Tom Robinson | Abington Journal The Abington Heights Comets did not just win all 10 boys basketball games in January and two more to begin February, but they did so in often dominant fashion, even when the schedule or travel would seem to make that difficult.
The most impressive victory of January was probably the last one when the Comets went to Reading, one night after traveling to North Pocono, to face fellow unbeaten, Berks Catholic.
Abington Heights came home from that trip with a 74-47 rout in a game that was never close.
The most significant victory to date in a 20-0 start came Feb. 5 at Scranton when the Comets pinned down the Lackawanna League Division 1 title by beating the Knights, 58-44.
A look at January and early February games for the Comets:
Abington Heights 58, Scranton 44
Will Marion fueled a fast start and finished with 19 points as the Comets clinched their 16 th division title in the Lackawanna League.
Marion hit an early 3-pointer and had seven of his points in the first quarter. The Comets led 17-9 after one quarter.
Mason Fedor added 11 points and Ryan Nealon had 10.
The Comets outscored the Knights in every quarter to gradually add to their lead over second-place Scranton.
Tony Battaglia hit four 3-pointers while scoring 16 points for Scranton.
It was the second straight game in which Abington Heights, which has clinched the top seed for its title defense in District 2 Class 5A, beat a team currently positioned to be the top seed in another classification. Valley View leads District 2 Class 4A while Scranton leads the District 2-4 Class 6A Subregional.
Abington Heights 74, Berks Catholic 47
In a Jan. 30 game featuring two coaches with more than 800 career wins, Ken Bianchi and Berks Catholic’s Snip Esterly, Abington Heights put on an offensive show.
Marion and Nealon led the way as the Comets scored 25 points in each of the first two quarters for a 50-21 halftime lead.
“It was a little surprise, but we know if we come out and play together, play good defense and are hitting our shots, we can beat anybody,” said Nealon, who hit six 3-pointers while scoring 24 points.
Marion matched Nealon with two 3-pointers in the first quarter when he scored 10 of his 18 points.
After Nealon hit two more in the second quarter, both players arrived at halftime with 16 points.
Robby Lucas added 17 points and Jordan Shaffer hit three of the team’s dozen 3-pointers while scoring 11.
“Mason sacrificed,” Nealon said. “The shooters were making shots, so he didn’t get very much in the paint, but we played very well offensively.”
January recap
The Comets outscored opponents by an average of 75.1-43.0 during the month. … Abington Heights opened league play Jan. 2 with a 69-45 win at home in the first meeting with Scranton. Marion scored 25 points, including 15 in the first quarter as the Comets raced out to leads of 23-15 after eight minutes, 38-22 at halftime and 61-33 through three quarters. Fedor added 17 points and Lucas had 14. … Lucas fired in 34 points in a 69-38 rout at defending champion Valley View Jan. 3. He had 19 points in the first half, hitting three 3-pointers in the first quarter and five by the break. … The Comets took a 22-2 lead after one quarter and got at least two baskets from eight different players in a 68-30, home-court win over Delaware Valley Jan. 11. … The largest margin of victory and least points allowed came in a 69-15 romp over visiting Western Wayne Jan. 15. Shaffer scored all of his team-high 15 points while the Comets were taking a 49-6 halftime lead. … The Comets followed that up with three straight games of at least 83 points, beating West Scranton (83-40), Honesdale (90-39) and Scranton Prep (89-64). Abington Heights hit eight, first-quarter 3-pointers while taking a 44-13 lead at Honesdale Jan. 22. Marion had 19 points in the quarter and 27 in the game. Five players scored in double figures against West Scranton Jan. 18 with Fedor and Nealon getting there in the 33-point first quarter on the way to a 60-23 halftime lead. … Fedor scored 24 points in a 65-42 win at North Pocono.
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