SCHEDULE ALERT: 

Winter weather for Saturday has impacted the local schedule. All postponed games are listed ON THE BLOG.

 

WOW!

We here at ON THE BLOG hate starting a post with a one-word exclamation. But really, that sums up what happened last night at the Xavier Center as Abington Heights edged Scranton Prep on a Harry Johnson buzzer-beater that turned this one into a classic.

Traditionally, the Abington Heights-Scranton Prep clash has been the marquee rivalry in boys basketball. It just is. These teams’ trophy cases are overflowing with championship trophies, many having being won by defeating the other.

Look at their most recent resumes: 

 

ABINGTON HEIGHTS

8	Straight District 2 Championshipships
8	Straight seasons with at least 20 wins
2	Straight Lackawanna Division I titles

 

 

SCRANTON PREP

5	Straight District 2 Championshipships
6	Straight seasons with at least 20 wins
3	Lackawanna Division I titles in last five years

 

 

ABINGTON HEIGHTS VS. SCRANTON PREP

 

What has been even more impressive is the intensity in the battles the two powerhouse programs have waged over the last 10 seasons.

Here are the results of their clashes:

Abington Heights leads 13-8
2020	Abington Heights	51-49
2019	Abington Heights	60-51
2019	Abington Heights	68-40
2018	Abington Heights	66-47
2018	Scranton Prep	51-45
2017	Scranton Prep	53-43
2017	Scranton Prep	54-51
2016	Scranton Prep	73-61
2016	Abington Heights	57-52
2015	Scranton Prep	66-43
2015	Scranton Prep	55-50
2014	Abington Heights	65-46
2014	Abington Heights	58-52
2013	Abington Heights	71-70
2013	Abington Heights	56-50
2013	Abington Heights	61-52
2012	Abington Heights	55-41
2012	Scranton Prep	46-33
2012	Scranton Prep	33-30
2011	Abington Heights	38-37
2011	Abington Heights	54-45

 

 

BUZZER-BEATERS

 

There have been some other dramatic wins in the series. Abington Heights’ JC Show hit a runner as the horn sounded at the Lackawanna College Student Union in a District 2 Class 3A playoff game in 2013 and Scranton Prep’s Leo O’Boyle drilled a 3-pointer as time expired in a win over the Comets in 2017.

 

 

2013

 

 

2017

 

2020

 

It was Harry Johnson’s turn to put his name in the history of the rivalry. He hit the game-winning shot in a 51-49 victory for the Comets which reminded every basketball fan that this team remains a title contender.

 

 

 

 

HARRY JOHNSON | Abington Heights

12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists

 

 

 

INSIDE DIVISION I

 

 

After that thrilling win, Abington Heights sent a loud message across the Lackawanna League. Yes, the Comets lost their league opener to Scranton and at that time sported a 4-5 record.

Since, Abington Heights has won five straight to move to 9-5 overall. More importantly, the Comets are 4-1 in Division I. They have pulled into a tie with Scranton Prep and Valley View.

And how about Valley View?

This team did not return a starter from last year’s group. On Thursday, the Cougars moved to 11-3 overall and 4-1 in the division by beating West Scranton.

Zack Kovalchik and Adam Howanitz combined for 32 points for the Cougars.

During Valley View’s four-game winning streak, Kovalchik is averaging 16.8 points per game.

Now, Scranton Prep is scheduled to play at Valley View on Monday in what should be an equally intense game.

 

COMING UP

 

SCRANTON PREP

AT

VALLEY VIEW

MONDAY, 6:45 PM

 

 

NOTE: Scranton Prep has won three straight in the series by an average of 4.0 points.

• Scranton Prep 50, Valley View 48
• Scranton Prep 59, Valley View 57
• Scranton Prep 54, Valley View 46
• Valley View 54, Scranton Prep 53

 

 

STANDINGS

 

LEAGUE

OVERALL

	W	L	W	L
Valley View	4	1	11	3
Scranton Prep	4	1	10	3
Abington Heights	4	1	9	5
West Scranton	1	4	9	5
Scranton	1	4	6	7

 

 

SCHEDULE

 

SATURDAY

Division I
Scranton Prep at Valley View, 12:15 — PPD to MONDAY, 6:45 PM
Crossovers
Honesdale vs. Abington Heights at University of Scranton — PPD to JANUARY 29
Delaware Valley at West Scranton — PPD to WEDNESDAY, 6:45 
Nonleague
Executive Education Academy at Scranton — PPD to FEBRUARY 13

 

 

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INSIDE DIVISION III

 

Just when it appeared Holy Cross could run away with the Division III title, Riverside and Brandon Reed turned in a total team effort and pulled off the upset.

