Lilly Scoblick (33) of Abington Heights takes a jump shot during play against Scranton High School.
Sydney Pallman (45) takes a strong first step enroute to a Lady Comets layup, around Scranton’s Rhylee Bell (33).
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Lady Comets Emma Coleman goes up strong while defended by Scranton’s Chrissy Jacklinski.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Lady Comets Abby Schneider takes a layup during their game against Scranton.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
The Lady Comets celebrate their 45-43 comeback win against the Scranton Lady Knights.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Abington Heights combined the high scoring of Emma Coleman with a stingy defense to end January with a five-game winning streak that pushed the Lady Comets into a tie for the Lackawanna League Division 1 girls basketball lead.
When Abington Heights hosted North Pocono Feb. 3, the teams were not only combining on their annual Pink Game effort to raise money for cancer programs, but were also battling for the division lead. The two teams and Scranton Prep were all 8-2 in the league.
Coleman is averaging 21 points on the season, producing more than her next four teammates combined. She has scored at least 13 points in every game of the season.
The Lady Comets gave up just 31 points per game in the winning streak, which began with a 36-32 victory Jan. 15 at Valley View, which came into the game as the division leader and on an 11-game winning streak overall.
Coleman had 19 points in the win over the Cougars. She followed it up with 24 in a 60-22 romp over West Scranton, 18 in a 38-28 victory at Wallenpaupack and 16 in a 51-30 victory at Delaware Valley.
The Lady Comets needed another scoring option and a comeback to overcome 22 points by Chrissy Jacklinski and get past visiting Scranton 46-43 Jan. 30.
Sydney Pallman scored 17 points to lead the win.
The Lady Knights used a 13-7 second quarter to take a 19-17 halftime lead.
Pallman scored eight points in the third quarter to keep Abington Heights in the game, but Scranton extended the lead to 35-29.
Coleman, Pallman and Abby Schneider then led a big finish by the Lady Comets.
After being held to five points through three quarters, Coleman put up eight in the fourth to finish with 13.
Pallman had 13 of her points in the second half. She went 5-for-6 from the line in the fourth quarter to finish 7-for-8 in the game.
Abington Heights was 14-for-17 on free throws as a team.
Coleman made both her tries in the fourth quarter after making just one of three prior to that.
Schneider had four of her nine points in the fourth quarter, including making both of her free throws with 15 seconds left for the three-point lead. She made all four of her foul shots in the game.
Prior to the streak that brought the team back to the top of the standings, Abington Heights had lost back-to-back road games Jan. 8 and 12, falling to North Pocono 50-39 and Scranton Prep 47-34.
The Lady Comets entered February with a 13-5 overall record. They were fourth, but right behind third-place North Pocono, in the District 2 Class 5A playoff race, where Dallas and Crestwood occupied the top two spots.
