pointers.
Lucarelli said having to face a player like Pavalonis is a motivating factor for his team and adds more spice to the rivalry.
“When you play that caliber of player, it makes us elevate our game just as much,” Lucarelli said. “It’s going to be a great rivalry for the next couple years. They have her and we have two freshmen who I think are going to be the best duo in the league in a couple of years.”
Pavalonis agrees it will be an exciting matchup.
“It’s going to be a fun four years,” she said.