Pittston Area sophomore guard Daniella Raniel goes up high over Abington Heights’ 6-foot center Peyton Houlihan to score for the Patriots.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Kallie Booth drives the baseline against the Comets’ Kate Scoblick.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
PIttston Area senior Ava Callahan sinks an outside shot against Abington Heights at Mohegan Sun Arena for the PIAA D2 5A title.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Daniella Ranieli (2) dribble by Abington Heights’ Emily McDonald (30) on her way to scoring two points of her game high 19 in the loss to Abington for the PIAA D2 5A championship title at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Warrior point guard Halle Kranson (10) gets past Scranton Prep’s Clair McGrath during PIAA District 2 4A finals.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Abington Heights made its eighth straight trip to Mohegan Sun Arena March 4 for the District 2 girls basketball championship, making it the only program left to have played in every year of championship games there.
Kallie Booth made sure the Lady Comets came home without a title for just the second time in that record run.
Booth scored all 12 Pittston Area fourth-quarter points and helped the Lady Patriots limit the Lady Comets to nine second-half points in a 36-32 victory.
Abington Heights committed just two turnovers, a record low for the games at the arena, but the Lady Comets struggled to hit shots and Booth cleared nine of her game-high 10 rebounds on the defensive end.
Pittston Area held Abington Heights to 1-for-9 (11.1 percent) 3-point shooting in the second half and 5-for-19 (26.3) for the game. The Lady Patriots limited the Lady Comets to 4-for-20 (20.0) overall in the second half and 13-for-49 (26.5) in the game.
That defensive effort and Booth’s clutch late-game efforts helped Pittston Area avenge a 38-31 loss in the same district title match-up a year ago.
“Kallie was tremendous,” Pittston Area coach Jeff Gregory said. “She didn’t have the greatest night last year.
“I just think she was focused tonight.”
Abington Heights led by five with less than five minutes remaining.
Booth did all the scoring in a 9-0 run that began with her 3-pointer from the left corner with 4:30 left and ended with one of two free throws for a 33-29 lead with 1:53 to go.
Pittston Area, the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 champion, had the best overall record in District 2 in the regular season at 21-1.
“The main thing is they got nine points in the second half,” Gregory said. “The defensive end won the game for us.”
The Lady Patriots had trouble handling the Lady Comets, specifically Madison Zalewski early.
Zalewski made all three of her 3-point attempts and went 5-for-6 overall while scoring all of her team-high 13 points for a 21-15 lead with two minutes left in the first half.
The Lady Patriots limited her to one shot the rest of the way.
The Abington Heights lead reached eight points before Booth scored the last basket of the first half.
Maggie Coleman had eight points, four rebounds and three assists in the loss. Peyton Houlihan added seven points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. Kate Scoblick had eight rebounds and Zalewski six. Caroline Murray had three assists.
Scranton Prep 58, Wyoming Area 31
Scranton Prep held Wyoming Area scoreless for the first 5:57 and to just two points in the first 10:30 March 2 while winning the District 2 Class 4A championship.
The victory improved the Classics to 5-2 in championship games at Mohegan Sun Arena, leaving them one short of Abington Heights and Susquehanna for most girls titles won there.
Scranton Prep scored the first nine points and led 19-2 before Wyoming Area hit its second basket.
Maya Jenkins led a balanced attack with 12 points.
Claire McGrath, who led the defensive with five steals, and Gianna Cafarella added 10 points each.
Rita Collins had nine points while leading the team with five assists and four defensive rebounds.
Scranton Prep forced Wyoming Area to 26 turnovers while holding the Lady Warriors to 26 shots.
