TRIBORO BANNER WRITER

Jerry Kincel is now the Riverside boys' basketball all-time leading scorer - and counting - with every basket, free-throw and three-pointer he scores the rest of the season. The senior scored 30 points in an overtime win against Valley View two weeks ago and moved into first place on Riverside's all-time scoring list.

"It was a great feeling," Kincel said. "To be among the guys who went along the same way I did, took the same steps in the program I did, played the same type of teams I did in the same atmospheres I played. "It is an honor to be on the same list as them, let alone lead them."

Kincel went past the head coach's son, Mike Morgan Jr., on the Riverside all-time scoring list. Morgan is still around the Riverside program, attending many games cheering on his father's team.

"Mike Jr. is a great guy and he has supported me 24/7," Kincel said. "It is privilege to pass him out. He was a great player back in the day and a complete honor to be the leader of all of those great players."

It has been a very eventful few weeks for Kincel. He not only became the all-time scoring leader, he also scored 52 points in a tough loss to rival Holy Cross. Then Riverside won the second half of a special Coaches vs. Cancer doubleheader at Marywood University. The Vikings defeated arch-rival Old Forge.

Points were hard to come by for everyone in the Marywood-hosted matchup, as the final score was 42-36. Kincel had just six points, well below his average. But after the game, he was trilled his team came away with the win. Although Kincel is accustom to having high scoring games, that is not what defines him as a player. He a fierce competitor, who just wants his team to be on the winning side.

Kincel gets his points in multiple ways. He is far from a one-trick pony. He likes to mix it up under the basket, but has the ability to step out and drill a three-pointer and also finds his way to the free-throw line because of his tough mind-set under the basket.

Riverside is considered one of the best teams in the Lackawanna League and is currently ranked in the top 10 in state in Class AA with a 15-1 record. Riverside is looking for the second-half title in Division II of the Lackawanna League after Holy Cross won the first-half title due to their trilling win over the Vikings, in which Kincel had a virtuoso scoring game.

"I think we are taking steps," Kincel said of the season. "We haven't played our best the last couple games, but we are just taking things day-by-day, practice-by-practice and we will rep things out until we have it 100 percent right."

Holy Cross is also ranked in the top 10 in state in Class AA and when the two get together the games have been classics. Last year, the two faced off four times with Riverside winning three of those contests - including a game for the Lackawanna League Division II title. Riverside won that matchup and the two will face off at least one more time in the second half with the possibility of some post season games.

Kincel said he is still unsure about his college future, but said he knows he would like to study biology or pre-med. He also said he will continue his basketball career too as he is being recruited by several schools.

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