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Spin 4 Life raises funds for Candy’s Place, Brandon J. Case Scholarship

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Thousands flock to Mohegan Sun Pocono for outdoor expo, which continues Sunday

WILKES-BARRE TWP. &#8212; A change in defensive strategy played a big role in Abington Heights&#8217; 41-24 win over Scranton Prep in the District 2 Class 3A girls basketball championship game.Despite holding a 16-14 lead at the half, Lady Comets head coach Deanna Klingman decided to switch from man-to-man defense to a 2-3 zone due to the Classics ability to get the rim and convert at the foul line.Abington Heights (21-5) limited Scranton Prep to 10 points in the second half, including one in the fourth quarter.&#8220;They have very good speed and that&#8217;s one of the reasons we switched to the 2-3 zone in the second half,&#8221; Klingman said. &#8220;We had to stop their penetration and prevent them from getting to the line. I think we did a much better job keeping the ball in front of us by playing zone.&#8221;Hannah Kowalski and Nicole Getz led the charge for the Comets in the first quarter, scoring four points each, and Abington Heights led 11-6.Prep&#8217;s Jillian Paulus scored four of her team-high 12 points in the second quarter when the Classics outscored the Comets, 8-5.Abington Heights used a 9-0 run midway through the third quarter to open up a 27-18 lead.The Comets delivered the final blow in the fourth quarter when five players scored baskets as part of a 10-0 run to go ahead 41-23 with 2:34 left in the game.Abington Heights held Scranton Prep (15-11) to 6 of 47 shooting and outrebounded the Classics, 41-23.&#8220;I think everybody did their job really well,&#8221; Getz said. &#8220;The scoring was pretty even and people got great rebounds and steals. It was just a great team effort.&#8221;Both teams advance to the PIAA Class 3A tournament.Abington Heights will play Bethlehem Catholic at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 5 at Marywood University in the first round. Scranton Prep will play Greencastle-Antrim at 6:30 p.m. March 5 at Scranton High School.Abington Heights 41, Scranton Prep 24SCRANTON PREP (24) &#8212; Jillian Paulus 2 7-10 12, Julia Sirotnak 3 1-1 7, Calista Kline 0 1-3 1, Holly Daveski 1 2-2 4, Tiffany Powell 0 0-0 0, Kathleen Rose 0 0-0 0, Abigail Schroth 0 0-0 0, Alaina Weston 0 0-0 0, Maeve Ducas 0 0-0 0, Claire Szymanski 0 0-0 0, Mikhaela Kline 0 0-0 0, Emma Walsh 0 0-0 0, Caroline Babinski 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 11-16 24.ABINGTON HEIGHTS (41) &#8212; Nicole Getz 5 2-3 13, Cassie Ksiazek 2 1-2 5, Hannah Kowalski 4 5-9 13, Mariah Tulaney 2 0-0 4, Alessia Brunori 2 2-2 6, Emma Henzes 0 0-0 0, Grace Evans 0 0-0 0, Grace Hambrose 0 0-0 0, Emma Baker 0 0-0 0, Sharon Houlihan 0 0-0 0, Tiana Yarns 0 0-0 0, Nicole Nealon 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 10-16 41.Scranton Prep`6`8`9`1`&#8212;`24Abington Heights`11`5`14`11`&#8212;`41Three-point goals &#8212; SP 1 (Paulus); AH 1 (Getz).<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Robert Tomkavagertomkavage@civitasmedia.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Robert Tomkavage on Twitter @rtomkavage</shirttailMeta></div>

Abington Heights defense seals Class 3A girls basketball championship