Welcome, spring! March arrives as a much-needed breath of fresh air, bringing with it the promise of warmer weather and nature waking up.

Our LCLS Winter Reading Challenge, “Reading Starts a Revolution,” finished up on Feb. 28. Hope you enjoyed the challenges and also got to read a few things you wouldn’t normally read. Please turn in your bingo sheets to your library so we can tabulate the winners.

On March 19th, the DCL Spring Children’s programming begins. “K is for Keystone Storytime,” presented by Kristin Kane, celebrates America250 and Pennsylvania. This will kick off our Spring Children’s and Young Adult 7-week activities. Children will be meeting on Thursdays at 4 p.m. and young sdults at 5 p.m. Join us for sign language, crafts, and stories the rest of March and the month of April.

For information about our programs, please call the library at 570-563-2014.

Please stop by the library soon; we have many new books on our best-seller shelves. Peruse the shelves for many new authors and number-one authors as well.

Dalton Community Library’s Spring Book and Bake Sale will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Please keep us in mind in the next couple of months if you have books you would like to donate. We will take donations until April 1 to give us time to get ready for the sale.

Our next Saturday Spotlight will meet from 10:30 a.m. to noon on March 28. We will shine our light this month on “The Lion Women of Tehran” by Marjan Kamali. Please join us for interesting and enlightening discussions.

Our Bridge group meets every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon. Our group is growing, and we enjoy the weekly time together.

We will be taking orders starting in mid-March for our annual Spring Flower Fund-Raiser. Once again, the flowers will be supplied by Beichler’s Greenhouse and be available for pick-up the Thursday or Friday before Mother’s Day. Order forms are available at the library, and this year we will have four choices of flower baskets.

Please follow the Dalton Community Library LCLS page and the Dalton Facebook page for notices of special programs that will be occurring in the next few months.

Stay warm and safe this month!

This is the week to “spring ahead,” and that’s exactly what we will be doing at The Gathering Place. Spring seems a bit shy about peeking out, but there’s a subtle change in the air — more daylight, more sunshine, more energy. Of course, we will be snowed in once more with the onion snow, but that melts fast. That deep-arctic-freeze feeling seems to be losing hold.

Come down to The Gathering Place to enjoy the many offerings of March. The month will begin with the Our Town Student Art Show featuring the work of Abington Heights seniors and juniors. An opening reception for the public will be held at 3 p.m. March 8. Families and visitors can view the paintings, mixed media, drawing, and photographic creations of these young artists. Guided by teachers Abby Fenton, Michele Fangio, and Tim Butler, these students produce beautiful, thoughtful art that is worthy of any gallery. All are welcome to attend.

One of my favorite opportunities at The Gathering Place is our Tech Tutors night at 4 p.m. March 18. The Abington Heights technology and computer clubs visit TGP to meet one-on-one with anyone who needs help or advice about their laptop, phone, or tablet. I have had so many of my pesky tech questions answered by these students. They are ready and willing to meet and help.

Everyone is also invited to join us in music celebration. Our next Coffee House concert will happen at 7 p.m. May 21 when the Dishwashers come to town. This group, all members of the Dishonest Fiddlers, will entertain from 7 to 9 p.m., free to the public thanks to a grant from the Overlook Foundation. To end the month, we have our traditional Irish Seisiun, hosted by Brandan Lesavage at 6 p.m. Friday, March 27. You can bring your own instrument and join in, or just sing along as the musicians share their talents.

If the student art show inspires you, why not try some of your own art? You’ll have a new piece of art for the holidays with Spring Fling Glass Fusion at 6 p.m. March 11. Perfect for all levels, this class gives you an intro to glass art and a unique piece of fused glass to take home. Other art ventures could include our Mug Making workshop on March 21 at 11 and Junk Journals at noon March 24. In this class, you can create something uniquely yours to capture memories through collage, simple bookbinding, and design.

Brush up your cooking skills with any of three classes. Lakshmi Mizren will show how to make the most of vegetarian-style dishes on March 21 at 1, then she will return on March 28 at 1 to focus on mastering yellow fin tuna. Chef Sisile will warm up the baking oven to instruct class in Scones, banana bread, and biscuits at 6 p.m. March 31.

Stroll through the Summit to our noon lectures. This month will feature Christopher Stokum from the Anthracite Heritage Museum. He will relate stories from the past and bring artifacts from anthracite history to highlight the tales on March 19. In celebration of our 250th national anniversary, the histories of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island will be highlighted on March 31.

Lots more will be going on with our Memory Café, Game Night, Writers’ Group, Book Club, Weavers’ Group, and Ukulele Strummers. For details on those meetings, or to register for classes, just check our website at www.gatheringplacecs.org.

Come on, Spring! We are ready for you.

Onscreen at the Dietrich

I am a bona fide horror nerd, and no franchise has meant more to me in my movie-going life than the “Scream” franchise. I have been rooting for final girl Sidney Prescott to save herself from a new masked killer for thirty years now, and it never gets old. The formula works, and the movie nerd inside me loves to see the many references and callbacks to past franchise entries and the horror movie landscape at large. Scream 7 brings us back to Woodsboro, where Sidney must face her past and protect her daughter from the same future. For anyone into a good scare, “Scream 7” is just the ticket you are looking for.

“I Can Only Imagine 2” and “GOAT” are still with us for at least another week. “I Can Only Imagine 2” continues the inspirational and heartwarming story from the first film and has captured audiences’ hearts and ears. “GOAT” is a fantastic film for the whole family about the courage to take risks and be the best you can be regardless of who you are or how people perceive you. Isn’t that a great message for kids? If we can deliver that message through a talking basketball playing goat … so be it.

Finally, I haven’t had the chance to see many Winterfest films yet, but the two that I have seen have been so much fun. If you are looking for a laugh, “Fackham Hall” is absolutely the movie for you. The movie doesn’t take itself seriously in the slightest. Its job is to take jabs at the sometimes stuffy and uppity aristocracy genre and “Downton Abbey.” It’s lighthearted fun and is just the kind of movie we need right now. No Other Choice is funny at times, but it is far and away, much more serious than “Fackham Hall.” “No Other Choice” follows a paper worker in Korea who loses his job and figures the only way he can get it back and save himself from financial ruin is to rid the world of the other candidates. … permanently. There is so much to unpack in this film like personal responsibility, the changing landscape of industry, and how far someone is willing to go for their family and their future. It’s like an industrial “Parasite” and if you know anything about me … “Parasite” is the blueprint for filmmaking.

The fantastic thing about film festivals is that there are so many showtimes and so many opportunities to see all these films. I’ve seen you come through many times now, Margie, while I’ve been at the ticket booth. What have you seen and what have you thought so far?

—Ronnie Harvey

Live at the Dietrich

I am struck by the fact that several films in Winter Fest are filled with historical details that have enriched my understanding of other times and events. Yes. I have seen three of the 21 films of Winter Fest that have done just that, beginning with “The Choral,” starring Ralph Fiennes as the choral director. I never knew that participating in a community chorus was a way of dealing with the dislocation of British lives during World War I, did you? If and when you see the film, pay attention to the scene when the choral director quotes German philosopher Goethe on the necessity of daily beauty as follows:

“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture

“every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate

“the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.”

