Mahanoy Area Boys Basketball On a Mission to Return to 2A State Quarterfinals, and Beyond

We’re a month away from the District 11 playoffs and Mahanoy Area basketball is looking to repeat as 2A champions.

Monday night the Golden Bears went into Schuylkill Haven and came out with a close victory, 62-56 staying undefeated on the year at 15-0.

“It’s a great feeling thing undefeated but the jobs not finished. You gotta just keep going,” senior guard Colm McGroarty said.

The Hurricanes gave Mahanoy a bit of a scare, cutting the lead to just one, but clutch free throws were the difference and that’s just the type of game they want to play as they get closer to the postseason.

“It seems like when we’re in a closer game, and it’s on the line, they get to that extra level of focus and they knock them down,” Golden Bears head coach Teddy Styka said.

“Packed house so even when we’re younger freshman sophomore, we’ve been through the wringer,” junior guard Tanner Zawada said. “I mean, Marts Hall down there, packed games at home. It’s what we’ve been through. So just keep our composure and keep moving.”

The Golden Bears also have a dominant force inside. 6’7” Brady Alansky, scoring 19 in their win Monday and is a big reason for the teams success.

“I knew I had a bigger matchup with the smaller guards,” Alansky said. So I knew how to work my way in the paint and get easy buckets.”

“A lot of work over the last two years. So that’s why he’s in there like we’re starting to trot if we’ve trusted him. He hit the weight room.”

Last season Mahanoy made their way to the 2A quarterfinals and as they try to win a state championship, they aren’t looking ahead.

“Just take it one game at a time. We don’t, we don’t try to get ahead of ourselves. I know because every team every night is going to come and want to give us their best shot because we are undefeated.”

It’s a quick turn around for the Golden Bears, they’re right back on the hardwood tonight as they travel to take Minersville.

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