Abington Heights boys basketball team, the PIAA D2 5A champions. They defeated Pittston Area.
Tony Callaio | For Abington Journal
Abington Heights’ co-captain Robby Lucas raises the PIAA D2 5A trophy high in the air after defeating Pittston Area at the Mohegan Arena on Friday night.
Tony Callaio | For Abington Journal
Pittston Area senior Silvio Giardina (2) challenges 6’5” Abington Heights sophomore Billy Johnson as he drives to the basket Friday night at Mohegan Arena.
Tony Callaio | For Abington Journal
Pittston Area head coach Al Semenza calls out the offensive play against Abington Heights on Friday evening at Mohegan Arena.
Tony Callaio | For Abington Journal
WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Abington Heights overcame a 13-point deficit, then made a defensive stop while protecting a one-point lead in the closing seconds Feb. 28 to claim its third straight District 2 Class 5A boys basketball title with a 53-48 victory over Pittston Area at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.
Pittston Area got the ball into the lane with a chance to take a lead with about five seconds left. Silvio Giardina dished to Aiden Lynn under the basket, but as Lynn went up for the potential go-ahead shot, Andrew Kettel swatted it away from behind.
Billy Johnson from Abington Heights saved the ball along the end line in the ensuing scramble and flipped it to Jordan Shaffer, who was fouled with three-tenths of a second left. Pittston Area coach Al Semenza was assessed a technical foul after the play.
Shaffer then made four straight free throws, two for the foul and two for the technical, to produce the final margin.
“What a game,” first-year Abington Heights coach J.C. Show said. “It was so much fun. Pittston Area was super tough.”
Shaffer made all seen of his free throws and was 4-for-8 from the floor while scoring a team-high 16 points. He also shared the team rebounding lead of seven with Robby Lucas with six on the defensive end and a three-point play off his only offensive rebound.
“Coming into the game, coach really challenged me to get on the boards today,” Shaffer said. “He put me on a really good rebounder, so it forced me to box out and go for boards every single play. I got a couple early, then a couple more down the stretch.”
Finn Goldberg added 14 points, 12 in the last 3:33 of the first half to rally the Comets, then his last two a minute into the third quarter.
“Finn’s been big for us on the defensive end all year,” Shaffer said. “Then, for him to step up in a big moment like that, we all knew he could do it because he does it in practice every day. For him to have the confidence to do it on a big stage like this, that’s huge.”
Goldberg had 10 points and Lucas hit a 3-pointer, his only points of the first half, to close the second quarter on a 13-2 run and get within 26-24.
Lucas finished with 11 points and, after scoring twice in the previous two minutes, set up Johnson for a drive that gave the Comets their first lead 45-44 with 4:05 left.
Once in front, Abington Heights held the lead the rest of th way.
Neither team scored again until Shaffer turned a tip-in into a three-point play with 2:20 left.
Pittston Area pulled back within a point on a Lucas Lopresto drive then Matt Walter’s two free throws off an offensive rebound with 19.4 seconds left.
The Patriots held Abington Heights scoreless for the last 3:10 of the first quarter, then added three points at the beginning of the second for an eight-point streak to a 17-7 lead. McGarry and Walter made 3-pointers to create the biggest lead.
After Goldberg made things close, Andrew Kettel hit a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter. Kettel finished with eight points.
Lucas also had three assists, Conner Abel had three steals and Shaffer blocked two shots.
Paul Jordan McGarry led Pittston Area with 17 points.
Abington Heights (14-10) opens the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament March 7 against District 1 fourth-place finisher Upper Moreland (19-6) at 7 p.m.
Abington Heights 63, Crestwood 31
CLARKS SUMMIT — Abington Heights reached the final with a Mercy Rule rout of visiting Crestwood in the Feb. 21 semifinal.
Lucas led the way, going 9-for-13 from the floor and 4-for-6 on 3-pointers while scoring 24 points. Kettel led the defense with four steals and nine of his 10 rebounds on the defensive end.
“Our bigs did a great job boxing out their bigs,” Kettel said of a 34-24 rebounding advantage. “Then, the guards went and got it.”
Crestwood had just four offensive rebounds – one in each quarter.
Lucas, Shaffer and Kettel combined for 10 baskets from beyond the arc. Shaffer had 17 points and Kettel 13.
Shaffer opened the game with a 3-pointer and had five points during an 8-0 start by Abington Heights, which never trailed.
“Obviously, it was a big game trying to get back to the arena for the third straight year,” Lucas said. “At this point, I’m basically playing to extend my career.”