Music is just one of the ways to bring beauty into our lives, and the film “The Choral” is the story of how it can even help in times of war.

I also saw “The Testament of Ann Lee” and learned so much about the history of the Shakers, the religious sect, told through the eyes of writer/director Mona Fastvold, imagining Ann Lee’s early life and marriage and her taking her followers across the ocean from England to America, where freedom to practice your religious beliefs was espoused. Amanda Seyfried, as the founder of the Shakers, and the musical and dancing scenes are outstanding. A new take on part of history we can only imagine and try to understand.

The film “Blue Moon” is the third little slice of history — musical history — that is very personal to me. I can still see and hear my teenage sister Mary Alice seated at our upright piano in Chicago with a book of Rodgers and Hart songs in place, playing so many songs I can still sing by heart — “Blue Moon,” “My Funny Valentine,” “Isn’t it Romantic?” “Where or When,” and so many more. And now, through the film with an amazing performance by Ethan Hawke as Lorenz Hart, I know the story of how his career changed when his musical partner Richard Rodgers paired up with Oscar Hammerstein. And there is so much more in the film, including a love affair that is destined to be one-sided, but so poignant and heartbreaking.

Finally, some breaking news! Mary Turner just told me that our friends at WVIA will be back at the Dietrich at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 7, to introduce us to a new Masterpiece series, “The Forsytes,” which premieres on WVIA on March 22. It is a bold, new take of a wealthy Victorian family, inspired by John Galsworthy’s celebrated “Forsyte Saga” novels. We love it when we get sneak previews of WVIA programs. To reserve a space, call the Dietrich at 570-836-1022 x3. Or just show up and enjoy the fun. We would love to see you soon at the Dietrich. Winter Fest? A blockbuster film? A class? An event? You are invited to all!

—Margie Young

WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Jordan Shaffer, Andrew Kettel and Finn Goldberg are the top three Abington Heights scorers, in order, this season.

They were again in the District 2 Class 5A boys basketball championship game at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.

But that only began to tell the story of their contributions to a 57-37 victory over Crestwood Feb. 27 for the team’s fourth straight district title.

Shaffer scored 17 points, Kettel added 16, and Goldberg chipped in with eight.

Each, in his own way, also provided the work that kept Crestwood points off the scoreboard.

Shaffer grabbed 13 of his 18 rebounds on the defensive end, helping to limit Crestwood’s second chances and get Abington Heights headed the other way.

“They’re a real physical team,” said Shaffer, whose rebound total was the highest ever in an arena championship game that did not go to overtime. “They like to slow the game down.”

Kettel made five steals, helping further fuel the transition game. He got a three-point play and two other layups directly off those steals and also provided a team-high three assists in the win.

“I have a lot of trust in our guys,” Kettel said. “Everyone trusts in each other.”

Goldberg’s numbers were not as impressive, but his contributions were still vital. He did the bulk of the work in holding 15-point-per-game scorer Ayden Agapito without a field goal until the final 2:15, by which time Abington Heights had its 20-point lead.

“Finn Goldberg is the best perimeter defender in our area,” Abington Heights coach J.C. Show said.

Crestwood had its moments early, scoring the game’s first seven points, holding Abington Heights without a field goal for the first 6:25 and leading 12-7 after one quarter.

“Crestwood came out ready to play,” Show said. “We knew they would.

“We just had to be able to weather the storm.”

Abington Heights moved ahead for the first time on a deep 3-pointer by Kettel with 5:25 left in the second quarter and took the lead for good 1:24 later on his back-court steal and three-point play that started an 8-3 finish to the second quarter for a 23-19 halftime lead.

The lead grew from there.

Shaffer turned one of his offensive rebounds into a basket that started an 11-3 run to a 37-25 lead in the final minute of the third quarter.

Abington Heights then outscored Crestwood 13-2 over a three-minute stretch in the middle of the fourth quarter. Shaffer started the run, then ended it by blocking a shot, controlling the rebound and going coast-to-coast for a three-point play and 52-32 lead.

Shaffer and Kettel missed just one shot while combining for 13 points in the fourth quarter.

Carter Plantz added six points and five rebounds as Abington Heights won the rebounding battle 35-23.

Miles Metz led Crestwood with 14 points. Agapito scored five points late to finish with nine points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots.

With the title, Abington Heights (19-5) earned the right to host the March 6, Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 5A first-round game with Springfield-Delco, the fourth-place team from District 1 with a 21-4 record.

Abington Heights 63, North Pocono 35

Shaffer scored 19 points and Abington Heights dominated the second half for its 13th straight victory in a Feb. 20 district semifinal against visiting North Pocono.

The Comets led just 14-13 after one quarter and 29-20 at halftime.

Andrew Kettel, Cooper Manning and Shaffer each scored five points in the third quarter when Abington Heights outscored North Pocono 17-9 for a 46-29 lead.

Kettel finished with 11 points.

WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Scranton Prep used three streaks of at least 11 points to become the first district team to beat Dallas this season when the Cavaliers dumped the top-seeded Mountaineers 67-52 in the District 2 Class 4A boys basketball championship game Feb. 28 at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.

The Cavaliers got 28 points from sophomore point guard Chicky Skoff, along with 20 points and 11 rebounds by Packy Doherty, while taking down the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 and WVC Tournament champions.

Dallas poured in 28 points in the second quarter for a 38-33 halftime lead, but was held to just two points in the third while Scranton Prep surged in front.

“By the time the coaches got in the locker room (at halftime), I think the kids had it figured out,” Scranton Prep coach Larry Reagan said. “ … The players took care of it. They were very vocal.”

Skoff went 9-for-15 to lead 51-percent shooting by the Cavaliers. He was 7-for-10 in the second half to finish with his season scoring high.

Doherty did not have any of his usual 3-pointers, but made his last eight shots from inside the arc. He also grabbed a season-high in rebounds, including 10 on the defensive end.

“I’m really proud of him,” Reagan said. “The first two years he played down here, I don’t think he played up to his standards. This year, he acknowledged the fact that he could have a much bigger impact on this game besides putting the ball in the hole.

“With 11 rebounds, he very clearly did that.”

Four Cavaliers scored in an 11-point streak to a 15-7 lead before Pat Flanagan hit a corner 3-pointer for the Mountaineers to end the first quarter.

“That first quarter, we played terrific,” Reagan said.

Dallas got rolling in the second quarter when Tyce Mason scored seven points and four teammates hit 3-pointers.

The Mountaineers moved in front during a 19-5 run from 5:32 remaining in the second until 1:38 before halftime. That stretch produced the biggest Dallas lead at 35-27.

Skoff hit a long 3-pointer to close the first-half scoring and start a 17-0 Scranton Prep run in which he had the first 15 points.

Scranton Prep kept rolling with a 35-14, second-half advantage that included the game’s last 13 points.

