HAZLETON — Noah Veno and his senior teammates are playing with the urgency and confidence of a group that understands this is the last ride.
Valley View methodically felt out the pace of its PIAA Class 4A second-round boys basketball game against Saucon Valley, almost stalking the opponent. Then, they pounced and attacked to keep the season alive with a 42-25 win at Hazleton Area High School.
Valley View (22-5) will play Shamokin (25-4) for the third straight season in the state playoffs. The quarterfinal matchup is Friday at a time and place to be determined by the PIAA. Shamokin defeated District 11 champion Allentown Central Catholic, 59-53.
The Cougars won their last five games and reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 1997.
“Our emotions were a little up and down all season,” said Veno, who had nine points, four rebounds and two steals. “We went into a slump, but we have been playing out of our minds recently.
“Now we get to keep playing in states and face Shamokin again. We just have to keep working hard.”
After suffering a 17-point loss in what they believed was the final home game, the Cougars refocused.
This group, which had reached the District 2 Class 4A final in 2023 and 2024 only to fall to Scranton Prep in heartbreaking fashion each time, wanted to change their legacy. The process started with a return to the defensive intensity that defined this season’s success.
Valley View throttled Mid Valley and Dallas in the first two rounds of the District 2 tournament, and avenged the two losses to Scranton Prep in a dominant performance at the Mohegan Arena.
On Friday night, in what was their final home game, the Cougars carried the momentum through a 64-42 win over Big Spring out of District 3.
In the second round for the third straight season, Valley View established its defensive approach early. Like gnats buzzing around a blue light at a picnic, the guard play of Veno, Nick Kucharski, Aidan Smola and Jagger Roe harassed Saucon Valley’s ball handlers and frustrated the shooters.
Valley View limited the Panthers to nine field goals on 36 shots and dominated the boards with 20 defensive rebounds. Saucon Valley joined Dallas (26) as an opponent held to less than 30 points by the Cougars this postseason.
“We knew that it was going to be a battle,” said Kucharski, who contributed two steals. “Our team really locked in at the defensive end. We know that defense wins championships. We work hard every day on defense, and it pays off.”
For the fifth straight game, Beyon McLean displayed quickness and scored at the rim.
He entered the game averaging 22.3 points per game. The 6-foot-3 center countered Saucon Valley’s height advantage with Adam Clark and Caleb Grim, a pair of 6-5 power players, by using pump fakes and drop steps to free himself and finish with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
“I knew that they had two 6-5 guys, so when they doubled me, I had to find Tyler Scoblick,” McLean said. “I got close to the rim and made some baskets again.”
The team squared up at 6-6 after the first eight minutes. McLean, Roe and Smola changed that by triggering an 8-2 run that established a 14-8 lead. Saucon Valley (22-7), which it closed to within 14-12 and 16-14, never overtook the Cougars.
After an offensive rebound putback by Grim, Veno went to work and drilled a 3-pointer at 6:35 of the third. From there, the Cougars allowed only three more points and built a 33-19 lead with Tyler Scoblick finishing the surge off a no-look pass from Smola.
In the fourth, Veno converted an offensive rebound into a layup as the cagey 5-10 guard maneuvered through the big guys in the paint with a pivot and explosive push to the basket.
“That was big for me to score some points,” Veno said. “I started off really slow and didn’t score in the first half. I knew that I had to step up if we wanted to win this game. My teammates set me up, and I am super grateful for them.”
Saucon Valley’s only offensive weapon, Jack Robertson, who scored 12 points, made a pair of free throws to cut into the Valley View lead. But the Cougars’ relentless defense created turnovers, with Kucharski breaking free to draw an intentional foul that led to a technical foul and a three-point possession that put the finishing touches on the win.
“This is the playoffs, so it is win or go home,” McLean said. “We had to put everything out there on the floor.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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