The playoffs didn’t disappoint. Week 6 of the Fall Exposure League delivered plenty of drama, upsets, and games that went down to the wire as teams fought to extend their seasons. With the intensity of the postseason at its peak, several players rose to the occasion at the Riverfront Sports Complex, making key plays when it mattered most.
These are the standouts who defined the opening week of the FXL postseason.
Ayden Agapito (SG/SF, Team Light Blue)
While he couldn’t guide Team Light Blue to a spot in the Fall Exposure League championship, Ayden Agapito still made a lasting impression on the league.
Beyond this week’s efforts, Agapito was instrumental in Light Blue’s 1–1 Week 4 showing — a performance that earned him his second standout nod of the season.
The Crestwood senior dropped 18 points, 7 rebounds, an assist, and a steal in a dominant 97–64 win over Team Pink — Light Blue’s fourth victory of the year.
Even in a 22-point loss to Team Dark Blue, Agapito remained consistent, converting 10 field goals en route to 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks.
He closed the week ranked eighth on the league’s scoring leaderboard (18.0 PPG) and tied for fifth in overall defensive impact (REB + STL + BLK) with a score of 9.5.
Light Blue wrapped up regular-season play at 4–6 overall, shifting their focus to the postseason.
The 6’5” forward brought energy and balance in a 78–54 quarterfinal win over No. 3 South seed Team Pink, finishing with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and a block.
In a wild semifinal matchup with No. 1 South seed Dark Blue, Agapito led Light Blue in scoring, rebounding, and blocks, posting 21 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 rejections in a narrow 72–69 loss.
Agapito and Team Light Blue now turn their attention to consolation play, set to face No. 1 North seed Grey this Sunday, October 26 at 10:30 a.m.
Nico Antoniacci (CG, Team Red)
October basketball? You wouldn’t know it watching Nico Antoniacci and Team Red light up the Riverfront Sports Complex like it was March.
One of the premier sophomores in Pennsylvania, Antoniacci earns his fourth standout nod of the Fall Exposure League season with Team Red following another stellar Week 6 showing.
In Week 5, the Riverside guard delivered one of the most dominant Sundays of the FXL to date.
He opened his weekend with 24 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and a block in Red’s 75–64 loss to Team Yellow. Later that day, he exploded for 61 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in Red’s second win of the season — a performance straight out of MyPlayer mode.
Antoniacci’s hot streak carried right into the postseason.
He knocked down five triples en route to 27 points in a thrilling 61–58 upset over No. 1 seed Team Grey, adding 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.
Unfortunately for Antoniacci and Team Red, their Cinderella run ended with an 84–83 semifinal loss to No. 2 North seed Team Yellow.
The 6’2” guard did everything possible to keep Red alive, finishing with 38 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. He was lights out from deep, connecting on nine three-pointers — many of them clutch shots down the stretch.
Team Red now heads into consolation play, where they’ll face No. 3 South seed Team Pink in the semifinal at 10:30 a.m. on October 26.
And if all goes well, another Red vs. Grey matchup could be waiting in the consolation championship.
Jimmy Clark (SG, Team Yellow)
Jimmy Clark had been flying under the radar all season, but he picked the perfect time to catch fire for Team Yellow.
From not even receiving an honorable mention to making his first standout list of the year, the Dunmore senior made his presence felt when it mattered most.
Clark quietly contributed during Week 5, posting 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists in a 75–64 win over Team Red. He was limited offensively in Yellow’s 86–48 loss to Team Grey, finishing with 2 points, 2 rebounds, and an assist.
Fast forward to Week 6, and Clark was on an absolute heater.
His strong play helped power Team Yellow’s push toward a championship appearance. In the quarterfinal win over No. 3 seed Team Purple, Clark erupted for 23 points — including four three-pointers — to go along with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and a block.
The 5’11” shooting guard followed that up with another clutch performance in the semifinal, scoring 17 points to help knock out Nico Antoniacci and No. 4 North seed Team Red. Clark connected on three triples and added 2 rebounds, an assist, and 2 steals.
After a breakout postseason, Clark aims to help Team Yellow capture the FXL title against Dark Blue on Sunday, October 26th with tip-off scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Court 1.
