North Pocono’s Ella Clementoni drives between Abby Schneider, left, and Lily Scoblick during the basketball game at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
North Pocono’s Anna Clementoni shoots during the basketball game at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
North Pocono’s Alexis Silva prepares for a free throw during the basketball game at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Abington Heights’ Sarah Cantner (50) and Abby Schneider defend North Pocono’s Ella Clementoni during the basketball game at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
North Pocono’s Anna Clementoni, left, and Abington Heights’ Abby Schneider, on floor, try to gain control of a loose ball during the basketball game at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Abington Heights’ Sarah Cantner defends North Pocono’s Alexis Silva during the basketball game at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Abington Heights’ Abby Schneider calls out a play to her teammates during the basketball game at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Abington Heights’ Abby Schneider defends North Pocono’s Aleah Quinn during the basketball game at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Abington Heights’ Emma Coleman moves the ball during the basketball game against North Pocono at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Abington Heights’ Abby Schneider moves the ball against North Pocono’s Aleah Quinn during the basketball game at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Abington Heights’ Emma Coleman leaps toward the hoop during the basketball game against North Pocono at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Abington Heights head coach Deanna Klingman on the sidelines during the basketball game against North Pocono at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The North Pocono bench celebrates after their team scores during the basketball game at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Students hold signs say who they’re playing for during the Pink Game presentation before the basketball game between North Pocono and Abington Heights at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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North Pocono’s Ella Clementoni drives between Abby Schneider, left, and Lily Scoblick during the basketball game at Abington Heights High School on Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — North Pocono leaned on its defense to earn a crucial victory on an emotional evening.
The Lady Trojans held Abington Heights to 13 points over the final three quarters — including one field goal and five points in the second half — for a 44-27 win in a Lackawanna League Division I girls basketball first-place showdown Tuesday night at Abington Heights High School. It also was the 18th annual Pink Game as part of the local Coaches vs. Cancer initiative.
Ella Clementoni scored 12 points for No. 2 North Pocono (15-4 overall, 9-2 league). Anna Clementoni added nine points, Alexis Silva had seven and Celia DeCesare totaled six points and 11 rebounds. The Lady Trojans remain tied for first place in Division I with Scranton Prep, which beat Valley View on Tuesday, 66-52.
Sarah Cantner led No. 4 Abington Heights (8-3, 13-6) with 12 points.
“I told the kids at halftime that we were working very hard, but getting stretched out a bit in our matchup zone,” North Pocono coach Joe Ferguson said. “We just needed to calm down and they just listened. They’re tough. That’s what we’ve been doing all year to teams.”
Abington Heights led after one quarter, 14-9, as Cantner scored 10 of her points in the first. After a basket by Anna Clementoni, Avary Brister scored for the Lady Comets to make it 16-11. A putback by DeCesare and a 3-pointer by Julia Biko tied the score, but the Lady Comets countered with baskets by Judy Riff and Sydney Pallman. Silva scored for North Pocono, but Coleman’s basket with 48.8 seconds left gave Abington Heights a 22-18 halftime lead.
That, however, would be their last field goal until Coleman hit a 3-pointer 17 seconds into the fourth quarter — a span of 9:06. The Lady Comets shot just 1 for 21 from the field (1 for 12 from 3-point range) and 2 for 8 from the foul line with eight turnovers in the second half.
“It was the same defense we faced in the first quarter,” Abington Heights coach Deanna Klingman said. “We just couldn’t buy a basket. We had open shots, we had multiple layups. Credit to them. It was a tough night shooting the basketball. You’re not going to beat many teams scoring five points in a half. We’ve got to do better converting and be more consistent.”
Cantner hit the first of two free throws 14 seconds into the third for the Lady Comets’ lone point of the quarter.
Two technical free throws by Ella Clementoni, a basket by Aleah Quinn and a foul shot by Anna Clementoni tied the score at 23. Trinity Litts scored off a drive before consecutive 3-pointers by Ella Clementoni and Biko capped a 13-0 quarter-ending run that gave North Pocono a 31-23 lead heading to the fourth.
“At halftime, coach Ferg hyped us up and got us to come out strong,” DeCesare said. “He told us we needed to talk on defense and that’s just what we did. We figured out where Emma Coleman, their shooter, was and stopped her from scoring. We just stayed together and talked the whole time.”
Coleman’s 3-pointer and a foul shot by Cantner cut Abington Heights’ deficit to 31-27 with 5:44 left. However, the Lady Comets did not score again.
Anna Clementoni scored inside on consecutive possessions off feeds from her sister Ella. DeCesare put back her own missed shot, then was fouled on the ensuing possession and sank both free throws to give the Lady Trojans a 39-27 lead with 2:28 remaining. Silva sandwiched three foul shots around a coast-to-coast layup by Ella Clementoni to seal the victory.
“When I went into the game, coach Ferg told me to get offensive and defensive rebounds, so I kept that in my head,” DeCesare said of her board-and-bucket. “I just wanted that rebound, I wouldn’t let anyone else get it. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help of my coaches.”
DeCesare had a little extra motivation in the Pink Game. Her aunt was diagnosed with cancer several weeks ago.
“I was really playing for her tonight and keeping her in my mind,” DeCesare said.
“This was a really big game, we wanted it so much. This game means so much to us every year. Cancer definitely affects everyone, so it’s very emotional. We just had to put that in the game and play for the ones we love and fight for them.”
During a pregame ceremony, former Abington Heights and University of Scranton standout Hannah Kowalski gave an inspiring and emotional speech about her fight against cancer. Kowalski was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2023.