{"id":82080,"date":"2026-01-09T05:52:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T05:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/82080\/"},"modified":"2026-01-09T05:52:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T05:52:13","slug":"defense-rallies-valley-view-past-scranton-prep-scranton-times-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/82080\/","title":{"rendered":"Defense rallies Valley View past Scranton Prep \u2013 Scranton Times-Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Valley<\/p>\n

Valley View\u2019s Cora Castellani controls the ball during the basketball game against Scranton Prep at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Scranton<\/p>\n

Scranton Prep\u2019s Eva Kaszuba moves the ball during the basketball game at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Valley<\/p>\n

Valley View\u2019s Cora Castellani takes a shot at the hoop during the basketball game against Scranton Prep at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Valley<\/p>\n

Valley View\u2019s Cora Castellani defends Scranton Prep\u2019s Chloe Mamera during the basketball game at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Scranton<\/p>\n

Scranton Prep\u2019s Kamyl Lynady defends Valley View\u2019s Ava Gazoo during the basketball game at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Scranton<\/p>\n

Scranton Prep\u2019s Shannon Bestrycki shoots during the basketball game at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Scranton<\/p>\n

Scranton Prep\u2019s Kamyl Lynady defends Valley View\u2019s Ashlan Palickar during the basketball game at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Valley<\/p>\n

Valley View\u2019s Mady Minelli tries to pass the ball to her teammate Sadie Cardoni during the basketball game against Scranton Prep at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Scranton<\/p>\n

Scranton Prep\u2019s Chloe Mamera attempts to block Valley View\u2019s Ava Gazoo during the basketball game at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Valley<\/p>\n

Valley View\u2019s Sadie Cardoni shoots the ball during the basketball game against Scranton Prep at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Scranton<\/p>\n

Scranton Prep\u2019s Eva Kaszuba dribbles the ball during the basketball game at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Valley<\/p>\n

Valley View\u2019s Cora Castellani attempts to block Scranton Prep\u2019s Ava Fenton during the basketball game at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Valley<\/p>\n

Valley View\u2019s Sadie Cardoni embraces teammate Ava Gazoo after their team defeated Scranton Prep at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. Cardoni\u2019s foul shot helped bring the Cougars\u2019 to their 45-43 victory. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Valley<\/p>\n

Valley View\u2019s head coach Robbie Martin talks to his players during the basketball game against Scranton Prep at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Scranton<\/p>\n

Scranton Prep\u2019s head coach Bob Beviglia calls out to his players during the basketball game at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

\"Valley<\/p>\n

Valley View fans cheer on their team during the basketball game against Scranton Prep at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 16<\/p>\n

Valley View\u2019s Cora Castellani controls the ball during the basketball game against Scranton Prep at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n

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

BLAKELY \u2014 In a game full of defensive stops, Valley View had the one at the end that mattered most.<\/p>\n

The Cougars held Scranton Prep scoreless for the final 2:41 to rally for a 45-40 victory over the Classics in a Lackawanna League Division I girls basketball thriller Thursday night at Valley View High School<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cora Castellani collected 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, five steals and two blocks for Valley View (3-0 league, 10-1 overall), which is ranked No. 1 this week in the Times-Tribune Top 10 poll. Ava Gazoo added 10 points.<\/p>\n

Chloe Mamera led No. 4 Scranton Prep (6-5, 2-2) with 16 points. Eva Kaszuba followed with 13 points.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know defense is our identity,\u201d Valley View coach Rob Martin said. \u201cWe tell the kids as long as you play hard and give 110 percent, anything can happen. You can stay in any game, hold any lead. We had some kids panic at the end and had some turnovers. But I told them that as long as we play defense, we\u2019re going to be in a good spot to win the game. Luckily, our defense held true and we won the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, Valley View committed two turnovers in the final 20 seconds that gave Scranton Prep a chance to win it. Each time, the Cougars came up with a stop.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had six or seven opportunities to win the game at the end. They handed them to us, we didn\u2019t take them. We lost, end of story. That\u2019s all there is to say,\u201d Scranton Prep coach Bob Beviglia said. \u201cWe were not good with the ball. We made silly mistakes with the ball. Castellani played a great game, she\u2019s a great player. But sometimes you lose a game and we lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trailing, 38-31, after three quarters, Scranton Prep opened the fourth by scoring the first nine points. Kaszuba hit a 3-pointer, Mamera had back-to-back baskets before Kamyl Lynady scored to give the Classics a 40-38 lead with 4:18 remaining. Gazoo tied it off a feed from Ashlan Palickar, but Lynady hit a 3-pointer to put Scranton Prep back in front, 43-40, with 2:41 left.<\/p>\n

