Representing the Abington Heights boys basketball team at Coaches vs. Cancer Media Day are, from left: Robby Lucas, Conner Abel, Chris Begley and Jordan Shaffer.
Tom Robinson | For Abington Journal
SCRANTON — Abington Heights returns two starters from a team that produced the first perfect boys basketball regular season in school history, but the Comets are also moving forward without three multi-year fixtures in the lineup and the winningest coach in District 2 history.
Robby Lucas, one of four double figures scorers, and Jordan Shaffer, one of the team’s two leaders in 3-pointers, are back from a balanced starting lineup in which all five players averaged more than nine points per game.
Missing following graduation are all-staters Mason Fedor and Will Marion and another all-star in sharpshooter Ryan Nealon.
The changes are not only on the court.
J.C. Show has taken over as head coach, following the retirement of Ken Bianchi, last season’s Pennsylvania Class 5A Coach of the Year choice by state sports writers.
Lucas, a 6-foot-3 senior, has the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor, both on the perimeter and battling on the inside.
Shaffer, a 6-4 junior, is already established as one of the top long-range shooters in District 2.
“I feel like I have made progress on the defensive end of the floor,” Shaffer said during an interview at the Coaches vs. Cancer Media Day event at Riverfront Sports. “I’m working on getting downhill and getting to the basket to expand my game and open the jump shot more as the season goes.”
Chris Begley, a 5-8 junior, earned an opening day start, helping to run the offense.
“Last year, I played behind Will,” Begley said. “I’m just trying to find a spot to help my team in any way possible.”
Two other juniors, guard Andrew Kettel and 6-5 center Carter Plantz, opened the season in the starting lineup.
Senior Conner Abel was one of two players who entered the first game before the first quarter was over.
“Obviously, there were a lot of changes with kids graduating and the new coach,” Abel said. “But, we’re still focused on getting the playbook right and obviously hustling, playing good defense and rebounding, doing everything we can to make this team as good as possible.”
The other early sub was Shawn Theodore. Along with Shane Brower, they were the top two receivers on the district championship football team and have joined the basketball program for their senior years.
“They are great kids with great attitudes and I’m confident they will put themselves in position to help us,” said Show, who followed up an all-state career at Abington Heights by playing National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I basketball at Bucknell and Binghamton, then professionally, including in the NBA’s G League.
Harshal Patel, a 6-4 junior, and Cooper Manning, a 6-3 freshman, also saw significant minutes in the opener.
“The lineup is something that I will continue to evaluate,” Show said. “I do think we have talented kids in the program that need developing. The best way to develop them and help us get better is to give them playing time.
“We need to find some chemistry, so I’m looking to finalize that sooner rather than later, but I would not say that I’m set on a certain group yet.”
