{"id":144676,"date":"2026-03-21T13:13:40","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T13:13:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/144676\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T13:13:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T13:13:40","slug":"sewickley-academy-tops-old-forge-for-2a-title-scranton-times-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/144676\/","title":{"rendered":"Sewickley Academy tops Old Forge for 2A title \u2013 Scranton Times-Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge\u2019s Logan Fanning competes for the rebound with Sewickley Academy\u2019s Mamadou Kane during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Sewickley<\/p>\n

Sewickley Academy\u2019s Adam Ikamba defends Old Forge\u2019s Arthur Askew during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge\u2019s Logan Fanning lifts the ball to the hoop during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge\u2019s head coach JJ Thomas calls out to his players during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Sewickley<\/p>\n

Sewickley Academy\u2019s Mamadou Kate and Caden Battles work to get the ball away from Old Forge\u2019s Logan Fanning during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Sewickley<\/p>\n

Sewickley Academy\u2019s Mamadou Kate defends Old Forge\u2019s Logan Fanning during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge\u2019s Camren Krushnowski controls the ball during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Sewickley<\/p>\n

Sewickley Academy\u2019s Drew Steals defends Old Forge\u2019s Camren Krushnowski during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge\u2019s Nick Salerno defends Sewickley Academy\u2019s Ja\u2019Mere Guyton during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge players react to the referee\u2019s call during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge\u2019s Logan Fanning passes the ball to his teammate Robby Solfanelli during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge\u2019s Arthur Askew shoots during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Sewickley<\/p>\n

Sewickley Academy\u2019s Erin Craciun defends Old Forge\u2019s Chris Rasmus during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge\u2019s Cameron Parker takes a free throw shot during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge\u2019s Jake Lucarelli hugs teammate Cameron Parker as he returns to the bench during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge\u2019s Ryan DeMarco shakes hands with his teammate Nick Salerno while holding the runner up trophy after the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge\u2019s head coach JJ Thomas hugs player Cameron Parker during the awards presentation after the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge fans cheer as their team scores during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge cheerleaders perform before the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge players greet their student section after the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge\u2019s head coach JJ Thomas high fives his team after the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Forge fans react to game play during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 22<\/p>\n

Old Forge\u2019s Logan Fanning competes for the rebound with Sewickley Academy\u2019s Mamadou Kane during the PIAA Class 2A championship basketball game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday, March 20, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

HERSHEY \u2014 There will often be tears after playing in the final high school game of a career.<\/p>\n

One team sheds its tears for joy, celebrating a hard-fought championship. That was Sewickley Academy, a collection of all-star talent from far and wide.<\/p>\n

The other, theirs are for the end of an unforgettable journey. That was Old Forge. Their group of homegrown athletes built an unbreakable bond in a quest to close out their days wearing the blue and gold on the court in Hershey at the Giant Center.<\/p>\n

Sewickley Academy, the District 7 champions and runner-up from a year ago, earned a 52-36 win on Friday afternoon<\/a> over a determined group of neighborhood kids from the borough of Old Forge.<\/p>\n

Mamadou Kane, who hails from Senegal, and Adam Ikamba, who is from the Democratic Republic of Congo, are Sewickley Academy\u2019s towering inside players. Kane scored 15 points, and Ikamba had 14 points, to lead the Panthers team to a 30-1 overall finish.<\/p>\n

Logan Fanning, Old Forge\u2019s center in the paint, had 10 points, five rebounds and four blocks, and Cam Krushnowski scored 10 points for the Blue Devils (22-7).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is indescribable,\u201d Fanning said. \u201cI don\u2019t even know how to put this into words. We are bonded together for life. We are never going to separate. It has been an incredible journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the game, Old Forge players were presented with their medals.<\/p>\n

It was also fitting that injured senior captain Ryan DeMarco, who attended the game in a wheelchair as he rehabs from surgery, accepted the runner-up trophy from PIAA president and District 2 chairman Frank Majikes at center court.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether it was silver or gold, it means everything to us,\u201d DeMarco said. \u201cI was dying to be out there. These medals are a reflection of our season and our careers together. We are always going to remember this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Supported by their loyal followers, decked out in gold T-shirts, who made the trek to Hershey, Old Forge stared down a daunting challenge against the talented group from Sewickley Academy.<\/p>\n