That would be the Classics\u2019 final points, however.<\/p>\n

A layup by Castellani with 1:42 to go cut the deficit to one. Mady Minelli then had a steal and ultimately set up Sadie Cardoni for the go-ahead basket, 44-43, with 53.2 seconds left.<\/p>\n

\u201cUs, coach Martin, we pretty much said to each other that we need to settle down and play our game,\u201d Castellani said. \u201cNo team controls how we play, we play our game, no matter what type of game is going on. So we just kept our tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cChloe Mamera is real tough and kept going up hard the whole game. So we knew out of all the defenses we played, we needed to double down on her and just play good defense overall on everybody. It worked in our favor and we pulled out the win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gazoo had a steal on the ensuing possession, but Valley View committed a turnover to give the ball back to Scranton Prep with 19.8 seconds remaining. The Cougars, though, forced a five-second violation on the inbounds play.<\/p>\n

Again, Valley View committed a turnover with an errant inbounds pass and Scranton Prep missed a 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left. Following a timeout, Cardoni was fouled with 3.1 seconds to go. She made the first free throw and missed the second. The Classics rebounded, but a desperation heave from just past midcourt was off the mark and the Cougars hung on for the victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not the best foul shooter and knowing that could win us the game was a lot of pressure,\u201d Cardoni said. \u201cBut I took my time and having the big crowd behind you and yelling for you helped a lot. I just shot my shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both teams\u2019 defenses were strong. Valley View forced Scranton Prep to commit 26 turnovers, while the Classics forced the Cougars into 24.<\/p>\n

Valley View jumped out to an 11-2 lead, but Scranton Prep\u2019s pressure sparked a 12-2 run to end the first quarter and give the Classics a 14-13 lead. They had a 26-24 advantage following a foul shot by Mamera with 1:27 left in the second. However, they did not score for the remainder of the half, nor the first 3:18 of the third quarter.<\/p>\n

Castellani scored off a Cardoni steal with 10.2 seconds left to give Valley View a 27-26 halftime lead. Gazoo opened the third quarter with a three-point play, and Castellani took a rebound coast-to-coast for a layup that extended the margin to 32-26. Scranton Prep crept back to within 32-31, but Cardoni scored before Castellani made two amazing plays.<\/p>\n

First, she inbounded the ball off the back of a Scranton Prep player, caught it and scored. Then, with time winding down in the quarter, she drove the lane and while falling off balance, threw up a scoop shot that went in and sent Valley View into the fourth quarter with a 38-31 lead.<\/p>\n

\u201cCora is just a special player,\u201d Martin said. \u201cShe never wants to be beat and has a mindset that you just don\u2019t see anymore with kids in sports. She\u2019s wired differently, built differently and just refuses to let up and get beat. We\u2019re just lucky to have her on our team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coupled with North Pocono\u2019s win over Abington Heights on Thursday, Valley View is now the lone unbeaten in Division I. But Martin knows there is still a lot of season left. The Cougars\u2019 next game is Saturday at Wallenpaupack.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a stepping stone for us. A big win, but we know the work\u2019s not done,\u201d Martin said. \u201cDivision I is brutal. Three losses might win this division. It\u2019s going to be back and forth, you can\u2019t take a day off, can\u2019t turn your back on somebody, not prepare for somebody. Division I is that good. It\u2019s going to be a battle every night. You\u2019ve got to be prepared to come out every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beviglia said his team needs to find a way to shake off this loss. The Classics next face Abington Heights on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to go in the gym and get better,\u201d Beviglia said. \u201cI don\u2019t think the league is over by any stretch. It\u2019s going to be anybody\u2019s game in any given night. But when you have chances to win, you\u2019ve got to win. And we didn\u2019t tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Valley View\u2019s Cora Castellani controls the ball during the basketball game against Scranton Prep at Valley View High…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":82081,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[305,178,180,179,726],"class_list":["post-82080","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\/82080","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=82080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82080\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}