Pictured above: Will Marion of Abington Heights. (Tim Drewes Photo)
By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Abington Heights put an end to a late-season shooting slump and, with it, West Scranton’s hopes of continuing its string of postseason upsets.
Ryan Nealon’s 5-for-6 shooting from 3-point range led the team’s 50-percent effort from beyond the arc Friday night when the top-seeded Comets routed the sixth-seeded Invaders, 60-38, in the District 2 Class 5A boys basketball championship game.
“We’ve been staying after practices shooting as a team,” Nealon said. “We just knew the ball would go in. If we could play hard defense and get rebounds, we knew we had a chance to win.”
Nealon scored 19 points, Will Marion added 18 and Mason Fedor 14.
That trio combined to shoot 20-for-31 from the floor and 7-for-10 on 3-pointers while also making other contributions.
Nealon dished out four assists. Marion made six steals. Fedor grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots. All were team-leading totals.
“We hit a slump in the end of the season, a time when we didn’t want to hit it,” Marion said. “But, it happens to every team. It happens to the best of them.
“We know we’re back now.”
Evan Laybourne-Boddie led West Scranton with 13 points and 4 assists before fouling out. Tristan Lee had eight points and eight rebounds.
Both teams not only advance to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament, but also open March 10 at home at 7 p.m. against Philadelphia opponents.
Abington Heights (21-4) opens with District 12 fourth-place finisher Murrell Dobbins (25-2). West Scranton (14-11) will play District 12 third-place finisher West Philadelphia (15-11) at Scranton High School, its regular home court during the season.
“We’ve been in a slump,” Nealon said. “It’s good to see going into states that we’re playing well. Hopefully it will continue.”
The Comets, who won the semifinal, 47-24, over North Pocono despite not shooting well, knew after that victory that they were back in the state playoffs. They had a three-year absence after winning 8 straight District 2 titles and making 13 straight state tournament appearances.
“It gets sweeter because I know there’s not too many left,” said Abington Heights coach Ken Bianchi, District 2’s all-time leader in coaching victories.
Abington Heights needed a little more than four minutes to get started offensively.
Chris Ogden hit the first of his three 3-pointers to give West Scranton its only lead, 3-1, midway through the first quarter.
Nealon hit two 3-pointers and Marion followed with another in a span of 1:18 and the Comets were off and running.
Marion had seven points and Nealon six in a 13-point streak to a 19-5 lead 1:05 into the second quarter.
Abington Heights scored the last two points of the first half and started the second half with an 8-3 run to a 38-17 lead midway through the third.
Robby Lucas had 5 steals as Abington Heights forced 21 turnovers while committing just 10.
MORE CLASS 5A BOYS FINAL COVERAGE
Expanded boxscore: Class 5A boys expanded boxscore – NEPA Sports Nation.
Photo Gallery: Abington Heights/ West Scranton Photo Gallery – NEPA Sports Nation.
Broadcast archive: District 2 Class 5A Boys: West Scranton vs. Abington Heights | Basketball | NPFNetwork7 (meridix.com).
Video highlights: NEPA Sports Nation on Instagram: “Abington Heights takes the 👑! Video presented to you by Burke Stone Supply & Maddock Insurance!”.
CLASS 5A SEMIFINAL COVERAGE
West Scranton-Dallas game: West boys knock off Dallas in OT – NEPA Sports Nation.
Abington Heights-North Pocono game: Comets box out, shut down NP – NEPA Sports Nation.
