Abington Heights relied on a suffocating defensive effort to get through a more-challenging semifinal Friday, then put on an offensive show in Saturday afternoon’s final, using the two wins to claim the championship of the Gatorade Classic at Pottsville’s Martz Hall.
The Lady Comets held host Pottsville to two points in the middle two quarters of the 44-19 semifinal win.
They made a dozen 3-point baskets Saturday in a 68-37, championship game rout of Whitehall.
Clair Marion led the team in scoring in both games and walked away with tournament Most Valuable Player honors, but she had plenty of help, including from all-tournament selection Allison Dammer.
Anna Scoblick and Maria Tully each had four steals against Pottsville, which entered the tournament with a 4-2 record.
Abington Heights used the defensive effort to go from leading just 8-7 after one quarter to being in front 32-9 after pitching the third-quarter shutout.
Marion scored 12 points in the win and Dammer added 10.
In the final, Marion broke loose for 21 points and Rachel McDonald made four of the 3-pointers, which accounted for all 12 of her points.
Tully and Erin Albright each made two 3-pointers in the first quarter, which ended with Abington Heights in front, 14-9.
Marion had 11 points while the Lady Comets were breaking the game open in the second quarter, taking a 37-13 halftime lead. Marion had a pair of 3-pointers during the quarter while McDonald and Lauren Lombardo made one each.
McDonald and Marion each made another 3-pointer in the third quarter, then each scored six points in the fourth when McDonald was making the last of her 3-pointers.
Dammer finished with nine points.
Albright scored eight points, grabbed seven rebounds and made three steals.
