Abington Heights Defeats Rival Scranton Prep in Boys Basketball

Comets take control of division with second win over Cavaliers this season

Feb. 5, 2026 at 10:23pm

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Abington Heights defeated rival Scranton Prep 69-58 in a key Lackawanna League Division I boys basketball matchup. Jordan Shaffer scored 27 points and had 7 rebounds, Andrew Kettel added 14 points and 5 rebounds, and Cooper Manning hit 3 key 3-pointers for the third-ranked Comets. Abington Heights now holds a 2-game lead in the division with 2 games left to play.

Why it matters

The Abington Heights-Scranton Prep rivalry is one of the fiercest in Pennsylvania high school sports, with both schools having storied athletic programs and championship traditions. This game had major implications for the Lackawanna League Division I title race, with Abington Heights now in the driver's seat.

The details

Abington Heights jumped out to an early lead, but Scranton Prep fought back to make it a close game. The Comets then became more deliberate on offense, and a 8-0 run to start the second half gave them a lead they would not relinquish. Abington Heights made 9-of-10 free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

The players

Jordan Shaffer

A senior who scored 27 points and had 7 rebounds for Abington Heights.

Andrew Kettel

Scored 14 points and had 5 rebounds for Abington Heights. Spent time around the Scranton Prep program growing up as his father was the head coach there.

Cooper Manning

A sophomore who hit 3 key 3-pointers and finished with 11 points for Abington Heights.

Packy Doherty

Scored 17 points for Scranton Prep.

Brody Martin

Scored 16 points for Scranton Prep.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this game was going to be tough. We had to stick together and face adversity. Obviously, emotions are high. The match is one of the best rivalries in the state. I think everybody came to play. We knew that we had to stay together to win this game because we knew it was going to be a dogfight.”

— Andrew Kettel, Abington Heights player (thetimes-tribune.com)

“Coach JC (Show) had a great game plan coming in. My teammates did a great job finding me, and I just knocked them down. My teammates and coaches have a lot of trust in me. I just try to get better every day. My teammates mean everything to me, and as long as they believe in me, I believe in myself.”

— Cooper Manning, Abington Heights player (thetimes-tribune.com)

“We are a confident team. We have a lot of older guys who understand what we need to do to win big games, especially late in games. With a team like theirs, we knew they were going to come out swinging and keep punching. We had to stay level-headed and stay grounded to finish the job.”

— Jordan Shaffer, Abington Heights player (thetimes-tribune.com)

What’s next

Abington Heights has two games remaining in the regular season as they look to clinch the Lackawanna League Division I title. Scranton Prep needs to win out and get some help to force a tie atop the standings.

The takeaway

This hard-fought rivalry game between two of the top boys basketball teams in the Lackawanna League showcased the intense competition and high stakes involved when these two storied programs meet on the court. Abington Heights' veteran leadership and composure down the stretch proved to be the difference in this important divisional matchup.