“We were all hitting shots,” said Skoff, who also led the Cavaliers with four steals and four assists. “It was like a domino effect.”

The Cavaliers (20-5) earned a March 6 home game against District 3 third-place finisher Schuylkill Valley (17-9) to begin the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs.

District playoffs

SCRANTON – Scranton Prep reached the arena by beating Honesdale 70-38 in the quarterfinals and Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 champion Wyoming Area 73-47 in the semifinals.

Doherty scored 21 points and Luke Flanagan hit five 3-pointers to add 19 against Honesdale.

Scranton Prep overcame 35 points by Wyoming Area’s Luke Kopetchny with the help of 30 by Packy Doherty and another strong rebounding effort.

The Cavaliers hit 11 shots from 3-point range and outrebounded Wyoming Area, usually a strong team on the boards, by a 37-26 margin.

“This year, we’re a little smaller, so one of our main emphases is just gang rebounding and then push the ball from there,” Doherty said.

Charlie Skoff, Brody Martin and Max McGrath grabbed six rebounds each.

Skoff came off the bench to score 13 points and grab five of his rebounds on the offensive end. Martin scored 11 points.

Scranton Prep scored the game’s first eight points, then the last 14 of the first quarter for a 22-4 lead.

Recap

Scranton Prep went 12-2 for second place in Lackawanna League Division 1, losing only a pair of games to first-place Abington Heights.

Following the second loss to the Comets, the Cavaliers closed the regular season with three straight wins, putting up 84 points on the road against West Scranton and Wallenpaupack in each of the last two games.

Abington Heights won one District 2 Class 5A girls basketball game before having its season end in a visit to the top seed and eventual champion, Crestwood.

The Lady Comets opened the playoffs with a 39-26 quarterfinal win at home over Pittston Area. They finished 15-9 overall, battling Crestwood before losing 62-50 to the team that went on to a 25-point rout of Lackawanna League Division 1 champion North Pocono in the district title game at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.

Crestwood 62, Abington Heights 50

Abington Heights jumped out to a seven-point lead after one quarter, but Crestwood used a 26-point second quarter to take control of the Feb. 21 semifinal.

Keira Dougherty scored Crestwood’s only two points of the first quarter.

Dougherty then scored eight of her game-high 20 during the second quarter to push Crestwood to a 28-14 halftime lead.

Crestwood limited Abington Heights to one field goal in the second quarter and two in the third while opening a 48-29 lead.

Emma Coleman led Abington Heights with 19 points.

Abington Heights 39, Pittston Area 26

CLARKS SUMMIT – Abby Schneider, Avery Brister and Lily Scoblick each connected on their only 3-point attempt of the first quarter as Abington Heights ran out to an 11-point lead that it maintained most of the way in the Feb. 18 quarterfinal.

Coleman scored six of her team-high 12 points, grabbed three rebounds, dished out three assists and made two steals as Abington Heights took a 19-8 lead in the first quarter.

Abington Heights held Pittston Area scoreless for the first 3:54 while taking a 6-0 lead.

The closest the Patriots got the rest of the way was 11-8 before the Comets scored the last eight of the quarter. Brister found Coleman inside for an easy basket 10 seconds after coming off the bench, then added a 3-pointer.

Lily Scoblick beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer from the wing for a 19-8 lead.

“I was really happy with our defensive effort,” Abington Heights coach Deanna Klingman said. “I’ve been trying to let Lily Scoblick know she’s got to be offensive-minded. I thought she came up big in the first half.

“She can shoot the ball. She does so many things for the team. She plays defense. She rebounds.”

Scoblick contributed nine points, two steals and two assists.

Coleman grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double and also had four steals.

Recap

Abington Heights lost three straight games to begin February before closing the regular season with a 57-31 win over West Scranton.

The losing streak dropped the Lady Comets out of a three-way tie for first place in Lackawanna League Division 1. They finished 9-5 and fourth in the division, one game behind third-place Valley View.

WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Scranton Prep had one girls’ basketball title streak come to an end less than two weeks earlier.

The Classics were not about to let another be stopped.

Chloe Mamera scored 21 points Feb. 26 as Scranton Prep fought off Valley View 52-47 in the District 2 Class 4A championship game at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.

This was the third straight year the Classics beat the Cougars in the final, giving Scranton Prep four consecutive district championships. Scranton Prep has won eight of the last nine District 2 titles, making it the girls’ team with the most wins at the arena.

The nine-year run remains impressive. The Classics have won eight district titles and lost a one-point championship game in that time. They also had eight Lackawanna League Division 1 championships, followed by this season’s playoff game loss after a tie for first place.

“We had goals, winning the league was one of them and we didn’t get it,” Scranton Prep coach Bob Beviglia said. “But this means so much to them. They feel it’s part of the legacy of the program to come here and win and I’m thrilled that they were able to pull that off.”

Mamera was a big part of it, helping offset an impressive all-around performance by Valley View’s Cora Castellani.

Castellani had 19 points, six steals, five defensive rebounds and three assists.

Mamera, who scored eight points in the last 4:30, went 8-for-14 from the floor and made all four of her free throws. She also had four assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

“This is the best feeling in the world,” Mamera said. “We’ve been working so hard for this moment. We wanted to come out on top after losing in the Lackawanna League.”

Kami Lynady scored 10 points, hitting five of seven shots during one stretch, while adding five assists and five rebounds.

Eva Kaszuba had nine points and seven rebounds. Ava Fenton chipped in six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Classics went ahead to stay with 1:22 left in the first quarter.

Mamera helped secure the win by hitting two free throws with 16.6 left.

North Pocono 38, Scranton Prep 21

CARBONDALE – Scranton Prep was perfect in the second half of the girls basketball regular season, working its way back from a tough start to earn a shot at yet another Lackawanna League Division 1 championship.

The Classics, however, came up empty in that chance, struggling offensively and losing to North Pocono Feb. 14 in a playoff for the division title.

Scranton Prep won its last 11 regular-season games and last 10 division games after starting 6-5 and just 2-2 within the division. The turnaround, in which the Classics won every game by at least eight points, put them within one win of a ninth straight division title.

North Pocono matched Scranton Prep at 12-2 at the top of the standings. The Classics avenged early-season road losses to North Pocono and Valley View during home games in the winning streak.

Following a sluggish start in the title game, North Pocono dominated. The Lady Trojans combined a match-up zone defense that clogged the middle on the Classics with the offensive combination of the Clementoni sisters, Anna and Ella.

Anna Clementoni finished with a game-high 18 points. Ella Clementoni scored eight of her nine points in the second quarter, then had five second-half assists, four of which set up baskets by her younger sister.

Mamera led Scranton Prep with 12 points, but the rest of the Classics managed just four baskets.

Scranton Prep held North Pocono scoreless for more than four minutes to begin the game and scored the first four points.

Shannon Bestrycki opened the second-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer for an 11-7 lead.

The Classics went nearly eight minutes without scoring, during which the Lady Trojans moved in front to stay, and scored just 10 total points the rest of the way.