They battled with passion and intensity, especially on defense, frustrating the high-scoring Panthers at times and giving a jolt to the heavily favored group by jumping out to a 6-2 advantage in the opening three minutes.<\/p>\n

Cameron Parker scored five points, and Fanning added a free throw, and the Blue Devils fired up the fans.<\/p>\n

Sewickley Academy, however, responded. The Panthers thrived on defense all season, and their height and length made things extremely difficult for Old Forge.<\/p>\n

After Drew Steals drilled a 3-pointer, the Panthers finished the first quarter on an 11-0 run and shifted the tide in their favor with a 13-6 lead.<\/p>\n

That lull in scoring did not deter Old Forge. Fanning and Krushnowski helped the Blue Devils scratch their way to within 17-13 with 5:04 remaining in the second quarter. Parker also provided four points down the stretch to counter seven points from Ikamba and Steals. Sewickley Academy held a 24-17 lead at the half.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur offense, you know, we had too many shots not fall, but our defense was outstanding,\u201d Parker said. \u201cTo hold that team to 24 points in a half when they average 70 points a game was amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sewickley Academy seized the momentum in the third when Ikamba went to work. He had a layup and two power dunks. Then, Caden Battles swished a 3-pointer, and Kane converted an offensive putback for a 35-17 lead with 2:16 remaining in the third quarter.<\/p>\n

From there, Old Forge maintained its energy but faced a steep uphill climb. Fanning had a layup, and Arthur Askew, a senior, drilled a 3-pointer around a 3-pointer by Connor Tull, and the Blue Devils trailed 38-22 after three quarters.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to make sure that you take it all in,\u201d Askew said. \u201cThis is a special group, and I am grateful to be a part of this team and this town.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the start of the fourth, Krushnowski hit a 3-pointer for Old Forge. Then, Kane got going with five straight points before Nick Salerno made a 3-pointer for the Blue Devils.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey really out-sized us,\u201d said Salerno, who continued to dive for loose balls and challenge Sewickley Academy\u2019s guards right to the bitter end. \u201cWe have a lot of heart, and we play as a family. We had to be scrappy. I tried to get after every loose ball, but man, they are tall.\u201d<\/p>\n

After Fanning and Krushnowski brought Old Forge to within 45-32, Kane scored four straight. Fanning scored and was fouled. Before he could step to the line, Old Forge coach JJ Thomas substituted four seniors out and greeted each one with a hug.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are a very big team,\u201d Krushnowski said. \u201cWe tried to stay together. Our 2-3 matchup zone gave them some trouble; I mean, we held them to 24 points in the first half. They were making shots, and we weren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

After he made a free throw, Fanning exited to a roar from the Old Forge contingent.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew this would be a challenge,\u201d Fanning said. \u201cI think I was up for it. Knowing it was our last game no matter the outcome, I wanted to leave it all on the court.\u201c<\/p>\n

This graduating group of Blue Devils has plenty to be proud of after back-to-back District 2 Class 2A championship seasons.<\/p>\n

They fulfilled their dream of being on the state\u2019s biggest stage for their final game together and gave an all-out effort.<\/p>\n

The memories they created along the way are what they will be remembered for in Old Forge boys basketball lore.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt hurts that it all has to end,\u201d Parker said. \u201cBut for our last game to be the very last game you can play is a bittersweet feeling. We are grateful that we got here in the first place. This is emotional that the season is over, but we are all proud of each other to be able to get to this point in the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot everybody believed we could get here, but we did, and our fans did.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Old Forge\u2019s Logan Fanning competes for the rebound with Sewickley Academy\u2019s Mamadou Kane during the PIAA Class 2A…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":144677,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[305,178,180,179,726],"class_list":["post-144676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-scranton","tag-high-school-sports","tag-scranton","tag-scranton-headlines","tag-scranton-news","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144676"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144676\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/144677"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144676"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144676"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}