BOYS BASKETBALL: Lackawanna League players earn PSW all-state honors

After all of the hugs and tears were over, Cameron Parker and Logan Fanning had a chance to reflect on their senior season, and each found a lot to smile about.

After losing to Sewickley Academy in the PIAA Class 2A final and receiving their silver medals at the Giant Center in Hershey, the Old Forge duo stood proud of what they had accomplished. The journey included a second consecutive District 2 Class 2A championship, a dominant run through the state playoffs, and a worthy effort against one of the strongest teams in the state, regardless of classification.

On Thursday, Parker and Fanning were selected to the Pennsylvania Sports Writers Boys Basketball All-State team as first-team choices in Class 2A.

In addition to the Old Forge teammates, their coach, JJ Thomas, shared the Class 2A Coach of the Year honors with Sewickley Academy’s Mike Iuzzolino.

Riverside’s Nico Antoniacci was the Class 3A Player of the Year, and Brayden Rose was named to the Class 3A third team. Scranton Prep senior Packy Doherty was named to the second team in Class 4A.

Wyoming Area’s Luke Kopetchny was also named to the Class 4A second team.

“They were two guys who were a huge part of our success and are very deserving of the awards and accolades they have received,” Thomas said of Parker and Fanning. “They, along with the rest of the team, worked very hard. It is a great way to cap off their careers.”

Parker was the heartbeat of the Blue Devils for two seasons. He was a second-team all-state choice as a junior. He played in 97 career games, scored 1,206 points, had 242 rebounds, 161 assists, and 117 steals, and made 145 career 3-pointers.

This past season, the 6-foot guard averaged 17.6 points per game and scored 108 points in five PIAA Class 2A playoff games. He scored 36 points in a win over previously undefeated United in the PIAA Class 2A semifinals. He averaged 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game this season.

“At an early age, we saw something in Cam,” Thomas said. “We brought him up as a freshman knowing that he would have an impact, and he delivered. He put us on his back offensively and had really great performances last year and throughout this year’s playoff run.

“He put in the time and the work. He was a special player and, like his teammates, a special person.”

Fanning, who suffered a serious injury as a sophomore, came back to have two strong seasons in the paint for the Blue Devils.

At 6-7, the talented post presence was the Lackawanna Division II Defensive Player of the Year. He also showed an expanded offensive skill set this season, by averaging 16.2 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game, and recorded 19 double-doubles.

For his career, Fanning played 75 career games and finished with 955 points, 579 rebounds, 102 assists, and 202 blocks.

“Coming into his sophomore year, his size was not something we are accustomed to at Old Forge,” Thomas said. “He suffered that injury, but he is a multi-sport guy, and playing soccer, which he is also good at, helped with his recovery. After his junior year, he really dedicated himself to the weight room. He saw his strength as a deficiency. I have to credit Brian Tomasetti for working with our guys in the weight room. Logan took a liking to weightlifting, and that helped him tremendously and unlocked a part of his game that he didn’t know he had.”