North Pocono ran off 14 straight points. It had the last 12 points of the half, including Ella Clementoni’s three-point play in the final second.

North Pocono kept the lead in double figures for the entire fourth quarter, limiting Scranton Prep to two points in the last 10 minutes.

Recap

After winning the second of three meetings with North Pocono during January, Scranton Prep’s biggest obstacle for forcing the playoff was back-to-back games in the first week of February.

The Classics avenged the Valley View loss with a 66-52 victory Feb. 3, then won at Abington Heights 46-34 three days later.

Mamera scored 31 points and Bestrycki hit six 3-pointers while adding 22 points in the win over Valley View.

Fenton had 19 points and Mamera added 16 against Abington Heights.

The Classics secured the win by going 7-for-8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter.

Sarah Cantner scored nine points for Abington Heights and Emma Coleman had eight.

Scranton Prep then defeated West Scranton 69-31 and Wallenpaupack 49-22 in the final week of the regular season.

The Classics led 29-3 after one quarter and 47-10 at halftime over West Scranton.

Mamera poured in 30 points against Wallenpaupack.

Derek Williams and Jason Casper each won the maximum four events Feb. 27-28 at the Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth Center in Wilkes-Barre to help Abington Heights run away with the title in the District 2-4 Class 3A Subregional Swimming and Diving Championships.

Williams and Casper teamed for wins in the opening 200-yard medley relay and the closing 400 freestyle relay.

Abington Heights compiled 291 points, well in front of District 4’s Williamsport with 217. Wyoming Valley West and Hazleton Area tied for third in the 10-team field with 211.

Williams won the 50 freestyle in 21.04 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 47.87.

Casper won the 100 butterfly by more than three seconds in 51.16 and the 500 freestyle by 6.46 seconds in 4:45.67.

Geoff Stanton and Charles Voytek were also on both winning relays.

Stanton added a win in the 100 backstroke in 54.74 and took third in the 200 individual medley.

Voytek was fifth in the 200 freestyle and sixth in the 500 freestyle.

The Comets got started toward their title a week earlier when diving was contested.

Micah White and Ryan Horutz dominated the competition in a 1-2 finish. White won with a score of 543.15 and Horutz was more than 100 points ahead of the rest of the six-diver field in second with 504.35.

Alec Allspaugh, Adrian Azar, Preston Baker and Judah Donnelley combined for third in the 200 freestyle relay.

Azar was fourth in the 100 breaststroke and sixth in the 50 freestyle. Donnelley was fifth in the 100 freestyle and eighth in the 200 freestyle. Allspaugh was eighth in the 200 IM and 100 freestyle. Baker was 10th in the 50 freestyle.

Noa Thomas was ninth in the 100 freestyle and 10th in the 200 freestyle.

Roman Donnelly was ninth in the 500 freestyle and Lucas Allspaugh was 10th in the 100 backstroke.

Class 2A

Scranton Prep’s Ben Kessler and Lukas Iannone won the first two individual events contested.

Iannone then added a record-setting effort in a 1-2 finish with Kessler on the second day.

Iannone’s time of 51.36 in the 100 backstroke broke the district record of state champion Peter Kawash from Lakeland of 51.50 in 2021.

Kessler was second in 54.25. He won the 200 freestyle in 1:46.74.

Iannone followed by winning the 200 IM by almost nine seconds in 1:54.81.

Kessler and Iannone had gotten Scranton Prep started with the first two legs of the 200 medley relay, giving the Cavaliers the lead in an event they would eventually finish in second. Michael DeVitto and Gavin Gallagher completed the silver-medal team.

Tunkhannock won the team title with 358 points. Dallas was second, beating rival Lake-Lehman 230-225.

Scranton Prep was fourth of 13 teams with 141.

CLARKS SUMMIT — The Abington Community Library hosted final meeting for the Girl Scout Starter Troop for Daisies and Brownies on Sunday. For the last few weeks, girls from kindergarten through third grade have been introduced to Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania (GHSPA) through meetings facilitated by volunteers and council staff.

According to the GHSPA, the Clarks Summit Starter Troop aims to transition into a permanent, parent-led troop offering a low-commitment introduction to friendship, badges, and fun.

“After we have four meetings, we also work with parents or guardians who would like to take over the troop,” said recruitment coordinator Marissa Pilato. “Right now, we do have one leader, and we’re looking for a co-leader.”

The past three meetings were about the four pillars of Girl Scouting: STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics); life skills; outdoor experience; entrepreneurship. These pillars give the Daisies and Brownies opportunities to earn badges in many categories. In STEM, they can learn about automotive engineering, cybersecurity, coding for good, and robotics. In outdoor experience, they can do outdoor activities based on their age level, such as camping and hiking at Camp Archbald in Kingsley.

On Saturday, May 16, Girl Scouts from all over PA will meet each other in an event called She Shines. It is intended to build confidence, courage, and strength through a series of hands-on experiences focused on self-care, leadership, and wellness. Sessions dive into topics such as mental wellness, emotional strengths, body confidence, and self-worth. Each session is designed to help Girl Scouts grow stronger, become more self-aware, and become more empowered. In life skills, Girl Scouts learn art, tinkering, democracy, and being a good neighbor. The entrepreneurship pillar allows Girl Scouts to become financially literate by selling cookies. During the fall season, there is a fall product program, in which girls can sell. magazines, candies, and nuts. They can go to other initiatives, such as opening a lemonade stand. Badges for this pillar include Money Explorer and My First Cookie Business.

During the Girl Scout Starter Troop meetings, girls become familiar with the Girl Scout Promise and Law. They are taught manners, friendship, and courtesy. They also get to do crafts and sing songs. They use their creativity to choose an activity that centers around the badge they want to earn.

After the Starter Troop meetings, Girl Scouts can join a troop if they want to continue scouting.

On Saturday, May 30, hundreds of Girl Scouts, along with the troop leaders and families, can meet each other at a bridging ceremony on City Island in Harrisburg. The event will offer hands-on activities, guest speakers, and opportunities to connect with Girl Scouts from all over the state. Girls can stay up to date on current Girl Scout events via the website ghspa.org’s event calendar.

The Daisies is the first level of Girl Scouts. If they want to continue, they can reach Marissa at mpilato@gshpa.org. For information, contact member services at Camp Hill, at 717-233-1656. Parents who want to become Girl Scout leaders are encouraged to contact.

The GSHPA serves 30 counties in PA. Its mission is to build girls’ courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place.

Marissa, who has been Daisies to senior year, has been working with the Girl Scouts Starter Troop since June 2025. She saw the want and need for another troop in Clarks Summit area since most of the other troops are full. She worked with Abington Community Library Executive Director Allyson Wind to launch the starter troop.

“It’s really neat as a recruiter now when I get to help start these troops and see these girls grow as a troop,” said Marissa. “They form lifelong friendships. It’s really neat to see them come into their own personality.”

CLARKS SUMMIT — The borough will be tickled pink this summer as it prepares for an upcoming event.

