Monday’s slate of high school games featured intense contests and several players reaching career milestones.

Now, the pursuit of Lackawanna League division titles continues to heat up.

Fourth-ranked Scranton Prep (14-4 overall, 9-1) overcame a 15-point, first-half deficit to edge No. 5 Valley View, 57-54 on Monday. Combined with No. 3 Abington Heights (14-5, 11-0) 64-42 win over North Pocono, the stage is set for a showdown in Division I on Thursday at the Xavier Center at 7:15 p.m.

The last time the Cavaliers faced the Comets on Jan. 13, Abington Heights built a 48-35 halftime lead and rolled to an 84-61 win.

“Us falling behind (against Valley View) was very similar to the Abington Heights game,” Scranton Prep guard Charlie Skoff said Monday. “We punched early and didn’t respond. Coach (Larry) Reagan made it a real point of emphasis that we have to come together in those situations.”

In the first meeting, Jordan Shaffer scored 35 points to lead Abington Heights. Andrew Kettel scored 16 points and Cooper Manning added 12 as the Comets took advantage of their size advantage.

Packy Doherty led Scranton Prep with 19 points and Brody Martin added 15.

Scranton Prep is in a tight race for the No. 1 seed in the District 2 Class 4A playoffs. It leads the standings with a power rating of .744. Dallas is second, Valley View third and Wyoming Area fourth.

The top four seeds host quarterfinal games.

Abington Heights leads the District 2 Class 5A standings and has clinched a bye and home game for the semifinals.

In the aftermath of its second loss to Scranton Prep this season, Valley View is in a critical situation if it wants to earn the No. 2 seed for the District 2 Class 4A playoffs.

The Cougars (16-3, 8-3) are at Delaware Valley (11-8, 4-7) on Thursday at 6:45 p.m. They need to finish the season on a winning streak, which includes a home game against Abington Heights next week, to gain ground on Dallas and to stave off Wyoming Area.

Valley View pulled away from a tie game against Delaware Valley to win 60-50 in the first-half meeting. The Warriors hold the No. 3 seed for the District 2-4 Class 6A subregional playoffs.

In other Division I games, Wallenpaupack (6-11, 2-8) is at Scranton (7-11, 4-6), and West Scranton (6-12, 3-7) is at North Pocono (4-15, 1-10).

Division II

Riverside junior Brayden Rose and Old Forge senior Cameron Parker each reached 1,000 points in their careers Monday.

That keeps them focused on the most important thing Thursday night: The Triboro Rivalry game.

Riverside (18-1, 10-1) is tied with Dunmore (17-2, 10-1) for first place in Division II. Old Forge (13-5, 8-3) is playing the role of spoiler.

Nico Antoniacci scored 40 points to lead Riverside to a hard-fought 68-61 win over Old Forge in the previous meeting. Cameron Parker had 22 points, and Logan Fanning, a 6-foot-7 senior center, had 18 for Old Forge.

Rose is on a scoring tear, averaging 31.6 points per game in his last five.

Riverside (.771) holds a slight lead over Dunmore (.724) in the District 2 Class 3A standings. The No. 1 seed draws a bye in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Old Forge leads the District 2 Class 2A standings. The Blue Devils’ (.648) strength of schedule provides an advantage over Susquehanna (.585), which is trying to track them down while playing in Division III.

Holy Cross (11-8, 7-4) plays at Dunmore (17-2, 10-1) on Thursday at 7:15 p.m.

Dunmore still has sights set on a division title. Holy Cross is looking to build momentum heading into the District 2 Class 3A playoffs. The Crusaders are going to be no better than the No. 4 seed and are headed for a likely matchup with rival Holy Redeemer and a bracket pairing with the No. 1 seed.

In the first meeting, Brayden Canavan scored 20 points, Nate Aviles had 16, and Carter Sload added 12 in a 56-49 win. Canavan has 976 career points for the Bucks.

Colin Farrell scored 19 points, and CJ Thompson had 14 for Holy Cross, which played without injured guard Adam Badyrka (21.2 ppg.).

Mid Valley (7-12, 3-8) is at Honesdale (7-12, 3-8) at 6:45 p.m., and Western Wayne (3-16, 0-11) is at Lakeland (8-11, 3-8) at 6:45 p.m. in other Division II games.

Division III

Elk Lake (18-1, 11-0) plays at Lackawanna Trail (13-5, 8-3) in the first of its crucial games in Division III.

The Warriors have won 24 of 25 league games in the last two seasons. John Heitsman is scoring 17.2 points per game and has 872 career points. Chase Pond is also averaging 17.2 points per game.

Lackawanna Trail’s chances at a division title took a hit with a second loss to Susquehanna on Monday. With three games remaining, the Lions need to win out and get some help. Logan Seigle is averaging 12.9 points per game and Jimmy Phillips is averaging 11.7.

Susquehanna (15-4, 10-1) plays at Carbondale Area (3-16, 2-9) on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. The Sabers can give themselves a shot at first place at Elk Lake when the two teams meet Monday.

Susquehanna’s Griffin Fisk leads Division III in scoring with 20.8 points per game. Mason Keyes is averaging 15.3 points for the Sabers.

Montrose (8-11, 6-5) is at Mountain View (4-14, 2-9) at 6:45 p.m., and Forest City (0-19, 0-11) is at Blue Ridge (7-10, 5-6) at 6:45 p.m. in Division III.