On Wednesday evening, the Mahanoy Area Golden Bears faced off against the Constitution Generals in Round 2 of the PIAA Class 2A Boys High School Basketball Playoffs at Liberty High School in Bethlehem.
Despite entering the game with an undefeated streak of 27 wins, Mahanoy Area fell short in a closely contested battle that went all the way to closing seconds of the game.
The game started with Mahanoy Area winning the tip-off, but they quickly found themselves trailing 11-3 as Constitution stormed out of the gates. Undeterred, the Golden Bears mounted a comeback, going on a 9-0 run to level the score.
Throughout the game, Mahanoy Area faced adversity not only from their opponents but also from what some spectators deemed as questionable calls from the referees. Despite these challenges, the Golden Bears continued to fight.
By the end of the first quarter, Constitution held a slim lead of 16-14.
The game started with Mahanoy Area winning the tip-off, but they quickly found themselves trailing 11-3 as Constitution stormed out of the gates. Undeterred, the Golden Bears mounted a comeback, going on a 9-0 run to level the score.
Throughout the game, Mahanoy Area faced adversity not only from their opponents but also from what some spectators deemed as questionable calls from the referees. Despite these challenges, the Golden Bears continued to fight.
By the end of the first quarter, Constitution held a slim lead of 16-14.
The halftime break saw Constitution maintaining a razor-thin advantage, leading 28-27.
As the game progressed into the third quarter, Constitution widened the gap, entering the final period with a commanding 47-35 lead over Mahanoy Area.
In a dramatic turn of events, Mahanoy Area unleashed a furious offensive onslaught in the fourth quarter, led by standout player Tanner Zawada, who poured in an astonishing 20 points in the final period alone, marking a season high. With just over 20 seconds remaining on the clock, Mahanoy Area staged a remarkable rally, narrowing the gap to 67-65 with Constitution holding a small lead.
However, despite the valiant effort, Mahanoy Area ultimately fell short as Constitution managed to hold on to their lead, securing a hard-fought 71-65 victory.
In a dramatic turn of events, Mahanoy Area unleashed a furious offensive onslaught in the fourth quarter, led by standout player Tanner Zawada, who poured in an astonishing 20 points in the final period alone, marking a season high. With just over 20 seconds remaining on the clock, Mahanoy Area staged a remarkable rally, narrowing the gap to 67-65 with Constitution holding a small lead.
However, despite the valiant effort, Mahanoy Area ultimately fell short as Constitution managed to hold on to their lead, securing a hard-fought 71-65 victory.
Kyree Latimer led the scoring charge for Constitution with an impressive 33 points, followed by Khalik Johnson with 14 points and Amir Speights with 12 points.
For Mahanoy Area, Tanner Zawada showcased his scoring power with a season-high 28 points, supported by Jace Yedsena with 12 points and Kadin Styka with 11 points.
With the loss, Mahanoy Area's remarkable season comes to an end with a record of 28-1. Though their undefeated streak may have been ended, the Golden Bears demonstrated incredible teamwork that not only inspired their school but also brought the community together for something positive.
For Mahanoy Area, Tanner Zawada showcased his scoring power with a season-high 28 points, supported by Jace Yedsena with 12 points and Kadin Styka with 11 points.
With the loss, Mahanoy Area's remarkable season comes to an end with a record of 28-1. Though their undefeated streak may have been ended, the Golden Bears demonstrated incredible teamwork that not only inspired their school but also brought the community together for something positive.
Photos by Jocelyn Barrett / Danie Mae Photography