Clarks Summit Goes Pink, a certified,= nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer and supporting those afflicted, is getting ready for a 5K/1 Mile Walk and Community Block Party on Saturday, Aug. 15.

Participants of different age groups will meet behind the Clarks Summit Borough Building on Depot Street. The route of the race and walk will go through Knapp Road, Carnation Drive, Grandview Avenue, and Bedford Street. They will end on Depot Street. There will be a community block party around the corner on Spring Street.

Clarks Summit Goes Pink plans for race registrants to have access to food and drink specials. Local eateries are encouraged to donate handheld foods or fruits to them. Local band Kristen and the Noise will perform on stage for a few hours.

The cost to register for the race is $40. Registration for the cost has been open since March 1. Proceeds will benefit local individuals, whether it is to assist with private screenings or to lessen the burden of costs incurred while fighting breast cancer.

Scott Shimko. Clarks Green resident and president of Clarks Summit Goes Pink pitched the idea of a race to benefit breast cancer awareness during a recent Clarks Summit council meeting. In 2019, he and his wife Colleen and a group of friends traveled to Dewey Beach, Delaware, for a weekend for Colleen’s 40th birthday. They came across an event called Dewey Goes Pink, which supports the Sussex County Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition. They returned to Dewey to participate in the event twice more.

In October 2023, Colleen was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“With the best doctors, family, and friends, I’m happy to report that she is doing great and she is cancer-free,” said Scott. “Her experience inspired us to support and give back to those impacted by breast cancer. With the help of many friends, we decided to put together a similar Dewey Goes Pink event in our community, where all money raised will stay local to our community.”

Clarks Summit Goes Pink is dedicated to the late Michael J. Paremba, a close friend of Scott’s family and of everyone on the board. He was a strong supporter of the cause as he attended one of the earliest discussions. He connected Scott with race directors Bruce and Holly Reddock.

“This event would not be possible without the knowledge of Bruce and Holly and their willingness to help us, so we really owe this all to Mike,” said Scott. “Mike was adamant that we pursue our own non-profit and partner with the right individuals and companies to ensure the money we raise is used to benefit those in our local community.”

Clarks Summit Goes Pink has a number of sponsors, which are being posted to the website and social media. Sponsorship packages and information on how to become a sponsor are available at csgoespink.com/event.

DALTON — For the past two years, the two bridges over Kennedy Creek have experienced tribulations caused by flooding. They will be replaced by a new bridge, which will be relocated out of the flood plain.

The Lackawanna State Park Trail Care Crew, a volunteer partner of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization, is working with engineering firm Design BLD of Exeter to construct a 50-foot-long fiberglass single-span truss bridge. It will be built about 200 feet downstream, up high, and away from the volatile water.

After several studies, the two organizations received an R3 approval from DCNR (Department of Conservation and Natural Resources). Design BLD is currently surveying the location and permitting with the Department of Environmental Protection. Once the permits are obtained, the Lackawanna State Park Trail Care Crew and Design BLD will design and build the abutments.

The cost of this project is $90,000. As of now, private donors and the Eureka Foundation have been raising funds. Lackawanna State Park, which supports the project, is involved on an advisory basis.

“Our mission is to maintain, build, and improve the trails within Lackawanna State Park and Countryside Conservancy Lands, said Joe Tierney, of Lackawanna State Park Trail Care Crew.

FACTORYVILLE — The Lackawanna Trail Drama Club will step into NYC with its spring production of “Annie.”

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 29.

Set in 1933 during the Great Depression, “Annie” is the classic story of a spunky little red-haired orphan girl named Annie, who is fostered by Oliver Warbucks, the billionaire (not the millionaire) with a heart of gold. Annie’s story begins with her staying at an orphanage owned by Miss Hannigan while wondering about the whereabouts of her parents.

According to Trail student Sophia Miller, who plays the title character, she is ever optimistic and resilient.

“No matter how much she is put down by Miss Hannigan while in the orphanage, her light always shines through,” said Sophia. “What I love best about being in the show is the relationships that come out of it. I have gotten very close with so many of my other cast members, and I consider them a second family. Everyone in the drama club at Lackawanna Trail High School, including the directors, are incredibly understanding. I cannot wait to continue my incredible musical theatre journey with all of them by my side.”

Fabricated mice, made by students, are used as props to showcase the poor living conditions of the place where Annie lives with other young female orphans. The orphanage blankets were made of spare fabric by Lackawanna Trail faculty/staff members Janine Fortney, Kelley Buck, and Valerie Lewis. The orphanage is owned by Miss Hannigan, who despises children, hence the fact that she runs a less-than-legal home for children.

“Annie, of course. is her least favorite, because of her high spirits and optimism, which are Miss Hannigan’s foil,” said student Madeleine Forrer, who plays her. “Additionally, she is the definition of single and ready to mingle! My favorite part of the show is definitely working with the people. The cast and directors are super fun, and we always make time to talk and enjoy our short time together! Another great part about having a close cast is everyone usually laughing at the funny parts.”

Student Jackson Novitch plays the wealthy Daddy Warbucks, who takes Annie into his large mansion. According to Jackson, Warbucks is “prim and proper” and “unknowingly funny.”

“He (Warbucks) starts rigid and serious, but then Annie shows him that there is more to life than just business,” he said. “The things I like about theatre in Lackawanna Trail are insurmountable to list, but to narrow it down, I like how supportive the crew, directors, and my fellow classmates are. This is my first ever time being in any musical as a cast member, and I felt so welcomed by everyone ever since, especially my counterpart within the show, Madison Beichler, who plays Grace Farrell. She has become someone I call a confidante over the course of the rehearsals. I have made so many memories within these few months, and I cannot wait to make more!”

The Drama Club rented a backdrop to portray Warbucks’ mansion, along with a real mansion staircase. Tom Lengel builds the sets along with his student crew. Brittany Young, Sarrah Camburn, and the Art Club paint the sets. Kelley Grunstra made an old-fashioned radio.

The plot thickens when the antagonists, Rooster, Miss Hannigan’s brother, and his partner-in-crime, Lily St. Regis, come to the scene.

“Rooster is a slimy, cunning, and sneaky character who disguises as Annie’s parents, attempting to kidnap her,” said student Layla Tweed, who plays this character. “The thing I like best about being in the show is definitely how supportive the cast and crew are. The directors are amazing at what they do and are a huge help, and I’ve made so many friendships throughout being in the show. Theatre at Lackawanna Trail is an amazing community to be a part of, and I look forward to this season every year!”

Student Willow Ritter plays Lily St. Regis.

“Lily is a playful, witty, and over-the-top character who is a lot of fun to play,” she said. “She is dramatic and energetic, always ready to stir up trouble. Her big personality, sharp sense of humor, and exaggerated accent make every scene she’s in entertaining. I love being able to embrace my character and bring laughter to the stage. What I enjoy most about being in the musical is definitely the people. In my two years of being a part of the drama club, I have made so many meaningful friendships and bonds that I know will last far beyond these productions. There is something special about drama club that brings us all together, spending long rehearsals together, supporting each other on and off stage, and all working towards a common goal doing what we love. By the end of the year, we truly feel like a family.”

