Christmas is a time to enjoy family.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Competing in basketball, a sport they all love.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone always talks about the Lynett tournament,\u201d Jimmy said. \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Playing in the Lynett Tournament is as much a tradition as opening presents for the Clark family.<\/p>\n
Jimmy\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dad coached me from when I was younger, but he stopped after my freshman year,\u201d Jimmy said. \u201cHe 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\u2019t the most skilled guy on the court, but that he was always the hardest working.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was the biggest influence in my life, and I look up to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pat\u2019s success at Dunmore only scratches the surface of the impact the family has had on the holiday event that has spanned decades.<\/p>\n
The Clarks are a basketball family.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Pat\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a big deal for our family and always has been,\u201d said Pat, who led the Bucks to the championship with 11 points and 10 rebounds, 25 years to the day after his father\u2019s tournament win.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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\u2019d better be in a prime time game on the second day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jimmy listens to all the stories.<\/p>\n
They include Chael\u2019s tournament most valuable player award effort in 2002, Jordan\u2019s all-tournament selection in 2004, Kevin\u2019s two all-tournament teams, Courtney\u2019s debut in the fourth girls tournament, and Matthew\u2019s all-tournament effort.<\/p>\n
Those are his inspirations as he leads the Bucks into this year\u2019s tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get razzed a lot,\u201d Jimmy chuckled. \u201cEveryone 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\u2019s a legacy thing. I just try to pick things up where they left off and build upon that.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrowing up, I wasn\u2019t overly into basketball,\u201d Jimmy said. \u201cIn eighth grade, I didn\u2019t 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\u2019t very good. I played JV as a freshman, and that was where I learned how to play against older and bigger players.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
All four players returned to the lineup this year, which heightened expectations.<\/p>\n
So far, so good.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have done a good job,\u201d Jimmy said. \u201cNate 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\u2019s team, and we have built toward this year. It is the culmination of our work, and we are ready to make a big jump.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jimmy\u2019s goal is to earn some family bragging rights and lead the program to its first Lynett title since 2009.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe like to play fast,\u201d Jimmy said. \u201cBut we have to stay calm and under control. Our goal is to play unselfish basketball. We don\u2019t care who scores as long as we win. We have to focus on defense.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Jimmy is a senior, playing in his final Lynett Tournament, it won\u2019t be the last one where a Clark will add to the family legacy.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Jimmy is looking forward to taking the court with his family filling a huge section of the bleachers, as they have for decades.<\/p>\n
That is what will make his experience the most special.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are probably going to be able to hear my family in the stands,\u201d Jimmy said. \u201cI 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, \u201cThat was my team that won a Lynett tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n
74th LYNETT MEMORIAL BOYS TOURNAMENT<\/p>\n
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RESULTS<\/p>\n
1951: St. Rose 65, Old Forge 62<\/p>\n
1952: Old Forge 54, Swoyersville 53<\/p>\n
1953: Old Forge 71, Scranton Central 62<\/p>\n
1954: Scranton Prep 39, Swoyersville 30<\/p>\n
1955: Scranton Prep 43, Swoyersville 42<\/p>\n
1956: Scranton Central 67, Luzerne 48<\/p>\n
1957: Scranton Central 53, Scr. Prep 50<\/p>\n
