Abington Heights and Dallas are set to defend their District 2 Tag Team Tournament Championships as the No. 1 seeds for their respective tournaments.
In Class 3A, Abington Heights in Coach Art Comstock’s return to training, won the Lackawanna League with an undefeated season. The Comets are heavily favored to win their ninth consecutive Tag Team Championship due to their dominance in the league.
Abington Heights (13-0) is at home Monday against No. 8 West Scranton (4-9). The Comets’ starting singles roster of Praneel Mallaiah, Sam Christman and Domenic Peters is 32-2 combined.
Scranton (10-3), which has had a rebounding season, is the No. 2 seed and will host No. 7 Crestwood (3-6) on Monday. The Knights are led by No. 2 in singles, Dhruvraj Parmar, who is 11-2 in the league.
Third-seeded Delaware Valley (9-4) hosts No. 6 Wallenpaupack (5-8) and No. 4 North Pocono (7-6), led by No. 1 singles player Patrick Cawley, who is 10-3, hosts fifth seed Wilkes-Barre Area (4-5).
The winners will advance to Wednesday’s semi-finals which begin at 1 p.m. at Kirby Park. The final will start tentatively at 3:30 p.m.
In Class 2A, Dallas (9-0) finished undefeated in the Wyoming Valley Conference. The Mountaineers are led by a talented starting lineup that includes Kyle Chesman, Tucker Chesman and Lucas Carver, and they open the tournament with a home game Monday against eighth seed Honesdale (7-7).
Valley View (12-1) is the No. 2 seed and will host No. 7 Holy Redeemer (5-4). The Cougars are trailed for first place in singles by Luke Kotcho, who finished with a league record of 12-1.
Scranton Prep (11-2), which reached the District Finals last season, is the No. 3 seed. The Cavaliers host No. 6 MMI Prep (6-4) Monday at 4 p.m.
If the seeds hold, the potential is there for a Valley View-Scranton Prep rematch in the semis. Valley View upset the Cavaliers, 3-2, in the regular season.
Region No. 5 Wyoming (6-3) plays fourth-seeded Wyoming Seminary (8-2) in the other Class 2A quarterfinal on Monday.
The winners of the quarter-finals will advance to Wednesday’s semi-finals which begin at 11:30 a.m. at Kirby Park. The final is tentatively scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Monday quarter-finals, 4 p.m.
7-Crestwood (3-6) to 2-Scranton (10-3)
6-Wallenpaupack (5-8) at 3-Delaware Valley (9-4)
5-Wilkes-Barre Area (4-5) at 4-North Pocono (7-6)
8-West Scranton (4-9) at 1-Abington Heights (13-0)
Quarter-final winners at Kirby Park, 1 p.m.
Semi-final winners at Kirby Park, 3:30 p.m.
Monday quarter-finals, 4 p.m.
7-Saint Rédempteur (5-4) to 2-Valley view (12-1)
6-MMI Preparation (6-4) to 3-Scranton Preparation (11-2)
5-Wyoming Area (6-3) to 4-Wyoming Seminary (8-2)
8-Honesdale (7-7) at 1-Dallas (9-0)
Quarter-final winners at Kirby Park, 11:30 a.m.
Semi-final winners at Kirby Park, 2:30 p.m.
