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Senior Halloran adjusts to role as AH team leader

By Don McGlynn dmcglynn@theabingtonjournal.com
Reporter/Photographer

Abington Heights High School senior Jamie Halloran, daughter of Charlie and Cindy Halloran, has been a powerful weapon for the Lady Comets basketball team for the last three years.

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Abington Heights senior Jamie Halloran blows by her Scranton defender.

Abington Journal Photo/ Stephanie Walkowski

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The 6 -feet-1-inch power forward, who earned a starting spot on the team in her sophomore year, is a threat on both offense and defense. Halloran helped the Lady Comets achieve a perfect regular season in 2007- 2008 and the Lackawanna Division I League title, as well as gained a reputation as a very versatile player.

“She’s good player and a hard worker,” said Lady Comets Head Coach Vince Bucciarelli. “Other teams know that stopping her is key to stopping our team.”

“She can do everything the guards can do, she has a nice soft touch, good outside shot and can handle the ball really well,” said Bucciarelli. “A lot of times when kids develop and they’re tall, they’re uncoordinated, but she’s very coordinated.”

It’s probably because of these reasons that Mount St. Mary’s College in Maryland wasted no time in securing Halloran for next season, recruiting her before this season even began.

“I can’t even imagine what it’s going to be like, it’s going to be very time consuming,” said Halloran. “I talked with Becky Burke (Halloran’s former teammate) -- she plays at the University of Louisville -- and she said it’s her life. But I’m really excited and ready.”

Before she makes her way to Maryland, Halloran has a few things she wants to accomplish the season, including getting used to her new role as team leader.

Halloran, Dakin Hewlett, Kayla Bucciarelli and Liz Kilzi were voted captains of the Lady Comets this season, and all four are taking the new position seriously.

“She was voted one of the four captains on the team because the kids see how hard she works and they look up to her,” said Bucciarelli.

“It’s an adjustment,” said Halloran. “I and the rest of the captains have to be the ones to get the team up, even if we’re having a rough night. It’s different, but I’m getting use to it.”

The Lady Comets are off to a good start this season, with a 6-3 record, and Halloran is confident the team will experience the same success they have in years past.

“This year, my goal is for us to win the league and get past the first round in states,” said Halloran. “We’ve gotten bumped the past two years in the first round.”

The Lady Comets next game will be this Thursday, Jan. 8, at Wallenpaupack High School. They will return home on Saturday, Jan. 17, against Wyoming Valley West.