Pat Flanagan (SF/PF, Team Light Blue/Team Red)
Playing three games in one weekend is no easy feat. Doing it with two different championship-contending squads is even tougher.
Pat Flanagan isn’t one to shy away from extra minutes when his teams need him most.
Back in Week 5 of the Fall Exposure League, the Dallas junior put together two solid outings in a 1–1 weekend for Team Light Blue.
He posted 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in a 33-point blowout over Team Pink, then added 6 points, 2 rebounds, a steal, and a block in Light Blue’s 86–64 loss to Team Dark Blue.
Safe to say Flanagan came ready to compete once the postseason tipped off.
He started his Sunday helping Team Red pull off a 61–58 upset over No. 1 seed Team Grey. While he scored just 2 points, his hustle and defensive energy set the tone — diving for loose balls and forcing 3 steals.
Flanagan then rejoined his main squad, Team Light Blue, contributing 4 points, 6 rebounds, an assist, and 2 steals in a 78–54 quarterfinal win over No. 3 South seed Team Pink.
In a heartbreaking 84–83 season-ending loss to No. 2 North seed Team Yellow, Flanagan capped his weekend with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double, adding a steal and 2 blocks.
Flanagan and Team Light Blue now turn their attention to consolation play, where they’ll take on No. 1 North seed Team Grey in the semifinal at 10:30 a.m. on Court 1 at the Riverfront Sports Complex.
Xaivier Jackson (SG/SF, Team Grey)
While the result wasn’t what Team Grey had envisioned, Xaivier Jackson still went out with a bang this past weekend.
Since earning his first standout honors back in Week 2, the Selinsgrove Area junior has been a fixture on the list — selected in four of the last five weeks.
In Week 5, Jackson turned in two all-around efforts to help Grey finish 2–0. He came close to a triple-double in a 90–79 win over Team Purple, posting 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. His scoring dipped to 8 points in an 86–48 win over Team Yellow, but he still added 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal.
Entering the postseason with a 9–1 overall record and an undefeated 6–0 mark in North Division play, few expected what came next.
Jackson led all Grey scorers with 20 points in a stunning season-ending loss to Team Red, while also contributing 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal in the quarterfinal matchup.
He made sure Grey didn’t drop their second game of the weekend, though.
The 6’4” forward bounced back with 33 points, 2 rebounds, an assist, and a steal in an 88–77 consolation quarterfinal win over No. 3 North seed Team Purple.
Although Jackson and Grey are no longer in the title hunt, the consolation championship remains within reach. Their pursuit continues this Sunday, October 26, with a semifinal matchup against No. 2 South seed Team Light Blue at 10:30 a.m.
Liam Kozel (SF, Team Purple)
Oftentimes in the postseason, it’s the usual names that dominate. But this time around, Liam Kozel made sure to add his to the list.
Earning his first standout honor of the Fall Exposure League, the Seton Catholic Central senior delivered when it mattered most.
Kozel showed flashes of consistency back in Week 5, putting together two solid outings for Team Purple despite both resulting in losses.
In a 90–79 defeat to Team Grey, he tallied 5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. Later that day, he added 12 points, 5 rebounds, an assist, and a block in a 106–82 loss to Team Red.
While Team Purple’s postseason run came to an early end with two losses in Week 6, Kozel still made his presence felt.
The 6’3” small forward recorded 9 points, 4 rebounds, and a block in a 77–61 quarterfinal loss to No. 2 North seed Team Yellow. He followed that up with a strong showing in Purple’s 88–77 defeat to No. 1 North seed Team Grey, posting a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double to go along with 4 assists, 2 steals, and a block.
Kozel’s late-season surge serves as a reminder that even when the results don’t go your way, effort and production still find their recognition.
Kozel and Purple’s next challenge comes against the loser of the Light Blue vs. Grey semifinal this Sunday at 11:35 a.m.
Tyeirre Meade (CG, Team Light Blue)
Another week, another former “Matt’s Top 5 to Watch” player earning a standout honor.
Meade earned his first standout honor in Week 6, cementing his breakout performance as one of Light Blue’s key contributors.
The Blue Mountain senior’s Week 5 performances put him firmly on the map, foreshadowing his breakout showing in the opening round of the postseason.