The play will feature the classic songs such as “Tomorrow” and “Easy Street.” There will be a few extras, such as “You Won’t Be an Orphan for Long” and “Something Was Missing.” It will be played by a pit band, which includes a mixture of students and teachers, led by Becky Burdett. The students have been rehearsing since January. The play is directed by Elissa Loubet.

“Annie is a mostly female-driven show, which accommodated us,” she said. “We also felt that we had the talent to fill all the roles needed, and it was a show everyone was familiar with. Though directing a musical takes a lot of time and hard work, I wouldn’t trade it for anything! I love the process of seeing students grow into the best versions of themselves. They gain confidence, learn to work with others, and garner new skills. We have students backstage running set changes, the sound and lighting board, student directing, maintaining the props, and a crew for costume changes and maintenance. I believe it is our job to empower the next generation to become us one day.”

Photographer Max Loiacono of Clarks Summit recently exhibited his work at the Bellefonte Art Museum, 133 N. Allegheny St., Bellefonte.

“The Bellefonte Art Museum was a place I discovered randomly on a walk one day, and after many visits, I simply signed up as an artist and was accepted in the registry.” he said. “The exhibit was in the photograph gallery. The gallery is called ‘Pennsylvania Industrial History’ and showcases photos of that theme, such as abandoned factories, coal mines, railroading, and other miscellaneous industries that represent Pennsylvania.”

Loiacono became interested in photography in 2017 because it looked like fun. Over the years, he has taken photos of trains and railroad infrastructure, abandoned and industrial locations, close-up nature, and mountainous landscapes.

“Visitors and train enthusiasts at the museum enjoyed Max’s train photos,” said Lori Fisher, director of the Bellefonte Art Museum. “Trains are in our local area, and his train photos portray that.”

Loiacono graduated from Abington Heights High School, where he took a photography course, in 2021.

He reflected on an Abington Heights teacher who had an influence on him.

“Amanda Jones was one very influential teacher. She was my first introduction to formal education on the topic of computer science, which I later got my degree in. It has given me the skills to build a digital presence — MaxLoiacono.com — without relying on other people’s tools and services. Photography was just a hobby and still is for me, but a dedicated lifelong one.”

“Max was a joy to teach,” said Jones. “He was authentic, funny, incredibly intelligent, and genuinely interesting. I especially admired how comfortable he was being himself and how freely he thought.”

Loiacono continued his education at Penn State, Main Campus, graduating in 2025 with a degree in computer science. While at Penn State, he was a member of the Nittany Grotto Caving Club and Model Railroading Club.

He used opportunities from those clubs to continue his photography hobby.

“In State College, I took an interest in photography and shot some events when I could. The most notable was Thon 2025.”

“I enjoy photography as a form of creative expression, but also as a teaching tool,” he said. “I see it as part of the way I give back to the world. My future plan is to continue exploring this niche in photography and using it to build a wealth of knowledge of local and regional history to share with others.”

His future goals include evaluating a move to Europe, which would allow him to explore relics of the Cold War — another interest of his.

CLARKS SUMMIT — United Cerebral Palsy of Northeastern PA has been located at 423 Center St. since the mid-1980s, and the Miles Foundry and Miles Auto Parts Store were fixtures on Bedford Street in Clarks Summit for decades. That’s all set to change now that both of the property locations were recently purchased by Ron Parasole Jr. of Brick Ave LCC.

Parasole, a South Abington Township resident, plans to build a 36,000-square-foot apartment building on the former UCP property.

He said it will include 25 apartments — six one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom units. Each will have a private balcony, central air and heat, and in-unit laundry. The building will include an elevator and trash chutes on every level. It will be pet-friendly with a dedicated dog park and dog wash stations. Plans also include a rooftop deck, outdoor kitchen, gas fire pit, pavilion, walking track with distance markers, community garden, wellness center, community coffee station, and parking for up to 50 vehicles.

The building will be constructed on a slab well above grade, with no basement, which places it above the floodplain to address prior flooding issues. The street’s stormwater infrastructure will be upgraded to provide additional flood protection.

Parasole, who has decades of experience as a local property manager, real estate broker, and general contractor, said he believes the new complex will be “the ultimate worry-free home for renters.”

“That means soundproof walls, thoughtfully designed layouts, energy efficiency, and durable, low-maintenance construction,” he said. “My own family will be living in one of the units, which reflects the level of confidence I have in what we are building. … This area has given so much to me, and I feel incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited to bring this long-planned community-minded vision to life.”

Clarks Summit Borough officials said they look forward to the completion of the proposed construction.

“The building will be beautiful and will be good for Clarks Summit,” said Council President Gerri Carey.

Borough Manager Jennifer Basalyga agrees.

“The project will expand local housing options and is ideally located within walking distance of nearby businesses,” she said. “It is also expected to contribute to the borough’s tax base.”

UCP services to continue

United Cerebral Palsy of Northeastern PA uses the Center Street location for its Lekotek program and for its early intervention staff offices, according to CEO Sarah Drob. She said after deciding to sell the building, UCP has been looking at other potential sites to continue offering services.

UCP is the only Lekotek provider in the state, Drob said.

“Lekotek is a learn-through-play program for children with disabilities that incorporates the whole family in the learning process,” she said. “We also provide social/play group activities for children, adolescents, and young adults.”

Helping Hands, a private day care, also rented space in the building until February 2025, when it relocated after purchasing its own building.

Preserving local history

The Miles Foundry was opened in 1954 and was torn down in May 2025. The foundry made manhole covers that can be found all over the United States. Miles Auto Parts opened in 1932. Both locations were owned and operated by the late Chet Miles.

On March 27, 1975, the Miles Foundry caught fire, according to a Scranton Times article found on Newspapers.com. The fire, fanned by gusty winds, destroyed the foundry, including all of the small tools, patterns, electric motors, and welders. Miles Foundry employed 12 or 13 people at that time.

Parasole discussed the property’s importance to the area’s history.

“The former auto parts building was a long-standing fixture in the community,” he said. It’s important to me that the Miles family’s legacy is reflected in whatever ultimately moves forward, including the name “Miles Summit.” Any future use of the property will be shaped by site constraints, the approval process, and a desire to honor the history of the area and the Miles legacy. My intention is that whatever ultimately moves forward is something the community and the Miles family can be proud of.”

Carey remembers roller skating to Miles Auto Parts as a child.

“We had roller skates that fit over our shoes,” she said. “Chet Miles would oil and tighten our skates,” she said. “If he was busy with a customer, he’d stop what he was doing and take care of us. He always took care of all his customers.”

Robert Pawlukovich started working at Miles Foundry when he was 16.

“Chet Miles only hired me because my father, Gerald, worked there in the early ‘70s and knew my great-grandparents all his life — Roy and Sarah Dingee,” he said. “I was not permitted to be on the floor when the castings were being done. You had to be 18 legally to work there. I ground the castings with a large grinder. Chet Miles wanted me to learn as much as possible.”