RIVERSIDE 66, HOLY CROSS 62

 

Reed scored 12 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter and Riverside dealt top-ranked Holy Cross its second loss of the season, 66-62, in a Lackawanna League Division III boys basketball game Thursday.
Reed hit 10 of 12 free throws in the final quarter — he finished 15 of 18 at the line for the game — and the Vikings managed to hold on despite being outscored, 22-21, in the fourth.
Michael Rickert scored 16 points for Riverside and Todd Monahan had 11. Rickert also hauled in eight rebounds.
Holy Cross had three players with at least 10 points. Kieran Burrier led the way with 21, Leahy O’Connor had 17 and Patrick Bennie scored 10. The Crusaders had won seven straight since a 62-56 loss to Dallas on Dec. 18.

 

 

 

 

COMING UP

 

MID VALLEY AT HOLY CROSS

SUNDAY, 4:30 PM

 

 

 

NOTE: Holy Cross has won four of the last five meetings in the series.

• Holy Cross 40, Mid Valley 35
• Mid Valley 48, Holy Cross 45
• Holy Cross 45, Mid Valley 37
• Holy Cross 53, Mid Valley 44
• Holy Cross 41, Mid Valley 38

 

 

STANDINGS

 

LEAGUE

OVERALL

	W	L	W	L
Mid Valley	4	1	8	5
Holy Cross	3	1	11	2
Lakeland	3	1	10	3
Riverside	2	2	7	6
Dunmore	2	2	6	7
Old Forge	1	3	6	6
Carbondale Area	0	5	3	9

 

 

SCHEDULE

 

TODAY

Crossover
Carbondale Area at Blue Ridge

 

SATURDAY

Division III
Old Forge at Lakeland — PPD to WEDNESDAY
Dunmore at Riverside — PPD to JANUARY 25
Mid Valley at Holy Cross — PPD TO SUNDAY, 4:30 PM

 

 

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INSIDE DIVISION II

 

 

Wallenpaupack withstood another challenge from a talented and ranked team from Division II. The Buckhorns, again, have the best overall record in the Lackawanna League at 12-1 after their win over high-scoring North Pocono.

 

 

WALLENPAUPACK 52, NORTH POCONO 48

 

 

Gabe Springer had 11 points and 11 rebounds to lead the third-ranked Buckhorns to a Division II win.
Elijah Rosenthal scored 14 points and Gerard McGrath had four 3-pointers for Wallenpaupack.
Robert VanBrunt had a game-high 21 points for No. 8 North Pocono.

 

 

 

Also, in a game that didn’t get reported until this morning:

 

Rovinsky

WESTERN WAYNE 55, HONESDALE 49

 

Zach Rovinsky scored 31 points to lead the Wildcats. He’s had quite a scoring run in his last five games:

.

• 31 vs. Honesdale
• 13 vs. Abington Heights
• 17 vs. Wallenpaupack
• 38 vs. Delaware Valley
• 21 vs. Valley View

 

 

 

 

STANDINGS

 

LEAGUE

OVERALL

	W	L	W	L
Wallenpaupack	4	1	12	1
North Pocono	2	3	7	7
Delaware Valley	2	3	6	7
Western Wayne	2	3	7	6
Honesdale	1	4	6	8

 

 

SCHEDULE

 

SATURDAY

Crossovers
Honesdale vs. Abington Heights at University of Scranton — PPD to JANUARY 29
Delaware Valley at West Scranton — PPD to WEDNESDAY, 6:45 

 

 

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INSIDE DIVISION IV

 

Lackawanna Trail continues to surge in the division and has won five straight games. The Lions continue to get balanced scoring and earned a victory over Blue Ridge.

 

 

LACKAWANNA TRAIL 47, BLUE RIDGE 41

 

 

Richard Helbing had 23 points to lead Lackawanna Trail past Blue Ridge in a Division IV game.
Nico Berrios added 14 points for the winners.
Gavin Rosa had 16 points to lead Blue Ridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

STANDINGS

 

DIVISION

OVERALL

	W	L	W	L
Lackawanna Trail	5	0	9	4
Mountain View	3	1	4	8
Elk Lake	2	2	7	6
Blue Ridge	2	3	3	8
Susquehanna	2	2	3	10
Forest City	1	3	2	9
Montrose	0	4	0	13

 

 

SCHEDULE

 

TODAY

Crossover
Carbondale Area at Blue Ridge

 

SATURDAY

Lackawanna Trail at Susquehanna — PPD to WEDNESDAY
Forest City at Mountain View — PPD to WEDNESDAY
Montrose at Elk Lake, 12:15 PM

 

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NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

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