SCRANTON – Ryan Horutz and Micah White are the two best divers in District 2.

The Abington Heights teammates proved that again on Friday night at the Les Richards Diving Championships at Scranton High School with an intense competition that came right down to a dramatic finish.

Horutz rallied for a win, scoring all three of his final dives at 50 or better for a final point total of 479.25. It was just enough to edge White, who led through the first 11 dives and finished with a score of 478.20.

The razor-thin margin forced officials to double-check the scores, but there was no doubt that two Comets stole the show at what could be a preview of the District 2 Class 3A Championships on Feb. 21.

“I am actually very surprised,” said Horutz, last year’s runner-up to his brother Ethan Horutz, who won four straight titles at the event. “This is the only time that I have beaten Micah all season. We push each other, and we are self-coached.

“Being able to win this, and with my brother winning four in a row, I can keep it in the family, which is pretty special.”

While the Abington Heights divers dominated the boys’ competition, Tunkhannock’s Sophia Sobeck was the most consistent diver in the girls’ event. She scored 320.20 for her 11 attempts to capture the gold medal.

West Scranton’s Elle Brewster was second (262.85), and teammate Lorenny Almonte was third (223.25). The top three finishers were the only ones to complete all 11 dives successfully.

“I was really, really happy,” Sobeck said. “Especially because I just learned two new dives, like two days ago, that I just competed today. I was really proud of myself for not failing or getting unsatisfactory on either of them.”

In the boys’ competition, White and Horutz set the pace early and were first and second throughout all 11 dives.

White had all five dives score better than 40 points. His best, an inward 1.5 somersault pike, earned him a 57.6, a total of 243.4, and the early lead.

“I think that I did really well,” White said. “I am very happy that they got a new board here. There was a lot of bounce on that, and I did a lot of good dives, so I am proud of myself.”

Horutz had two dives earn him more than 50 points. His inward 1.5 somersault pike with a 2.4 degree of difficulty scored 50.4, and his forward two somersault pike with a 2.3 degree of difficulty added up to 50.6 from the judge. His effort gave him 212.9 points after five dives.

The margin grew in favor of White after the semifinals. He had two dives earn at least 40. His reverse dive in the pike position and a back 1.5 somersault tuck both helped push his total to 357.55.

Horutz finished the semifinals with 321.05 total points.

He upped his game in the final round. Horutz’s dives had massive degrees of difficulty. On his first dive, an inward two-somersault tuck with a 2.8 degree of difficulty scored a 50. 4. He followed with a 50.6 on a forward 1.5 somersault, one twist free, and then made his move with a forward 2.5 somersault pike with a 2.6 degree of difficulty. It scored a massive 57.2 to push his total into the lead at 479.25.

“I felt good,” Horutz said. “I feel like there were a couple of places where I could gain some more points. I really needed the extra degree of difficulty here to really push up the scores. I took all of my hard drives and put them on the list here.”

White, the defending District 2 Class 3A champion, wasn’t too bad himself.

He entered his final dive with a score of 434.8. He needed a boost to leap back over Horutz. White scored a 43.4 on his inward 2.5 somersault tuck with a 3.1 degree of difficulty for a total of 478.20.

“I am very excited for districts,” White said. “I am going to give it the best that I can.”

Sobeck led the entire girls’ competition.

After the first five dives, she had 144.2 points, with her best attempt, a forward 1.5 somersault pike, receiving a 31.45 from the judges. She extended the lead with two dives, scoring better than 30 in the semifinals.

Brewster started to close the gap with 32.3 to start the finals, but Sobeck responded with her best score of the night. She executed a forward two-somersault tuck with a 2.2 degree of difficulty for a 36.3 and a total score of 320. 2.

LES RICHARDS DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

GIRLS RESULTS

Sophia Sorbeck (TUN) 320.2, Elle Brewster (WS) 262.85, Lorenny Almonte Martinez (WS) 223.25.

BOYS RESULTS

Ryan Horutz (AH) 479.25, Micah White (AH) 478.20, Blayne Roosa (TUN) 373.85, Reed Sawicki (TUN) 290.95, David Gundling (TUN) 243.05, Michael Davis (WS) 240.4, Silas Kameen (DV) 236.45, Israel Aparicio (WS) 219.5.