Gerald Pawlukovich also shared about his time working at the Miles Foundry:

“I did a bit of everything, such as stacking molds and flat plates. The sand was stored outside, and by January and February, it was frozen. I was given a sledgehammer, a pick, a shovel, and a wheelbarrow and told to break up the sand. It was hard to do,” he said. “After a while, Chet Miles said it was cold and to take a break. He was a jokester and later showed me three wheelbarrows of sand. I thought there must be a trick. He probably took his backhoe to it. Chet Miles was a father to people, and if you needed something, he’d get it. He would look out for you.”

The Miles family declined to comment for this story.

SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — The Edison Early Learning Center for preschool and kindergarten children will occupy the space recently vacated by Sickler’s Bike and Sport Shop.

Dawn Toolan has owned and operated the Edison Learning Center in Carbondale for 18 years. She taught high school Earth Science in Connecticut for six years and at Wallenpaupack High School for two years after moving back to the area.

“Following the birth of my son, I made the decision to leave public education and open Edison,” she said. “I felt strongly that my hometown of Carbondale needed a high-quality early learning center staffed by state-certified teachers, offering a strong curriculum and meaningful assessments to tailor learning for each child’s maximum success.”

She emailed the former owner of Sickler’s about selling the building. A few months later, he called, telling her he was ready to sell the building. A friend, Kristen Rude, who is a teacher at Abington Heights High School, encouraged her to look at the building. Teachers and Abington families expressed a need for quality preschool programs and full-day kindergarten.

The Abington location will have a pre-kindergarten 3 classroom, pre-kindergarten 4 classroom, Junior Kindergarten classroom and a Kindergarten classroom. There will be four large classrooms and two offices for administration and staff. Each classroom will have its own restroom and access to the playground area.

It will operate with a Pennsylvania Private Academic School License through the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Alexandra Sacco will have a son, age 5, and a daughter, age 3, enrolled in the kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs.

“This district needed a full-time kindergarten,” she said. “Dawn was very informative. It will be a good investment for our community.”

Nicole Lewis has a son who is 4 and will be 5 in September.

“He will be in the Junior Kindergarten program,” she said. “I teach at the Abington Heights Middle School, so it will be close to where I work and where I live.”

“Early childhood learning is more than ‘playtime,’” said Toolan. “It is the foundation upon which a child’s lifelong learning and success are built. Research shows that the first five years are critical for brain development, social-emotional growth, and early academic skills. Too often, this stage is undervalued or overlooked. At Edison Early Learning Center, we are passionate about providing a structured, high-quality learning environment that nurtures curiosity, builds confidence, and establishes the essential skills children need to become confident, capable, and lifelong learners.”

A licensed private academic school must employ qualified credential teachers, follow an approved academic curriculum, maintain educational standards, keep formal student records, and demonstrate structured instruction and assessment.

“Our goal is to ensure that our students transition confidently and successfully into first grade at Abington Heights,” Toolan said. “Through this collaboration, we are able to match academic standards, instructional pacing, and skill development to what students will encounter in the elementary school setting. This intentional alignment strengthens continuity in learning and ensures our kindergarten graduates are fully prepared for the expectations on first grade.”

Enrollment will continue until all programs are full. Discounts are available for those who enroll by April 1, 2026.

Families can enroll at www.edisonearlylearning.org.

Info night

There will be a Parent Information Night on Thursday March 12, at the Abington Community Library. Those interested in Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4 and Jr, Kindergarten will meet at 5:30 pm. Those interested in the kindergarten program will meet at 6 p.m. Daily schedule, curriculum, program tuition, and school calendar will be discussed, and there will be an opportunity to meet school administrators and teachers. For information, visit www.edisonlearningceneter.org or email edisonlearningcenter@gmail.com.

Abington Heights led all District 2 teams, finishing seventh, behind six teams from powerful District 11, Feb. 27-28 in the Class 3A Northeast Regional at Bethlehem Liberty High School.

Brady Full and Mason Whitney led the way for the Comets, finishing third in their weight classes to earn spots in the state championship March 5-7 at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Abington Heights scored 67½ points, 7½ more than eighth-place Hazleton Area.

Notre Dame-Green Pond won the title by a half-point over Nazareth with 139½. Northampton, Bethlehem Catholic, Easton and Emmaus finished third through sixth.

Full and Whitney followed similar paths at 127 and 133.

Each went 4-1 on the weekend, recovering from close quarterfinal losses with three straight wins. They controlled the bouts in their first three wins before getting through tight decisions in the consolation finals.

Full outscored opponents 32-0 in a technical fall, major decision and additional decision in his first three wins at 127. His loss came 4-1 to Easton’s Nicholas Salamone. Full defeated Andre Cerrato from Bethlehem Catholic 6-2 in the ultimate tiebreaker for third place.

Whitney avenged a double overtime loss from the quarterfinals when he beat Nazareth’s Caleb Kosko 4-2 for third place. He ended each of his other three bouts in 2:20 or less with a pin and two technical falls.

Three Comets finished sixth, led by Lucas Drake, the team’s only semifinalist.

Drake reached the semifinals at 152 with a first-period pin and a technical fall. He was pinned with two seconds left in the semifinals, then dropped a two-point decision and a one-pointer in a pair of overtimes.

Dakota Sandy and Frank Scialpi were sixth at 114 and 215.

Sandy went 3-3 with two technical falls and a major decision, but he lost his last two bouts by a total of five points.

Scialpi also 3-3. He won twice by pin, but was pinned three times, including in his last two bouts.

Chace Berry won his opener at 145, but then lost two straight and was eliminated.

Class 2A

Lackawanna Trail’s Mark Rebmann placed fifth at 145 Feb. 27-28 at Williamsport.

Rebmann lost his opener, then won three of four consolation bouts. His last two wins came by pin, including stopping Canton’s Tommy Preston in 3:25 of the fifth-place bout.

The four other Lions went 0-2 in the tournament.

Line Mountain won with 109 points, 10½ more than Montoursville. Honesdale was fourth, leading District 2 teams with 92½.

Lackawanna Trail was tied for 30th out of 42 teams with 11 points. Scranton Prep was one of seven teams that did not score.

Girls

Lackawanna Trail freshman Cidney Schaffer pinned four straight opponents to win the Central Regional 100-pound title Feb. 28 at Milton. She also earned a spot in the state tournament in Hershey, where she will try to add to her perfect record of 11-0 with 11 pins when competing against other girls.

Schaffer needed just 27 seconds to defeat Curwensville’s McKenzie Astorino in the final.

Athens edged Montgomery 100½-100 for the title.

Lackawanna Trail was 21st with 30 points.

Of the 66 teams with entries, nine, including Scranton Prep, did not score any points.

When it came time to try to lock up the Lackawanna League Division 1 boys basketball title, there was no easy path for the Abington Heights boys basketball team.

The Comets had to go on the road and get past their top two challengers in consecutive games, which elevated the team to the status of champion.

Abington Heights clinched no worse than a tie for first Feb. 5 with a 69-58 victory that completed a season sweep of rival Scranton Prep, which won its other 12 divisional games and the District 2 Class 4A title.

