WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — District championship weekend means something a little different in District II. That's because all 11 championship games are played at the same site: Mohegan Sun Arena.
For some teams, just playing there is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but there are teams that make playing in the arena a regular thing: teams like the Abington Heights girls. For this senior class, their title game Saturday against Pittston Area will be their 4th straight district final at Mohegan Sun Arena, something they truly appreciate.
"I got to come here my freshman year and every year since then," Abington Heights senior guard Anna Scoblick said. "So I definitely think that is an advantage to be here all 4 years. So we have a really young team this year and I am really excited that some of them will get a chance to play here for the first time. I think that it's the depth perception and I think that it's just a big environment. I feel that it's really easy to get your energy speed up a little but nerves but I think that will all settle out by the beginning of the game."
"I have been here every 4 years since high school but we did lose our sophomore year to Dallas," Abington Heights senior forward Allison Dammer added. "So I am very excited for our underclassmen to get this experience because I know every year I enjoy it."
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So does Al Callejas. We shared the Holy Cross boys basketball coach's story earlier this year, coaching while battling cancer. He has his team back in the district championship game this year. The Crusaders will play Old Forge Saturday in the Class 2A title, an opportunity Callejas says he's thankful for.
"I think the fact that we have the opportunity to play in an arena like this most district don't have that opportunity and there are some really nice gyms around," Callejas said. "This place is something special and that is part of the reason that I brought are kids down today is because to get a look at this because it is something different. Their mouths are wide open today and their eyes are wide open today, and better today than Saturday. We will see."