The Abington Heights boys basketball team celebrates with the their studen section at the Mohegan Sun Arena after defeating Dallas Area for the PIAA D2 5A championship game.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
The 2024 PIAA D2 5A champions, Abington Heights Comets.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Game MVP Ryan Nealon is shown hitting on a three-point shot for Abington Heights against Dallas Area.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Robby Lucas (44) gets fouled on his way to the hoop for the Comets in a PIAA D2 5A final.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Abington Heights’ Will Marion (12) drives the baseline before dishing the ball off to an open teammate against Dallas Area in the PIAA D2 5A final at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Dallas Area junior Jude Nocito (1) gets past the Comets’ Lincoln Anderson (25) to score on a lay up in first half action at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
The Abington Heights Comets hoist up the PIAA D2 5A plaque after defeating Dallas Area at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Ryan Nealon took a simple philosophy into shooting at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza where, by reputation, points are supposed to be difficult to come by.
“We know if we just find the rim and let it fly, eventually they will go in,” Nealon said after scoring 21 points to lead Abington Heights past Dallas 59-40 in the District 2 Class 5A boys basketball championship game Feb. 25.
Nealon hit four 3-pointers, three of them from beyond the NBA arc marked on the court, giving him more than any other player during the 12 title games held there this year. He “let it fly” from the greatest distances of any player in those games and made them during the game’s most important moments.
“We’re not done yet,” he said after the Comets headed into the state tournament with a perfect record through 24 games.
Nealon finished 5-for-9 from the floor, including 4-for-6 from long distance and 7-for-10 from the line. He also grabbed eight rebounds.
The first 3-pointer came during an 11-point Abington Heights streak to begin the game. Mason Fedor scored two baskets during that run over the game’s first 2:50, both on assists from Will Marion, who scored the game’s first basket with his left hand on a drive.
Dallas closed to within 13-10 as Abington Heights hit just one of its next six shots, but Nealon stopped that surge with the first of his long-range 3s.
The Mountaineers got back within three in the second quarter and scored four of the first five points of the second half to remain within 31-24 three minutes into the third quarter.
Nealon hit two more from long distance and had nine points total in a 13-4 run that allowed the Comets to open a 44-28 lead over the next 3:15.
Robby Lucas took it from there, scoring eight points in a 2:42 stretch of the fourth quarter on the way to finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Fedor had eight points, six rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots. Marion had seven points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots.
Mikey Cumbo led Dallas with 12 points.
The win sent Abington Heights into the state playoffs with a first-round home game March 8 against Bonner-Prendergast from Philadelphia.
Abington Heights improved to 6-0 in finals at the arena and won its 15th championship since 1996.
Abington Heights 58, Wallenpaupack 51
Abington Heights faced a surprise challenge during a home-court game in the district semifinals, trailing into the third quarter against a team it had defeated 63-30 on the road only two weeks earlier.
After scoring just 19 points in the first half, the Comets put up 35 in the second half.
Nealon led the way with 15 points while Fedor scored 14 and Marion had 11.
