WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Abington Heights shot its way out of a late-season slump and back into its usual prominent position among District 2 boys basketball teams.
The Comets hit half their 3-point attempts March 3 while returning to the top of District 2 Class 5A with a 60-38 romp over West Scranton in the championship game at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Abington Heights had missed three straight Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournaments after going to 13 in a row. The Comets had already qualified for their return to state play when they arrived at the arena looking to get back on top after a run of eight straight championships ended with a 2019 triumph.
“It gets sweeter because I know there’s not too many left,” said Comets coach Ken Bianchi, District 2’s all-time leader in coaching victories.
Ryan Nealon led the way to the title with plenty of support from Will Marion and Mason Fedor.
Nealon broke the last tie with a 3-pointer from the right corner with three minutes left in the first quarter. He hit another 25 seconds later to start a 13-point streak and a third 24 seconds into the second quarter.
That run, which included seven points by Marion, put the Abington Heights lead at 19-5.
“We hit a slump in the end of the season, a time when we didn’t want to hit it,” Marion said. “But, it happens to every team. It happens to the best of them.”
Nealon pronounced the slump over by going 5-for-6 on 3-pointers while scoring a team-high 19 points and dishing out four assists.
“We’ve been staying after practices shooting as a team,” Nealon said. “We just knew the ball would go in. If we could play hard defense and get rebounds, we knew we had a chance to win.”
Marion was 2-for-4 on 3-pointers and 7-for-13 overall while adding 18 points and six steals.
Fedor worked the inside, going 6-for-8. He had 14 points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals.
Patrick Walsh dished out seven assists while Robby Lucas made five steals in the win.
The Comets forced 21 turnovers by the Invaders.
Abington Heights led 30-14 at halftime and 38-17 midway through the third quarter.
Scranton Prep 51, Valley View 43
Brycen Martin came off the bench to score 14 points and Daniel Santaniello added 13 as Scranton Prep avenged two regular-season losses by beating Valley View in the District 2 Class 4A final March 4.
Martin went 7-for-8 from the line while scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter when the Cavaliers outscored the Cougars, 22-10, to overcome a four-point deficit.
Ambrose Rossi added six points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots.
Eli Yusavage scored 20 points to lead Valley View.
