S. ABINGTON TWP. — Abington Heights’ boys basketball team had struggled with slow starts throughout the early part of the season.
That wasn’t the case during the Comets’ 68-40 win over Scranton Prep Tuesday in a battle for first place in Lackawanna League Division 1 play.
George Tinsley, who finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four blocks, scored the first basket of the game, off an offensive rebound, and the Comets outscored the Cavaliers, 16-6, in the opening quarter as the team fed off the enthusiasm of the capacity crowd.
“We started off real strong and we used that intensity throughout the whole game,” Tinsley said. “Everybody was hitting shots and we played good defense.
“When you come out and see all these people ready to watch a really intense game, it boosts your energy up a bunch.”
Abington Heights’ Jack Nealon, who finished with 16 points, four assists and three rebounds, continued to work out of a shooting slump. The senior guard made two 3-pointers and scored 10 in the first quarter to spark the Comets’ fast start.
“I haven’t been making them, so I just had to forget about it and try to focus on this game,” he said. “When the first one went in my confidence was pretty high and I thought every one I took would go in.”
Brian Boland, who scored nine points, gave Scranton Prep a 6-5 lead with 3:31 left in the first quarter, but Nealon answered with five consecutive points and the Comets never trailed again.
Nealon also felt the Comets’ defensive pressure and work on the boards were key factors in the team’s win.
“At practice on Monday, we focus on defense,” he said. “They have very good ball handlers, so we just try to make the passes as tough as possible for them. I thought we played well defensively and we rebounded, which was big.”
Junior center Mike Malone scored four of his six points, off assists from Corey Perkins and Tinsley, in the second quarter when Abington Heights (11-2, 5-0 Div. 1) stretched its lead to 30-14.
Perkins, who scored a career-high 25 points in the Comets’ win over Western Wayne Jan. 11, dished out seven assists against Prep.
“I knew my shots weren’t falling and my teammates were killing it tonight,” he said. “I just kept feeding them the ball when they were open.”
Nealon knocked down two more 3-pointers in the third and Trey Koehler, who finished with 11 points and six rebounds, scored five in the quarter for Abington Heights.
While the Comets showed flashes of the superb play that helped the squad win the Class 5A state championship last season, Nealon tempered expectations a bit.
“It’s step one of a learning process,” he said. “We played a gauntlet of a schedule in the exhibition season and we struggled a little bit. This is a good first step in the right direction; we just have to keep improving.”
Tinsley scored 11, and Jim Lefchak and Drew Nealon each scored a basket for Abington Heights in the fourth quarter.
According to Tinsley, the unselfishness displayed by the Comets paid big dividends.
“We would have a good shot, but we’d pass it up for an even better shot,” he said.
Mario Rotell led Scranton Prep (11-2, 4-1 Div. 1) with 10 points.
