NTL BOYS' BASKETBALL: WYALUSING BATTLES THROUGH ADVERSITY IN 2024-2025 (2025-03-13)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It was a rebuilding year for Wyalusing boys’ basketball, as they had plenty of obstacles thrown in their way this season, but coach Brent Keyes felt his team persevered. 

“I was proud that our guys stuck with it throughout the difficult season that we had,” said Keyes. “We only played three games all year with our whole group, opening weekend and the last game. We played very well in our last game and continued to get better throughout the season. We had the opportunity to play a lot of younger guys and I was really pleased with the growth of many of these players. Our JV team had a highly successful year.”

The Rams went 2-20 on the season, falling in their first seven contests, though they had close games against Susquehanna, and Canton, before getting their first win against Meadowbrook Christian (35-33).

A six game losing streak followed, which included a close loss to East Juniata (57-55), before rolling past Williamson (76-38).

While they didn’t win a game after that they did battle Athens (44-35) and CV (66-60) tough, and then saved their best for last as they lost a 66-64 overtime battle to Sullivan County in a playoff like atmosphere.

The team had more adversity than they group of high schoolers should between illness, injury, and off the field tragedy, but still found a way to keep improving.

Hunter House led the team with 9.6 PPG, and 4.2 RPG, while Zabiah Walton missed nearly a month due to illness, but still averaged 8.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 1.1 BPG.

Sophomore Shay Gartland overcame personal tragedy to post averages of 6.8 PPG, and 3.9 APG, with fellow 10th grader Tyler Caplan averaging 4.2 PPG.

They say good-bye to seniors House, Walton, Ashton VanDeMark, and Will McBride, but Keyes is pretty bullish on the youngsters coming up, and coming into his program from junior high.

“If we work hard as a team, in the weight room, playing together this offseason, and come with the right mindset in the future, I believe we can get back to the winning tradition that we had established for so long at Wyalusing,” he said. “Finally, we will greatly miss our four seniors. They have been a joy to coach and are all great people. I wish them nothing but the best going forward.”

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