1958: Old Forge 51, Scranton Central 39<\/p>\n
1959: Nanticoke 74, Dunmore 47<\/p>\n
1960: Scr. Prep 64, South Catholic 45<\/p>\n
1961: Cathedral 49, Scranton Central 46<\/p>\n
1962: Scranton Central 76, Dunmore 62<\/p>\n
1963: Swoyersville 54, Scranton Prep 52<\/p>\n
1964: Scranton Central 80, Old Forge 56<\/p>\n
1965: Cathedral 74, Scranton Tech 50<\/p>\n
1966: Nanticoke 74, Montrose 68<\/p>\n
1967: Cathedral 88, Pittston Area 74<\/p>\n
1968: Nanticoke 63, Williamsport 42<\/p>\n
1969: West Scranton 65, Dunmore 57<\/p>\n
1970: Nanticoke 68, Scranton Prep 67<\/p>\n
1971: Riverside 80, Scranton Prep 68<\/p>\n
1972: Scranton Prep 73, Scranton Central 49<\/p>\n
1973: Nanticoke 58, Riverside 56<\/p>\n
1974: Nanticoke 80, Scranton Prep 48<\/p>\n
1975: Nanticoke 73, Scranton Central 54<\/p>\n
1976: Scranton Central 66, Nanticoke 63<\/p>\n
1977: Scranton Central 72, Pittston Area 59<\/p>\n
1978: Scranton Prep 77, Riverside 59<\/p>\n
1979: Nanticoke 47, Scranton Central 30<\/p>\n
1980: Dunmore 58, Scranton Central 47<\/p>\n
1981: Bishop O\u2019Reilly 70, Scranton Prep 60<\/p>\n
1982: Bishop Hannan 80, Scranton Tech 66<\/p>\n
1983: Scranton Prep 81, Old Forge 57<\/p>\n
1984: Scranton Prep 73, Scranton Central 59<\/p>\n
1985: Scranton Prep 66, Scranton Central 61<\/p>\n
1986: Scranton Prep 77, Valley View 59<\/p>\n
1987: Scranton Central 44, Scranton Prep 42<\/p>\n
1988: Scranton Prep 57, Scranton Central 46<\/p>\n
1989: Dunmore 47, Scranton Prep 43<\/p>\n
1990: Scranton Prep 74, Dunmore 54<\/p>\n
1991: Scranton Prep 59, Dunmore 58 (OT)<\/p>\n
1992: Dunmore 54, Scranton Prep 48<\/p>\n
1993: Dunmore 39, Bishop O\u2019Hara 32<\/p>\n
1994: Dunmore 55, Bishop O\u2019Hara 44<\/p>\n
1995: Dunmore 45, Scranton Prep 35<\/p>\n
1996: Scranton Prep 63, Scranton 58<\/p>\n
1997: Dunmore 66, Bishop O\u2019Hara 38<\/p>\n
1998: Bishop O\u2019Hara 59, Scr. Prep 38<\/p>\n
1999: Dunmore 62, Bishop O\u2019Hara 50<\/p>\n
2000: Scranton Prep 61, Dunmore 54<\/p>\n
2001: Dunmore 54, Scranton Prep 53<\/p>\n
2002: Dunmore 54, Bishop O\u2019Hara 47<\/p>\n
2003: Scranton 58, Scranton Prep 47<\/p>\n
2004: Scranton 42, Dunmore 40<\/p>\n
2005: Scranton 49, Scranton Prep 45<\/p>\n
2006: Scranton Prep 58, Bishop O\u2019Hara 33<\/p>\n
2007: Scranton Prep 53, Holy Cross 50<\/p>\n
2008: Holy Cross 68, Dunmore 47<\/p>\n
2009: Dunmore 71, Holy Cross 57<\/p>\n
2010: Scranton 77, Dunmore 47<\/p>\n
2011: Scranton 68, Dunmore 49<\/p>\n
2012: Scranton 52, Scranton Prep 45<\/p>\n
2013: Scranton Prep 69, Holy Cross 59<\/p>\n
2014: Scranton Prep 71, Holy Cross 39<\/p>\n
2015: Scranton Prep 72, Scranton 46<\/p>\n
2016: Scranton Prep 67, Scranton 49<\/p>\n
2017: Scranton Prep 70, Dunmore 46<\/p>\n
2018: Scranton Prep 63, Holy Cross 36<\/p>\n
2019: Holy Cross 55, Scranton Prep 54<\/p>\n
2020: Canceled COVID-19<\/p>\n
2021: Scranton 50, Scranton Prep 46<\/p>\n
2022: Scranton Prep 39, Scranton 35<\/p>\n
2023: Scranton 48, Holy Cross 46<\/p>\n
2024: Holy Cross 51, Scranton 35<\/p>\n
20th LYNETT MEMORIAL GIRLS TOURNAMENT<\/p>\n
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RESULTS<\/p>\n
2003: North Pocono 52, Bishop Hannan 39<\/p>\n
2004: North Pocono 35, Scranton Prep 33<\/p>\n
2005: Scranton Prep 42, Abington Heights 37<\/p>\n
2006: Abington Heights 44, Dunmore 43<\/p>\n
2007: Abington Heights 41, Dunmore 34<\/p>\n
2008: Dunmore 51, Abington Heights 45<\/p>\n
2009: Abington Heights 68, Scranton 64<\/p>\n
2010: Scranton Prep 48, Abington Heights 41<\/p>\n
2011: Abington Heights 39, Dunmore 29<\/p>\n
2012: Scranton Prep 29, Abington Heights 24<\/p>\n
2013: Dunmore 30, Scranton Prep 28<\/p>\n
2014: Scranton Prep 40, Dunmore 30<\/p>\n
2015: Dunmore 53, Scranton 36<\/p>\n
2016: Dunmore 44, Scranton Prep 39<\/p>\n
2017: Dunmore 45, Abington Heights 29<\/p>\n
2018: Dunmore 57, Holy Cross 25<\/p>\n
2019: Scranton Prep 44, Dunmore 28<\/p>\n
2020: Canceled COVID-19<\/p>\n
2021: Dunmore 46, Scranton Prep 17<\/p>\n
2022: Scranton Prep 52, Dunmore 33<\/p>\n
2023: Scranton 65, Scranton Prep 54<\/p>\n
2024: Scranton Prep 56, Scranton 41<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Christmas is a time to enjoy family. In the Clark household, as it has for decades, the large…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":69967,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[305,178,180,179,726],"class_list":["post-69966","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\/69966","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=69966"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69966\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}