Crestwood followed up its worst quarter of the season with one of its best Saturday afternoon.
The combination allowed the Comets an opportunity to defend their District 2 Class 5A girls basketball championship.
Down seven points after one quarter, Crestwood used a 26-point second quarter to pull away for a 62-50 victory over Abington Heights in the district semifinals.
Top-seeded Crestwood (22-4) will play third-seed North Pocono (20-4) at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at Mohegan Arena for the championship. Both teams secured PIAA Class 5A state berths with semifinal wins.
Keira Dougherty scored Crestwood’s only two points in the opening quarter as fourth-seeded Abington Heights (15-9) took a 9-2 lead after the initial eight minutes.
Dougherty then helped the Comets flip their fortunes in the second quarter by scoring eight of her game-high 20 points. Jackie Gallagher added six more and Jordan Andrews had five — all from the foul line — as Crestwood took a 28-14 lead into the locker room.
Crestwood’s defense held Abington Heights to a lone field goal in the second quarter and just two more in the third in building a 48-29 lead heading to the fourth.
Gallagher and Charlie Hiller each scored 12 for Crestwood. Emma Coleman had 19 for Abington Heights.
Crestwood will be attempting to be the first team to win consecutive D2-5A championships since Abington Heights in 2021 and 2022.
Valley View 74, Nanticoke Area 45
Nanticoke Area had its season come to an end as Valley View pulled away in the second half in a District 2 Class 4A semifinal game.
Nanticoke Area led 15-12 after one quarter, but Valley View began to ease away in the second quarter. The Cougars took a 32-20 lead into halftime as they hit six 3-pointers.
Natalee Atkins score 17 to pace Nanticoke Area, which finished its season at 18-7. Nevaeh Baran had 13.
Ali Mauro led Valley View with 20 points.
Second-seeded Valley View (19-5) will play top-seeded and three-time defending champion Scranton Prep (19-5) for the championship 6 p.m. Thursday at Mohegan Arena.
Valley View’s last district championship came in 2001. Nanticoke Area has been eliminated in the semifinals the last seven seasons.
District 2 Class 5A Semifinals
Cretswood 62, Abington Heights 50
ABINGTON HEIGHTS (50) — Emma Coleman 6 6-6 19, Avary Brister 1 0-0 2, Abby Schneider 1 2-2 5, Lavin Vecerkauskas 3 3-3 9, Judy Riff 0 3-4 3, Lily Scoblick 1 0-0 3, Sarah Cantner 2 5-5 9. Totals 14 19-20 50.
CRESTWOOD (62) — Cameron Vieney 3 0-1 7, Charlie Hiller 5 2-5 12, Jackie Gallagher 5 1-2 12, Jordan Andrews 2 5-6 9, Keira Dougherty 8 2-3 20, Lia Lapsansky 1 0-0 2, Norah Sklarosky 0 0-0 0, Ella Sorber 0 0-0 0, Lillie Nealon 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 10-17 62.
Abington Heights`9`5`15`21 — 50
Crestwood`2`26`20`14 — 62
Three-point goals: AH 3 (Coleman, Schneider, Scoblick). CRE 4 (Vieney, Gallagher, Dougherty 2).
