Wallenpaupack Area boys have their sights set on a deep postseason run

HAWLEY — Wallenpaupack Area’s boys varsity basketball team came out with guns blazing this week in Lackawanna League action against Western Wayne.

Despite playing without their top scorer, senior sharpshooter Landon Calabrese, the Buckhorns wasted no time in taking control.

Thanks in large part to the efforts of Jake Holbert, Justin Blanding and Frank Church, Paupack raced out to a big early lead over the visiting Wildcats then never looked back en route to a 60-29 victory.

Such a strong performance despite missing arguably their best player is one of the many reasons the Buckhorns are expected to challenge for a league title this year.

With coach Jim McGinnis at the controls, Paupack has already posted eight wins this season and trails archrival Honesdale by one game in the Division II standings.

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“We’re definitely getting better as a team, but there’s still a long way to go in the season,” McGinnis said. “These kids play well together and they have a lot of potential. So, I’m hopeful and excited to see where this might all lead.”

Weather permitting, the Buckhorns and Hornets were slated to square off Thursday evening at Honesdale. Next up is a Monday night home game versus North Pocono.

Opening tip is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on the shores of the Big Lake.

On-court leaders

Veteran leadership is always one of the true hallmarks of any Paupack squad and this year is no exception.

While the Buckhorns boast a deep and talented roster, the story necessarily begins with team captains Holbert, Blanding and Calabrese.

All three are polished varsity players and each brings a unique skill set to the court.

Holbert is a senior who splits his time between center and power forward.

A multi-sport standout who’s coming off a stellar football season, Holbert won the Division II scoring title last winter by averaging 17.5 points per game. He’s tall, athletic and can jump out of the gym, which enables him to finish at the rim on offense and protect it on defense.

“Jake is a very versatile player,” McGinnis said. “He can score from the inside, he can score from the outside and he’s our best rebounder. Jake is a big part of the team and we need him every night.”

Blanding is a junior who directs the Paupack attack as point guard.

A consistent scorer and silky smooth ballhandler, Blanding was second on the team in scoring last year averaging 14.8 ppg. This year, he is among the division leaders in scoring, assists and steals. He’s also Paupack’s undisputed floor general.

“Justin is without a doubt our most vocal leader,” McGinnis said. “He always brings energy whether it’s in practice or during games. Justin is upbeat and enthusiastic and a very good communicator both on and off the court.”

Calabrese is a senior and inarguably one of the best players in the league.

A gifted athlete with a blue collar work ethic, Calabrese has fought injuries throughout his varsity career. Nevertheless, he has emerged as Paupack’s leading scorer this year at nearly 18 ppg.

“Landon is definitely a gym rat,” McGinnis said. “He’s always here working hard on his game and those are the kind of kids it’s a pleasure to coach. Landon can score from just about anywhere on the court. He’s very good at getting to the basket and he finishes extremely well.”

Signature wins

A big crowd turned out Monday to witness the latest battle between rivals Paupack and Western Wayne.

The Buckhorns raced out to a 13-4 lead after one quarter, then extended their advantage to 30-13 at intermission. McGinnis substituted liberally after the break, but his team still outscored the ‘Cats 30-16 in the second half.

Holbert paced a balanced offensive attack with a game-high 15 points on the strength of four field goals, one trey and a 2-for-4 stint at the stripe.

Blanding contributed 14 points to the cause, while junior guard Frank Church chipped in with 10 including two deep 3s.

Paupack dominated the game defensively, holding Western Wayne to single-digit scoring in every period. The Bucks also forced 23 turnovers and enjoyed a 3-to-1 rebounding advantage.

“We did a good job putting pressure on the ball and playing with some urgency,” McGinnis said. “That’s something we’ve been struggling with a little bit. We really need to be more consistent and play with that sense of urgency.”

Case in point, Paupack’s previous game against Delaware Valley.

The Buckhorns came out flat and quickly fell behind against a scrappy young Warrior squad. DV carved out an 11-5 lead after one, then took a 16-13 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

Paupack’s struggles continued in the third quarter as DV guard Tommy Parker drained a pair of treys. The Buckhorns found themselves staring down an eight point deficit heading into the fourth quarter.

It was at this juncture that Calabrese took matters into his own hands. The senior captain erupted for 11 of his game-high 21 points to force overtime.

Calabrese then added three more in the extra session as Paupack rallied for an electrifying 48-40 victory.

“That was a pretty exciting win for us,” McGinnis said. “But, it kind of highlights the things we really need to work on. We have to play with energy and urgency all four quarters. We need to become more consistent because our league is so tough and there are no easy games out there.”

On the horizon

Paupack and Honesdale figure to be in a heated battle for the Division II title all season long.

While North Pocono may have something to say about that before the year is out, Western Wayne and Delaware Valley are deep into rebuilding mode.

Barring injuries, the Buckhorns have a legitimate shot at both the league laurels and a high seed for the district tournament. In addition to the three captains, players like Drew Kiesendahl, Kevin Wortmann, Jordan Santiago and Church are all capable of big numbers on any given night.

“We’re into the heart of league play now and things are only going to get tougher,” McGinnis said. “We can’t get too high or too low and we have to stay focused on one day, one game at a time.”

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Wallenpaupack Area boys author signature wins in Lackawanna League