ALLENTOWN – Abington Heights got off to its third straight strong start.
This time, however, the Comets still had work to do late.
The Comets scored the game’s final five points at the free throw line in the last 1:01 Saturday afternoon to pull out a 58-53 victory over host Executive Education in a non-league boys basketball game.
Abington Heights opened a 20-5 lead after one quarter, but Executive Education fought back to force a late tie.
Will Marion scored the go-ahead free throw with 1:01 left, then the Comets went 4-for-6 in the final 20 seconds.
Robby Lucas made one of two twice, sandwiched around Ryan Nealon hitting two shots to make it a two-possession game.
Marion led the way with a career-high 24 points.
Nealon added 12.
Rylan Muniz sparked the Executive Education comeback with four 3-pointers in the middle quarters on the way to finishing with 20 points.
Moustapha Sanoh added 11 points for the Raptors.
Marion scored seven points and Nealon made two 3-pointers for six as the Comets took a 20-5 lead after one quarter.
Abington Heights has outscored opponents, 89-19, in first quarters during its 3-0 start.
The Comets, the No. 1 Big School in the Riverfront Sports Super Six Basketball Power Rankings of District 2 teams, took a 35-2 lead in their opening, 76-32 rout of Wyoming Seminary. They led 34-12 Thursday night in an 81-35 romp at Tunkhannock.
The Raptors did not led the Comets get away after they scored the last eight points of the first quarter for a 20-5 lead.
Executive Education cut into a 33-19 halftime deficit with a 17-9 third quarter that included two 3-pointers and a three-point play by Muniz.
The Raptors caught up for the first time on a Sanoh basket for a 47-47 tie with three minutes left.
The game was tied again at 49 and 53 before the Comets secured the victory at the free throw line.
Abington Heights played without all-star guard Matt Show, who suffered a leg injury in the Tunkhannock game two nights earlier.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Freelance reporter Ben Magnotta contributed to this report, including providing the picture of Ryan Nealon hitting a key late free throw.
