By Tom Robinson, NEPABasketball.com
SCRANTON – Gianna Cafarella and Avery McNulty each wished they had made more shots prior to Sunday afternoon’s game.
But, when Scranton Prep needed an offensive boost with the Lackawanna League Division 1 girls lead on the line, both were ready to deliver.
Cafarella joined Lizzie Neville in sharing team scoring honors with 13 points while McNulty hit a pair of second-half 3-pointers to help the Classics to a 50-44 victory over visiting Abington Heights, breaking a first-place tie.
“I think my jumper was definitely on today, which it hasn’t been in practice this week,” said Cafarella, who went 5-for-9 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the line. “So, I feel like it was a big confidence booster to see the ball finally go in the basket.”
Both first-year starters essentially doubled their scoring output for the season while helping the four-time defending champions maintain their status atop the division with a 58th straight Lackawanna League victory.
Cafarella scored seven points in the second quarter, including the team’s first five of the quarter.
McNulty finished with 11 points with the help of 2-for-5 shooting on 3-pointers as well a 5-for-6, fourth-quarter foul shooting effort.
“Lately it’s been a little tough,” McNulty said. “I haven’t been making as many shots as I’ve been hoping for, but today was a big game and a great time to make those shots.”
McNulty’s first 3-pointer created the game’s biggest lead, 33-22, with 3:24 left in the third quarter.
After Abington Heights finished the third quarter with six straight points to close within five, McNulty opened the fourth quarter with another 3-pointer from the right wing.
“Even in practice, she’s really struggled,” Scranton Prep coach Bob Beviglia said. “But, to her credit, in two big spots, she still took what you would call dagger 3s and really stretched the lead for us.”
The Classics found themselves needing McNulty’s help on the outside offensively and inside defensively with Lady Comets center Allison Dammer threatening to take over the game.
“Avery got in early foul trouble, went to the bench for a while, came back in and then played really smart,” Beviglia said.
Dammer had 18 points and 14 rebounds, helping Abington Heights to a 36-24 rebounding advantage
“We needed Avery’s presence inside,” Beviglia said. “They have a very good post player who played great today, but Avery made big shots.
“I was thrilled for her.”
Once McNulty’s 3-pointer to begin the fourth quarter opened the lead back to eight, Abington Heights did not get closer than seven until Allison Murray’s 3-pointer from 30 feet with 12 seconds left made it 49-44.
With that lead late in the game and Scranton Prep protecting the ball well – the Classics committed just 10 total turnovers, none in the fourth quarter – it came down to foul shooting.
Scranton Prep went 9-for-12 in the last 3:30, with Neville going 4-for-6.
Cafarella, who left the game with a calf cramp for less than two minutes early in the third quarter, hit the team’s last field goal, a 17-footer from the left base line with 2:46 left for a 43-34 lead.
“She gives us a tremendous amount of toughness,” Beviglia said. “The thing I love most about her is this is her first year as a varsity basketball player and she’s not afraid to take big shots. She not only takes them, but makes them.
“She was great and she carried us for stretches today.”
Rita Collins had half the Scranton Prep rebounds, finishing with 12.
Neville had four assists.
Maria Belardi led the defense, making three steals and joining Neville and McNulty with two blocked shots each.
Emily McDonald scoreed eight points for Abington Heights.
Anna Scoblick added six points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots.
Murray and Maggie Coleman also had six points. Each hit two 3-pointers, including one in the final 27 second.
Scranton Prep, ranked second among Big Schools in the My City Mortgage Super Six Power Rankings of District 2 teams, improved to 4-0 in the division and 9-2 overall.
Third-ranked Abington Heights (3-1, 9-4) had early leads of 4-0 and 6-3.
The only points from either team’s bench came when Maggie McGrath stepped in while McNulty sat with two fouls and hit a 3-pointer with 1:35 left in the first quarter to put Scranton Prep ahead to stay.
Coleman’s 3-pointer from the right wing at the halftime buzzer kept Abington Heights within 24-20.
The Lady Comets never got closer in the second half.
McNulty’s 3-pointer capped a 7-0 run to the game’s biggest lead.
