By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
WILKES-BARRE TWP – Kallie Booth’s primary statistical line was impressive enough: 4-for-7 on 3-pointers.
The subcategory was even more impressive: 2-for-2 shooting accuracy on 3-point attempts while drawing foul calls.
Booth’s ability to draw fouls while following through on successful 3-pointers was a major factor in her scoring 20 points Saturday night while leading the comeback that carried Pittston Area to the District 2 Class 5A girls basketball championship with a 36-32 victory over Abington Heights at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
“A lot of people say that I flop sometimes,” Booth said. “ … I’m looking for the call to hopefully get to the line.”
And, looking to the basket at the same time.
Booth accounted for half of Pittston Area’s eight second-quarter points on a four-point play to keep the Lady Patriots within striking distance, 23-17, at halftime.
Abington Heights had not trailed since late in the first quarter when it carried a 29-24 lead into the final 4½ minutes.
Booth did all of Pittston Area’s scoring in the fourth quarter, including a 9-0 run into the lead.
The senior guard hit from the left corner on a third try for the Lady Patriots after a pair of offensive rebounds.
Then, for the second time on the day, Booth hit a 3-pointer and drew the foul that was ruled to be after the shot. In the second quarter, she hit the front end of a one-and-one. This time, she continued a six-point sequence.
With Pittston Area not yet in the bonus, the Lady Patriots got the ball for a side out-of-bounds play after the basket that gave them a 30-29 lead with 3:07 left.
Booth scored in the lane on the ensuing possession and drew another foul. Taylor Baiera rebounded the miss and Booth eventually went back to the line again to hit one out of two for a 33-29 lead with less than two minutes remaining.
Maggie Coleman pulled the Lady Comets back within a point on a 3-pointer with 1:02 left.
Booth locked up the title by hitting the front end of a one-and-one with 44.3 seconds left, then both ends with 22.4 remaining.
Booth was the NEPABasketball.com divisional Player of the Year for 2021-22 when the Lady Patriots won the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 title. As she joined Daniella Ranieli in leading Pittston Area to a division title repeat, Booth was driven by the desire to atone for last year’s district final appearance at the arena when she was shut down by Abington Heights in a 38-31 loss.
“That’s the story of a kid who had something to prove here tonight,” Pittston Area coach Jeff Gregory said. “She’s been saying that all along. She wasn’t private about it. She had no trouble saying it.”
And, no trouble delivering.
Booth, who had 62 of Pittston Area’s 126 points in the district tournament, had her third straight, 20-point, playoff game.
“Kallie was tremendous,” Pittston Area coach Jeff Gregory said. “She didn’t have the greatest night last year.
“I just think she was focused tonight.”
Booth also grabbed 10 rebounds.
Ranielli added eight points and Baiera grabbed eight rebounds.
Madison Zalewski led Abington Heights with 13 points, all in the first half. Coleman had eight points, three assists and two blocked shots.
Zalewski opened the game with a 3-pointer and did all her scoring in the first half while missing just one shot. She had two more 3-pointers and eight total points in the second quarter when the Lady Comets outscored the Lady Patriots, 13-8, for a 23-17 halftime lead.
Booth pulled up from 14 feet in the lane for the last basket of the first half to begin cutting into an Abington Heights lead that had grown to eight.
Pittston Area’s Ava Callahan then opened the second half with a 3-pointer.
Both teams advance to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 5A state tournament and will host first-round games March 11.
Each is scheduled at 3 p.m. against a Philadelphia team.
Pittston Area (24-2) will face Samuel Fels, District 12’s fourth-place team (15-5). Abington Heights (17-8) takes on Archbishop Ryan, District 12’s third-place team (9-15).
MORE CLASS 5A GIRLS FINAL COVERAGE
Expanded boxscore: Class 5A girls expanded boxscore – NEPA Sports Nation.
Photo Gallery: Pittston Area/ Abington Heights Photo Gallery – NEPA Sports Nation.
Broadcast archive: District 2 Class 5A Girls: Abington Heights vs. Pittston Area | Basketball | NPFNetwork6 (meridix.com).
DISTRICT 2 CLASS 5A QUARTERFINALS
Pittston Area-Crestwood: Booth leads Lady Patriots to semis – NEPA Sports Nation.
Scranton-North Pocono:O’Shea leads Scranton past NP – NEPA Sports Nation.
Abington Heights-Dallas: Lady Comets shut down Dallas – NEPA Sports Nation.
Wallenpaupack-Honesdale: ‘Paupack girls down Honesdale – NEPA Sports Nation.
DISTRICT 2 CLASS 5A SEMIFINALS
Pittston Area-Scranton: Pittston Area downs Scranton – NEPA Sports Nation.
Abington Heights-Wallenpaupack: AH girls avenge loss, reach final – NEPA Sports Nation.
DISTRICT 2 CLASS 5A THIRD-PLACE GAME
Scranton-Wallenpaupack: Rally puts Scranton in state play – NEPA Sports Nation.
