Girls Class AAA

Notre Dame-G.P. (23-6) vs. Hughesville (25-3) at

Berwick, 7:30 p.m.

Notre Dame-Green Pond Road to Sweet 16: In District 11, beat Northern Lehigh, 44-37; lost to Executive Education, 48-33; beat Pine Grove, 44-41; in states, beat West Catholic, 58-41

Notre Dame-Green Pond notes: The Crusaders lost their bid for a third straight District 11 championship against eventual champion Executive Education but came back strong from that and are making a second straight second round appearance. Dunmore rallied late a year ago to win a double overtime thriller, 65-59 in last year’s second round. Notre Dame thundered back from an 0-3 start, winning 18 of its final 19 regular season games and reaching the Colonial League championship where Lehighton snapped its 14-game winning streak. The Crusaders are a balanced team with all five starters averaging at least 5.8 points per game. Ava Shonk leads the way at 9.5 and is followed by Brenna Hamsmerstone at 8.5, Riley Boyle at 7.1, Ella Schweitzer at 6.6 and Ava Hobbie at 5.8. Hammerstone has hit 51 3-pointers and scored 18 against Dunmore a year ago, draining six treys. Schweitzer scored 13 points in that game and Shonk has connected on 34 3-pointers.

Hughesville Road to Sweet 16: In District 4, beat Bloomsburg, 49-22; Mount Carmel, 40-25 and Loyalsock, 45-38; in states, beat Columbia, 63-32

Hughesville notes: The Spartans are making their third straight second round appearance and their 25 wins are the most by a Hughesville team during the 2000s. Hughesville won its second district title, as well as its first league crown since 2007. The Spartans have allowed all four playoff opponents to fewer than 40 points and rallied from a six-point second quarter deficit against Loyalsock. Like Notre Dame, Hughesville has displayed good balance and at least four players scored in every quarter against Columbia. Kendall Hamm and Casey Schultz have provided a lift off the bench and Allyssa King and Vivian Draper helped set the early tone against Columbia. Maddie Smith had seven rebounds with six steals and Anna Easton five blocks and three steals. Hughesville dropped its season opener, but won 20 of its next 21 games and recorded its second straight 20-win regular season.

Winner plays: Either Executive Education or Dunmore

Boys Class AAAA

Lewisburg (22-4) vs. Pope John Paul II (22-4) at Martz Hall, Pottsville, 6 p.m.

Lewisburg Road to Sweet 16: In District 4, beat Mount Carmel, 58-42 and Montoursville, 56-53; in states, beat Big Spring, 70-54

Lewisburg notes: Lewisburg captured its first Heartland Conference championship, avenging two regular season losses, before winning its first district title since 2022. The Dragons are making their first second round appearance since then and are trying to make the Elite 8 for the first time during the 2000s. Lewisburg made quick work of Big Spring, building a 24-4 first quarter lead and has won 17 straight games. It also has made an eight-win improvement from last season. All five starters average 9.1 or more points per game. LJ Tucker, Nazir Meredith and Cooper Mowry were first team HAC-II selections and Rebira Jemana and Cortland Michaels second teamers. Jemana also was Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season. Tucker scored 21 points against Big Spring and Michaels averages six assists per game. Meredith grabbed 16 rebounds against Big Spring.

Pope John II Road to Sweet 16: In District 1, beat Lower Moreland, 71-44 and Bishop Shanahan, 82-74; in states, beat Murrell Dobbins, 59-28

Pope John II notes: The Panthers avenged last year’s District 1 tournament loss to Shanahan and are making their second state tournament appearance in three years. Jack Kessler put on a show in the first round, going 10 of 10 from the field, including 8 of 8 from 3-point range, and scoring a career-high 28 points in three quarters. Jason Green added 11 points. PJP is an experienced team, featuring six seniors. The Panthers built a 31-14 halftime lead against Murrell Dobbins despite turning the ball over nine times during the second quarter. PJP has shown quality balance throughout the season and averages 65.8 points per game. The Panthers won 16 of their final 18 regular season games after starting 3-2.

Winner plays: Archbishop Carroll or Bishop McDevitt

By CHRIS MASSE