He contributed 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal in Team Light Blue’s 97–64 rout of Team Pink, then followed up with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in a 22-point loss to Team Dark Blue.
By Week 6, Meade had taken his game to another level.
He led all scorers with 20 points in Light Blue’s 78–54 domination of No. 3 South seed Team Pink, adding 5 rebounds, an assist, 4 steals, and a block.
The 6’1” guard continued to impact both ends of the floor in Light Blue’s tight 72–69 semifinal loss to No. 1 South seed Team Dark Blue, finishing with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
After a postseason breakout, Meade’s next challenge comes against No. 1 North seed Team Grey in Sunday’s consolation semifinal at 10:30 a.m.
Jordan Shaffer (SG/SF, Team Dark Blue)
When Team Dark Blue needed him most, Jordan Shaffer once again delivered in the postseason to keep his team’s championship hopes alive.
In Week 5, Shaffer earned yet another standout nod — his fourth of the Fall Exposure League season — as the Abington Heights forward led Dark Blue to a convincing 2-0 finish to the regular season.
He posted 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 72–64 win over Team Green, then followed it up with 15 points, 4 rebounds, an assist, and 2 steals in an 86–64 victory over Light Blue.
Shaffer’s name was all over the Week 5 leaderboards as well, ranking No. 11 in scoring and tied for ninth in overall defensive impact (REB + STL + BLK) with a score of 9.5.
Once the postseason began, Shaffer kept that same energy. He opened with a near triple-double in an 86–67 win over No. 4 South seed Team Green, finishing with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Then, in a gritty 72–69 semifinal win against No. 2 South seed Team Light Blue, Shaffer led all scorers with 28 points — including 13 made free throws on 14 attempts — to punch Dark Blue’s ticket to the FXL title game.
Now, with one final matchup left, Shaffer and Dark Blue will look to finish the job against Team Yellow in pursuit of the inaugural Fall Exposure League championship. Tip-off is scheduled for this Sunday, October 26th, at 10:30 a.m. on Court 1.
Chicky Skoff (PG, Team Purple)
Albeit one of the youngest players on the court, you wouldn’t even realize it — Chicky Skoff can compete with the best of them.
Even though Skoff couldn’t carry Team Purple to the championship game, his efforts didn’t go unnoticed in Week 6.
Purple was certainly glad to have him back after missing Week 5 of the Fall Exposure League.
In Week 4, the Scranton Prep sophomore showcased his versatility in a 1–1 weekend for Purple. In a 98–83 win over Team Red, Skoff did it all, recording a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals.
The 5’10” guard led Purple in scoring in their quarterfinal loss to No. 2 North seed Team Yellow, finishing with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 steals on the defensive end.
In Purple’s consolation quarterfinal loss to No. 1 North seed Team Grey, Skoff exploded for 22 points on 11 made field goals, adding 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal.
Up next for Skoff and Purple is a matchup at 11:35 a.m. this Sunday, October 26, against the loser of the consolation semifinal between No. 2 South seed Team Light Blue and No. 1 North seed Team Grey.
Dylan Stish (SG/SF, Team Yellow)
Perhaps the biggest reason Team Yellow finds themselves in the Fall Exposure League championship is Dylan Stish.
Stish has produced at a high level all season, earning his fourth standout selection of the year.
The Hazleton Area junior’s 26-point, 7-rebound performance guided Yellow past Team Red in Week 5, adding an assist and a steal in the 75–64 win. He was one of only two Yellow players to score in double figures in an 86–48 loss to Team Grey to close the regular season, finishing with 11 points and 3 rebounds.
When the stakes were highest, Stish delivered at both ends of the floor.
The 6’3” forward nearly posted a double-double in Yellow’s 77–61 quarterfinal win over No. 3 North seed Team Purple, finishing with 19 points, 9 rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
In a nail-biting 84–83 semifinal win over No. 4 North seed Team Red, Stish delivered a timely triple during his 24-point outing and contributed across the board with 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and a block.
Stish and Team Yellow now face a heavyweight showdown with Team Dark Blue this Sunday, October 26 at 11:35 a.m. on Court 1 of the Riverfront Sports Complex, with the FXL championship on the line.
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- Matt Mascarenhas — NEPA Hoops Reporter
MATT SPORTS MEDIA 
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