In what could be misconstrued as a scene for the movie Groundhog Day, and to nobody in NEPA’s surprise, Abington Heights and Holy Cross are into the boys basketball state quarterfinals.

Scranton Prep, which had been knocking to come through the door, finally joined them.

And the three most successful programs of the last decade in the Lackawanna League are two games away from Hershey and a date with destiny.

 

PIAA CLASS 5A

 

 

 

 

Abington Heights has really benefited from the increase from four classifications to six. The Comets have won 10 of their last 11 state playoff games.

When Abington Heights lost to JP McCaskey in the PIAA Class 4A first round in the 2016 state playoffs (the last year of 4 classes), the program had a state-playoff record of 10-18 overall with 12 losses in either the first round or its first game.

Since aligning in Class 5A, the record is now 20-19 and the Comets have the second-most state playoff wins among Lackawanna League teams.

 

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COMETS’ QUARTERFINAL STATE GAMES

 

Courtesy of Rich Rhoades of d9sports.com and Rod Frisco

 

• 1969 Class 3A: Penncrest 67, Abington Heights 55*
• 1973 Class 3A: Reading 78, Abington Heights 62
• 2010 Class 3A: Eastern York 57, Abington Heights 43
• 2012 Class 3A: Boys Latin 76, Abington Heights 72
• 2013 Class 3A: Imhotep Charter 61, Abington Heights 50
• 2017 Class 5A: Abington Heights 65, Chester 61, 2OT
• 2018 Class 5A: Abington Heights 76, Northeastern 56

 

* NOTE: First game of the PIAA playoff tournament

 

ABINGTON HEIGHTS IN THE PIAA QUARTERFINALS

 

2010 Eastern York 57 Abington Heights 43	2012 Boys Latin 76 Abington Heights 72	2013 Imhotep Charter 61 Abington Heights 50
2017 Abington Heights 65 Chester 61, 2 OTs		2018 Abington Heights 76 Northeastern 56

 

 

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUP

 

 

1-1 Sun Valley (21-7)

vs.

2-1 Abington Heights (25-2)

 

 

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m., Bethlehem Freedom High School

 

How they got here: Sun Valley defeated 3-8 Garden Spot, 65-44 and 3-4 Northern, 61-53. Abington Heights beat 1-4 Pottsgrove, 72-48 and 12-2 Mastery North, 54-52.

 

Players to watch:

Sun Valley — Vinny DeAngelo, 23.0 ppg.; Isaac Kennon, 13.5; Marvin Freeman, 11.4.

Abington Heights — George Tinsley, 19.6 ppg; Trey Koehler, 13.8; Corey Perkins, 8.0; Jack Nealon, 7.5; Mike Malone, 3.5.

 

What’s next: Winner advances to Monday’s semifinals to play the winner of the Archbishop Wood-Pottsville game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PIAA CLASS 4A

 

 

 

 

 

Scranton Prep has had a frustrating last five PIAA playoff appearances. The Cavaliers won their first-round game then ran into either Neumann-Goretti or Imhotep Charter in the second round.

That meant an exit stage left.

 

2013 Class 3A: Neumann-Goretti 51, Scranton Prep 44, OT

• Neumann-Goretti — Lost in PIAA Quarterfinals

 

2015 Class 3A: Imhotep Charter 77, Scranton Prep 54

• Imhotep Charter — Won PIAA Championship

 

2016 Class 3A: Neumann-Goretti 113, Scranton Prep 71

• Neumann-Goretti — Won PIAA Championship

 

2017 Class 4A: Imhotep Charter 81, Scranton Prep 52

• Imhotep Charter — Won PIAA Championship

 

2018 Class 4A: Imhotep Charter 44, Scranton Prep 32

• Imhotep Charter — Won PIAA Championship

 

 

This season, the bracket established by the PIAA moved the District 12 champion to the bottom of the bracket and the District 2 champion drew different pairings.

Scranton Prep’s convincing win over Wilson advanced the Cavaliers to their first quarterfinal since 2008. The Cavaliers are 1-5 in PIAA quarterfinal games with their only win coming in 2008 against Daniel Boone, 49-42.

 

 

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUP

 

 

1-1 Lower Moreland (24-3)

vs.

2-1 Scranton Prep (24-3)

 

 

When: Friday, 6 p.m., Bethlehem Freedom High School

How they got here: Lower Moreland beat 12-4 John Bartram, 75-61 and defeated 11-1 Bethlehem Catholic, 69-57.

Players to watch:

Lower Moreland — Forrest Keyes; Shane Conen; Jordan Zoubroulis; Joey Cerruti.

Scranton Prep — Leo O’Boyle, 16.7 ppg.; Rhys Merritt, 12.1; Brian Boland, 11.2; Mario Rotell, 9.7; Greyson Schermerhorn, 7.2.

What’s next: Winner advances to Monday’s semifinals to play the winner of the Bonner-Prendergast vs. Archbishop Carroll game.

 

 

 

 

 

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PIAA CLASS 2A

 

 

 

 

 

Holy Cross has been a dominant program in Class 2A since becoming a program after the closing of Bishop O’Hara and Bishop Hannan High Schools for the 2007-08 season.

 

PIAA PLAYOFF RECORDS

 

• BISHOP HANNAN: 29-10 from 1974 to 2006

 

• BISHOP O’HARA: 16-16 from 1975 to 2007

 

• HOLY CROSS: 19-11 from 2008 to 2019

 

 

CRUSADERS’ QUARTERFINAL STATE GAMES

 

Courtesy of Rich Rhoades of d9sports.com and Rod Frisco

 

• 2008 Class 2A: Imhotep Charter 51, Holy Cross 49
• 2010 Class 2A: Strawberry Mansion 59, Holy Cross 54
• 2012 Class 2A: Holy Cross 37, Pine Grove 31
• 2013 Class 2A: Holy Cross 75, Constitution 62
• 2014 Class 2A: Constitution 72, Holy Cross 62
• 2018 Class 2A: Holy Cross 71, Math, Civics and Sciences 58

 

 

 

 

 

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUP

 

 

12-1 Constitution (21-9)

vs.

2-1 Holy Cross (22-5)

 

 

When: Saturday, 2:30 p.m., Martz Hall, Pottsville.

How they got here: Constitution beat Moravian Academy, 53-50 and Northeast Bradford, 59-28. Holy Cross defeated Bloomsburg, 65-47 and Delco Christian, 50-38.

Players to watch:

Constitution — Keshaun Hammonds, 20.4 ppg; Jabari Merritt, 14.8; Quadir Miller, 8.0; Abdul Riggins, 6.0; Jihad Saunders, 5.7.

Holy Cross — Kieran Burrier, 13.5 ppg.; Tyler Mozeleski, 12.7; Leahy O’Connor, 12.2; Caleb Callejas, 7.6; Tommy Montefour, 5.6.

What’s next: Winner advances to Tuesday’s semifinals to play the winner of the Math Civics & Sciences-North Star game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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