The Whitehall basketball teams opened up their seasons this past weekend in different ways.

The boys went 1-1, opening with a win over Becahi in the Yasso-Rothrock Classic before falling to Hazleton on the road Tuesday night.

Against the Hawks, the boys started out fast, taking an 18-8 advantage into the second quarter. But from there, the team had to try and hold off the Hawk comeback. Becahi used a 20-point second quarter to cut Whitehall's lead to just two points, 30-28, at the half. The Hawks would actually lead after three quarters, 36-35, before the Zephs pulled away in the fourth.

Anthony Bellucci had a monster game for Whitehall, scoring 22 points and hitting for six threes. Aaron Keglovits added ten, including a three. Brett Radocha had nine and James Wah scored eight.

Matt Husek and Freddie Simmons led the way for Becahi scoring 19 and 15, respectively.

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The Zephs would start strong again against Hazleton, but this time couldn't recover from poor second and fourth quarters.

Whitehall jumped out to a 13-11 lead after one, but Hazleton exploded in the second to take a 27-17 advantage into the half. The Zephs cut into that deficit in the third and made it to 41-37 after three. But, Hazleton would again put together a solid quarter and outscored Whitehall 17-5 in the final frame for a 59-42 victory.

Radocha led the way for Whitehall with 14 and Aaron Keglovits added eight.

Sal Biasi did in the Zephs with 22 points, including four threes.

Girls

The Whitehall girls started their year 0-2, with a loss to Bethlehem Catholic in the Yasso-Rothrock Classic and then a loss to Tri Valley in game two.

Like the boys, the girls started well against the Hawks, taking an early lead, but were tied 10-10 after one quarter thanks to a three-pointer by Becahi freshman Nia Mims. That three seemed to spark the Hawks offense toward the end of the first and eventually led them to a 48-31 victory.

Becahi guard Nicole Lacherza hit a three of her own, breaking a 12-12 tie at the beginning of the second quarter, and the Hawks outscored the Zephs 19-5 in that frame to take a 29-11 lead into halftime.

Becahi came out in the third and extended that lead to 41-21 after three as the Hawk defense kicked in, forcing Whitehall turnovers and drawing fouls.

Madison Kelly finished with 13 points for the Zephyrs, but Whitehall faced a scoring drought in the third quarter until the final minutes when Kelly hit back-to-back baskets.

The Hawks Bridget Smith, who had 10 points, 13 rebounds, three blocked shots, and three steals, along with Kelly, were named tournament MVPs for their respective teams.

Kalista Walters had 13 for the Hawks.

Karly Klein was the next highest scorer for the Zephs with six.

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The girls trailed by just three to Tri Valley after one but were outscored 14-6 in the second frame and eventually fell 57-34 at home on Tuesday night.

Madison Kelly again led the way for the Zephs, scoring 15, including three threes. Taylor George added 13 points, including one three. Nicole Umbenhauer added six points.

Tri Valley was paced by Tara Nahodil, who scored 14. She was helped by Taylor Troutman and Kyle Spickler who each had 10.