With the tie secured, Abington Heights next traveled to third-place Valley View, where it beat the Cougars 61-43 Feb. 9 to assure itself of the outright title.

Abington Heights then completed the 14-0 run through the division with a 70-47 victory over visiting West Scranton Feb. 11.

Abington Heights 70, West Scranton 47

Jordan Shaffer scored 25 points to lead Abington Heights to victory in the regular-season finale.

Shaffer made four 3-pointers in the first half and hit all eight of his free throws in the fourth quarter.

Andrew Kettel and Cooper Manning scored 11 points each.

Abington Heights 61, Valley View 43

Abington Heights placed four scorers in double figures on the way to the clinching victory.

Shaffer scored 13 points while Finn Goldberg added 12, Kettel 11 and Manning 10.

The Comets jumped out to a 12-4 lead and were up 15-9 after one quarter, behind five points by Shaffer.

Abington Heights led 31-20 at halftime and 43-34 after three quarters.

Goldberg went 4-for-4 from the line while scoring six points in the fourth quarter. He was 6-for-7 in the game to help the Comets finish 14-for-17 as a team.

Kettel chipped in five points in the fourth quarter.

Abington Heights did not allow a basket from inside the arc in the second half when Valley View’s points came from five 3-pointers and eight free throws.

Abington Heights 69, Scranton Prep 58

Shaffer helped Abington Heights pull away in the second half when he scored 19 of his game-high 27 points.

The effort followed up Shaffer scoring 35 points in the first meeting with the Cavaliers at Abington Heights in January.

Shaffer made all eight of his free throws in the second half, six of them in the fourth quarter, and finished 12-for-14 from the line. He had 13 points in the fourth quarter as Abington Heights stretched a 48-43 lead.

Kettel scored 11 of his 14 points in a tightly played first half that ended with the Comets on top 33-31.

Brody Martin made three 3-pointers in the first quarter to keep the Cavaliers within 17-15.

Cooper Manning added 11 points for Abington Heights.

Packy Doherty led Scranton Prep with 17 points. Martin added a fourth 3-pointer and scored 16 points. Chicky Skoff had seven of his nine points for the Cavaliers during the fourth quarter.

Scranton Prep was hurt by an off night at the foul line where it made just five of 14 attempts.

The Keystone College baseball team got off to a 4-2 start, splitting four games in South Carolina, then winning twice in Virginia on March 1.

The Giants won four straight after losing their first two and scored 60 runs in those games. They head to Florida for games March 5-12.

Dante Ruby, a sophomore from Valley View, is batting .526 with five doubles, a triple and a home run among his 10 hits. He shares the team lead with 12 runs scored and has driven in seven.

Dillion Bird has 11 RBI on just five hits. Benny Hess has driven in nine runs in his four games.

Men’s basketball

Keystone defeated one higher-seeded opponent in the United East Conference playoffs and put up a fight against another before its season ended with an 8-19 record.

No. 2 seed Penn State Brandywine stopped the 10th-seeded Giants 69-63 in a Feb. 21 quarterfinal game.

Jden Golding scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half of the loss. Scranton graduate P.J. Murphy hit six 3-pointers while producing 21 points and eight rebounds.

The Giants closed the regular season with a 64-59 victory over Rosemont, then opened the playoffs on the road Feb. 18 with an 80-71 victory over seventh-seeded St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Golding scored 29 points, and Ahmodrion Jones added 22 on 9-for-13 shooting.

Women’s basketball

Keystone finished 3-10 in the United East and 4-20 overall.

Wrestling

Nero Bono and Codi Bomboy each one once before the Keystone season came to an end at the NCAA Region 2 Qualifier Feb. 27 at Ithaca College.

Bono had a pin in the winners’ bracket at 197 pounds. Bomboy had a first-period pin in a 165-pound consolation bout.

The Giants went 1-18 in duals on the season.

Softball

Keystone’s March 1 opening doubleheader at Lycoming College was postponed.

The Giants will start their season in Myrtle Beach, S.C. March 8.

The Abington Heights boys and Scranton Prep girls came out victorious in key late-season meets to each finish 9-0 and claim championships in Lackawanna League swimming.

Abington Heights won the boys title over Delaware Valley (8-1) and Scranton Prep (7-2).

The Comets were never threatened.

Their closest meet was the Feb. 4 first-place showdown in which they routed Delaware Valley 123-62.

Abington Heights won its nine meets by an average of 104 points.

The girls’ title came down to the final meet of the season.

Delaware Valley had a chance to force a three-way tie for first, but Scranton Prep won on the road, beating the Lady Warriors 106-70 Feb. 12.

Abington Heights finished second with an 8-1 record.

Ultimately, the league title came down to Scranton Prep getting past Abington Heights 86-80 on Jan. 29.

Delaware Valley was 7-2, placing third.

Abington Heights sophomore Hadley Pallman claimed four gold medals Feb. 27-28 at the Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth Center to lead a championship effort by the Lady Comets in the District 2-4 Class 3A Subregional Girls Swimming and Diving Championships.

The Lady Comets finished second in the team standings, but won the District 2 title because the only team they trailed was Williamsport from District 4.

Williamsport won the subregional title with 283 points.

Abington Heights had 261 points, 59 ahead of Hazleton Area, the next-best District 2 team and the third-highest finisher out of 12 teams.

Pallman won the 100-yard butterfly in 58.36 as the only swimmer to break a minute. She also won the 100-meter freestyle in 54.92 and was part of the 200- and 400-meter freestyle relay teams.

Gianna Vacchino and Kaitlyn Giermanski each earned three gold medals, including the two freestyle relays.

Vacchino won the 50-meter freestyle and was second to Pallman in the 100-meter freestyle.

Giermanski won the 100 breaststroke and was third in the 50-meter freestyle, which Vacchino won.

Ella Bannon was the other member of the relay team that won. She also took fifth in both the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter breaststroke.

Audra Wimmer, Reese Azar, Elise Brown and Kacey Johnson formed the fourth-place 200-meter medley relay team.

Johnson was fourth in the 200-meter IM and fifth in the 500-meter freestyle. Brown took fifth in the 200-meter IM and seventh in the 100-meter butterfly. Azar was fifth in diving, which was contested a week earlier, and ninth in the 200-meter freestyle. Wimmer placed seventh in the 100-meter backstroke.

Sydney Moyle added a ninth in the 100-meter breaststroke and a 10th in the 100-meter butterfly.

Class 2A

Rebecca Oakes won the maximum four events as Scranton Prep finished on top of the 12-team field with 266.5 points.

Dallas was second with 253.

Sophia Galko, Eva Kaszuba, Oakes and Schofield got the title-winning effort started by winning the opening 200-meter medley relay. They later teamed for the gold in the 200 freestyle relay.

Oakes also won the 100-meter butterfly and 100-meter freestyle.

Kaszuba and Schofield finished 1-2 in the 100 breaststroke.

Galko was second in the 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle, where Kaszuba placed third.