The Abington Heights and Scranton boys and girls basketball teams return from COVID-related breaks to jump right into key games against each other Friday night.
The boys teams each have had 10 days off, last playing Jan. 10.
During that time, Scranton became the last unbeaten team remaining in District 2 basketball, boys or girls. The Knights (7-0 overall) will go to Abington Heights (7-3) to break the first-place tie in Lackawanna Division 1 boys at 2-0 each.
Lackawanna Division 1 girls co-leader Abington Heights last played Jan. 12, one day after Scranton played its most recent game. The Lady Comets (2-0 in the division, 8-3 overall) play at Scranton (1-0, 6-2).
The other co-leader in the division, Scranton Prep (2-0, 7-2) hosts Wallenpaupack (3-1, 8-3) in a Division 1-2 crossover.
The boys schedule also includes games that are important to each Wyoming Valley Conference race.
The top two teams in WVC Division 1 meet Wilkes-Barre Area (5-1, 8-5) goes to Hazleton Area (5-0, 9-2).
Two of the top three get together in WVC Division 2 when Nanticoke (3-0, 4-7) makes the short drive to visit rival Hanover Area (2-1, 4-7).
The girls schedule has a non-league game between ranked teams.
Riverside, the second-ranked Small School in the My City Mortgage Super Six Power Rankings, is home against No. 5 Elk Lake (9-3). Riverside (10-2) has won four straight while Elk Lake has won three in a row.
Susquehanna (2-2, 5-5) is at Montrose (3-0, 4-4) in a game between the two most recent Lackawanna Division 4 champions.
There are also two girls games matching teams that are winless in league play.
Honesdale (0-2, 3-7) is at Delaware Valley (0-4, 1-9) in Lackawanna Division 2 and Forest City (0-3, 0-10) is at Blue Ridge (0-4, 1-8) in Lackawanna Division 4.
The full basketball schedule can be found at: https://nepabasketball.com/composite?d=2022-01-21.
In wrestling, as many as half of the District 2 teams are expected to compete in the Coal Cracker Invitational, a two-day event beginning today in Lehighton.
In boys and girls swimming, Wyoming Area is at Pittston Area in a WVC meet.
