A look at Saturday’s state basketball playoff games through capsules
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Girls Class AAAA
Jersey Shore (17-8) at Allentown
Central Catholic (15-10), 1 p.m.
Jersey Shore road to states: In District 4, beat Athens, 64-35 and Lewisburg, 57-51; lost to Central Columbia, 63-47
Jersey Shore notes: Jersey Shore is making its third straight state tournament appearance and reached its third straight district final. The Bulldogs also won a share of their third straight HAC-I championships. Seniors Peyton Dincher, Cailyn Schall, Hannah Heaton and Sophia Stover have helped Jersey Shore win 69 games the past four years. Dincher became the fourth area player of the 2000s to reach 2,000 career points last Saturday, joining Kelly Mazzante, Tierney Pfirman and Maria Morgan. She won a third straight area scoring title as well this season. Schall is another four-year starter and averages 10.3 points per game. Stover leads the team in steals and Heaton had a strong game against Lewisburg in the district semifinals. Kylie Schall has played well off the bench throughout the postseason and Avery DePasqua has had a breakout year, while averaging a steal per game.
Central Catholic road to states: In District 11, beat Tamaqua, 45-31; Northwestern Lehigh, 51-41, OT, and Palmterton, 45-33
Central Catholic notes: Central Catholic captured its third straight district championship, and 25th overall, as the No. 4 seed and has relied on stingy defense throughout the season. The Vikettes are making their fifth straight state tournament appearance, reaching the quarterfinals in 2023.
Milly Wolf averages a team-high 13.4 points per game, while Morgan Seagreaves averages 11.1. Wolf scored 24 points in the overtime win against Northwestern Lehigh. Central Catholic broke open a close game against Palmerton late, outscoring it 13-4 in the final. The program is one of the most tradition-laden in Pennsylvania, having won seven state championships, including five straight from 2001-05.
Winner plays: Scranton Prep or Delone Catholic.
Lewisburg (19-6) at Forest Hills (16-8), 5 p.m.
Lewisburg road to states: In District 4, beat Milton, 46-8; lost to Jersey Shore, 57-51; beat Selinsgrove, 57-41
Lewisburg notes: Lewisburg is making its third straight state tournament appearance and is coming off an impressive performance against Selinsgrove. Maddy Moyers (19.5 ppg) scored a career-high 35 points, making 23 of 26 shots from the field and foul line. Ava Motto and Addie Wuerdeman hit tide-turning 3-pointers, Addy Shedleski heated up in the fourth quarter to help put the game away and Lauren Schwartz and Faridah Aboueid played well off the bench. Teagan Osunde has nine double-doubles and 29 points with 15 rebounds in a late-season win against District 4 champion Central Columbia. Coach Brent Sample won his 100th career game last Saturday and Lewisburg returns all but two players next season. This also is the third straight year that Lewisburg has increased its win total from the previous year.
Forest Hills road to states: In District 6, beat Penn Cambria, 65-51
Forest Hills notes: Forest Hills is a decorated program which has captured five straight district championships and that is making its 11th straight state tournament appearance. The Rangers went 25-4 a year ago, reaching the second round. That also made it six consecutive 20-win seasons. Junior guard Aivah Maul is having a big season, averaging 18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 steals per game. She scored 24 points in the district final. Morgan Gdula averages 9.7 points and 4.9 assists, while Eva Myers produces 8.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Like Lewisburg, Forest Hills starts just one senior. Forest Hills has won eight of its last nine games.
Winner plays: Lancaster Catholic or Landsale Catholic
Boys Class AAA
Minersville (22-5) vs.
Warrior Run (20-7) at
Loyalsock, 4 p.m.
Minersville road to states: In District 11, beat Notre Dame-Green Pond, 52-50, OT; lost to Catasauqua, 61-50
Minersville notes: The Miners are making their second state tournament appearance in three years and have two common opponents with Warrior Run in Danville and Mount Carmel. Minersville lost to the Ironmen, but beat Mount Carmel and has won eight of its last 10 games. Like Warrior Run, Minersville also has played a tough schedule. Shazier Bethea averages a team-high 15.4 points, 4.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds and two steals per game. Bethea also has drained 65 3-pointers, making an impressive 41 % of his attempts. Dante Carr is tough in the post, producing 14.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Bradley Kostishak adds nine points per game. Those three all started last year and all averaged in double figures there, helping Minersville go 15-8. All five starters average at least five points per game.
Warrior Run road to states: In District 4, beat Towanda, 55-19 and North Penn-Mansfield, 58-50; lost to Troy, 44-41
Warrior Run notes: Warrior Run is making its third state tournament appearance of the 2000s and the first since 2020. The Defenders played a riveting final against Troy with the lead changing hands three hands in the last 80 seconds. Warrior Run has increased its total in each of the last three seasons and has reached 20 for the first time of the 2000s. It also won a share of its first league championship in the 21st century, sharing the HAC-III crown with Mifflinburg. James Keifer scored 17 points against Troy and Landon Polcyn scored 18 in a comeback semifinal win against North Penn-Mansfield. Aiden McKee scored his 1,000th career point earlier this season and senior Cooper Wilkins hit buzzer-beating 3-pointers in dramatic wins against Lewisburg and Mount Carmel.
Winner plays: West Catholic or Antietam
Boys Class AA
Muncy (20-7) at
Clarion (19-7), 1 p.m.
Muncy road to states: In District 4, beat St. John Neumann, 55-49 and Northeast Bradford, 55-49, OT; lost to Northwest, 58-34
Muncy notes: Muncy is making its fourth straight state tournament appearance a year after graduating three starters. The Indians also have recorded three consecutive 20-win seasons and repeated as Mid-Penn West Division champions. Muncy won hard-fought contests in the district quarterfinals and semifinals, holding NEB scoreless in overtime of the semifinals. The Indians feature strong balance and seven players are averaging more than five points per game. Nate Rogers and Stiles Eyer both average more than eight points and seven rebounds per game. Kohen Meyer has come on strong down the stretch and averages 8.3 points, while fellow post player Ken Hampe collected three double-doubles in four games at one point this season. Eyer and Kyran Lisembee both average more than three assists per game and Dominic Guardini leads the team in scoring in his first year starting.
Clarion road to states: In District 9, beat Keystone, 53-48; lost to Redbank Valley, 47-35
Clarion notes: Clarion is making its sixth straight state tournament appearance, and first as a Class AA program since the streak began in 2020. The Bobcats were Class A from 2021-24. They split two regular season games against Redbank Valley, and like Muncy, are a well-rounded team. Three players average in double figures and four produce at least nine points per game. Nathan Frederick averages a team-best 13 points per game, Dylan Smail 10.8, Derek Smail 10.0 and Mason Burford 9.1.Derek Smail is the team’s only senior. Frederick has hit a team-high 37 3-pointers and is an 83% foul shooter.
Winner plays: Portage or Northgate