Abington Heights Comes Back To Win Third Straight District Title
By: John Kotsko | Sportzwire | March 1, 2025 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus Photography
Abington Heights trailed for most of the game. When it mattered the most, the Comets came up big. Billy Johnson got a basket to give them the lead and Jordan Shaffer had a big three point play with 2:21 left to make it a four point game as Abington Height won it’s third straight District 2 5A Title 53-48 over Pittston Area. It was the first District title for Head Coach JC Show, who replaced Ken Bianchi. “I said to the team before the game, we’ve endured some storms on the basketball court and we’ve gone underwater but we got here and we’re competing for a Championship.”
After some back and forth, the Patriots went on a 9-2 run to end the quarter to lead 14-7 after one. Aidan Lynn hit a free throw and Silvio Giardina got basket to increase the lead to ten. After a Kettel basket, Paul Jordan McGarry hit a three pointer then Lucas LoPresto hit a free throw to make it a 12 point Pittston Area lead. The Patriots got the lead up to 13 on a Matt Walter’s three pointer. Then Finn Goldberg scored seven straight points to cut the lead down to six. Robby Lucas hit a three pointer to make it a three point game. After a pair of free throws by McGarry, Goldberg hit another three pointer as the Comets made it 26-24 as we hit halftime.
The third quarter was a back and forth affair with the biggest lead being seven in favor of the Patriots and Pittston Area led 39-36 at the end of the third quarter. A free throw and a basket by Lucas tied the game up at 39. McGarry hit a three pointer to make it 42-39. Shaffer hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to one. Aidan Lynn got a basket to make it three once again. Lucas cut the lead to one then Billy Johnson got the basket to put Abington Heights up by 1. A three point play on a putback by Shaffer with 2:33 left made it a four point play. LoPresto hit a basket off the glass with 1:49 left to make it a two point game. Conner Abel hit one of two free throws to make it 49-46. Walter hit a pair of free throws with 19.4 left to make it a one point game. The Comets missed both free throws with 13.4 left. Pittston Area had one last chance but the basket fell short. The Pittston Area were whistled for an intentional foul then a technical foul with 0.3 seconds to go. Shaffer hit all four free throws to make it 53-48 and that was the final as Abington Heights defeated Pittston Area to take the District 2 5A Title. For Pittston Area, Paul Jordan McGarry scored a game high 17 points and Lucas LoPresto added 11.
Abington Heights 53 Pittston Area 48
Abington Heights
Jordan Shaffer 16
Andrew Kettel 8
Finn Goldberg 14
Robby Lucas 11
Billy Johnson 13
Conner Abel 1
Pittston Area
Paul Jordan McGarry 17
Silvio Giardina 5
Lucas LoPresto 11
Aidan Lynn 7
Matt Walter 7
