An already close-knit Pinecrest basketball team is even closer after a successful weekend of competition in Pennsylvania at the Berwick Area High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament.

The Patriots defeated Wyoming Seminary College Prep 51-47 in overtime on Friday before rolling over Berwick 75-49 in the championship game. Adam Cummings, who scored 20 points in the title game, earned tournament MVP honors. Teammates Brendan Ortiz and Jvyhoun Justice were also named to the all-tournament team.

Coach Andrew Lacey’s squad takes a 6-1 record into Friday’s contest at Wilmington Hoggard.

“Just winning the tournament was the biggest thing,” Cummings said after school on Monday. “We bonded a lot and that was good for us, too. Hopefully, that will give us confidence going into the conference and the rest of the season.”

The entourage of 14 players, four coaches and a team manager traveled nine hours by bus to the home of Wise Potato Chips and a hotbed of high school football, located about 20 miles southwest of Wilkes-Barre.

Kardashian Ragin scored eight second-quarter points, including a pair of threes, to help the Patriots build a 26-14 halftime lead against Wyoming on Friday. But the Blue Knights rallied to tie the game at 44-44 on a three by Seth Callahan just before time expired in regulation.

“We just had to forget about the play that just happened and go out and play hard,” Ortiz said.

Trevion Wooten turned a steal into the first basket of the extra period. Cummings, who was 15-for-17 from the foul line in the two games, cashed in four in a row to make it a 6-0 run. Ander Gonzalez countered with a three for the Blue Knights before Ortiz made it a two-possession game again by sinking one of two free throws.

The constant end-to-end pressure applied by fresh legs that the Patriots have employed this season was too much for the host Berwick squad on Saturday.

“The other team just seemed scared of our pressure, so that helped us a lot,” Cummings said.

The 6-foot-3 senior scored 17 of his 20 points, and sophomore Jamaan Calhoun chipped in with seven, as the Patriots exploded to a 30-17 lead at the quarter and a 50-34 advantage at halftime. Justice, with 11 points, and Ortiz, with 10, were other double-figure scorers in the game.

It all adds up to a positive start to the season for a Patriot team that went 7-18 last season in Lacey’s first year as the coach.

“It was everything I hoped it would be,” he said of the experience in the Keystone State. “It was a team bonding thing. We spent a ton of time together. The second thing was taking them to a place they might not necessarily go to again.

“Third, as far as maturing as basketball players, to win a game in overtime one night and then really control the game from start to finish in the championship was very pleasing. The thing I worry about more than anything as a coach is the ability to handle success. How do we respond to it?”

Traditionally strong Hoggard should provide a good test.

“I’m hoping that we keep working hard and don’t let up because I don’t want it to turn back to what it was like last season,” Cummings said. “So just keep working hard and hoping the success continues.”

Pinecrest 13 13 8 10 7 — 51

Wyoming Sem 6 8 15 15 3 — 47

Pinecrest: Martin-Calhoun 0 0-0 0, Ray 2 5-5 9, Calhoun 0 0-0 0, Brower 0 0-0 0, Winter-McRae 0 0-0 0, Woodard 0 0-0 0, Ragin 3 0-0 8, Justice 0 0-0 0, Ortiz 4 1-2 9, Cummings 4 8-9 16, Wooten 4 1-4 9, Painter 0 0-0 0, Kropp 0 0-0 0, Ivey 0 0-0 0. Totals - 17 15-20 51.

Wyoming: Ellis 1 2-2 4, Flippen 7 2-7 17, Gonzalez 1 0-0 3, Sedor 3 2-2 8, Wise 0 0-0 0, Callahan 5 0-0 13, Basilla 0 1-2 1. Totals - 17 7-13 47.

Three-point goals: P 2 (Ragin 2); WS 5 (Callahan 3, Gonzalez, Flippen).

Pinecrest 30 20 12 13 — 75

Berwick 17 17 7 8 — 49

Pinecrest: Martin-Calhoun 1 2-2 4, Ray 1 0-0 2, Calhoun 3 3-6 9, Brower 1 5-6 7, Woodard 0 0-0 0, Winter-McRae 2 0-0 4, Ragin 0 0-0 0, Justice 5 0-0 11, Ortiz 5 0-0 10, Cummings 6 7-8 20, Wooten 2 0-0 4, Painter 2 0-1 4, Ivey 0 0-0 0, Kropp 0 0-0 0. Totals - 28 17-23 75;

Berwick: Edwards 0 1-2 1, Clausen 2 0-1 5, May 4 1-1 13, Morales 2 0-0 5, Ladonis 4 4-6 12, Reigel 0 0-0 0, Evans 0 1-2 1, Dalo 1 2-2 4, Adearore 0 4-8 4, Bridge 1 0-0 2, Awry 1 0-0 2. Totals - 15 13-22 49.

Three-point goals: BE 6 (Ladonis 4, Clausen, Morales); P 2 (Justice, Cummings).