A year ago, the Loyalsock girls’ basketball team captured a 3A state championship. They lived the dream and, starting this weekend, the Lancers and nine other area teams begin chasing those Hershey dreams again.

The following is a look at the 10 games involving area teams which will be played tonight and tomorrow afternoon.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

GIRLS CLASS AAA

Loyalsock (18-8) became Lycoming County’s first girls’ state champion last March but faces a tough opening round opponent as it hosts Holy Redeemer. The Lancers (18-8) are making their 10th straight state tournament appearance and reached their eighth straight final last Saturday, losing 45-38 against Hughesville.

Two years ago, Loyalsock rebounded from a district final loss against Hughesville and reached the state’s Final 4. The Lancers have overcome several injuries throughout the season to again reach states and came within a shot of becoming the only team to beat 4A district champion Central Columbia this season.

Redeemer was five seconds from capturing the District 2 championship before a last-second 3-pointer lifted Dunmore to a 37-35 win last Saturday. The Royals dropped a two-point heartbreaker against Hughesville in last year’s first round and return a quality core from that team. Bella Boylan averages 13.2 points per game and McKenzie Chimock 12.5. The Royals are making their fourth straight state playoff appearance and have won six of their last eight games with the lone losses coming against Dunmore and 6A state title contender Hazleton.

Redeemer has made 97 3-pointers with Chimock hitting 35. The Royals average 49.3 points per game.

—Hughesville (24-3) plays Columbia at Williamsport’s Magic Dome. The Spartans won their second district championship in three years and are trying to reach the second round for a third straight year.

The Spartans beat three teams in districts for the third time each, going 13-0 against HAC-III teams this season. Hughesville returns all but two players from last year’s team and held three district playoff opponents to 38 or fewer points.

Columbia (17-9) finished third in District 3 and was a shot from reaching the final, losing 35-34 against Pequea Valley. The Crimson Tide bounced back in the third-place game, downing Oley Valley, 49-45. They are making their fourth state tournament appearance in five years and have made a five-win improvement from last year. Lexie Droege averages 11.4 points per game, Marianha Crawley 7.8 and Alivia Crawley 6.0. All five starters average at least five points. Columbia shared the Lancaster Lebanon Division IV title with Pequea Valley, both going 9-1 and splitting their two regular-season games.

GIRLS CLASS AA

Muncy captured its third straight district championship nine days ago and hosts District 2 runner-up Wyoming Seminary. The Indians (22-4) avenged a Mid-Penn title loss by beating Northwest in the semifinals for a second straight year before defeating Southern Columbia, 44-43 for the championship.

Muncy has allowed the fewest points per game among District 4 teams and has its most wins in a season during the 2000s. The Indians won a second straight Mid-Penn West Division crown and most of the players also were district champions in soccer last fall.

Wyoming Seminary (17-7) nearly won the District 2 title but defending champion Mountain View stormed back late and won, 47-43. The Blue Knights are making their first state tournament appearance since 1999 and junior Ella Stambaugh is one of the state’s premier players. She has committed to play at Richmond and averages 21.9 points per game. Ellie Kersey averages 7.7 points and Stella Ruiz 5.0. Seminary has hit 121 3-pointers with Stambaugh making 40, Kersey 32 and Ruiz 24. The Royals allowed just 39 points in two district playoff wins and have big wins against Holy Redeemer and Lake-Lehman.

BOYS CLASS AAAA

Montoursville (18-7) plays its first state playoff game since 2020 when its hosts Valley View. The Warriors have made a seven-win improvement this season and gave top-seeded Lewisburg a scare in the district final, cutting a nine-point deficit with 85 seconds remaining to two with 10 seconds left.

Montoursville had not won a playoff game the previous four years but ended that streak in impressive fashion, routing Danville in the quarterfinals and rallying past Shamokin in the semifinals. Shea Ulmer earned HAC-II first team honors, Kingston Fisher and Elijah Eck were second teamers and point guard Cam Cintron an all-defense selection. The Warriors start three sophomores, possessing a nice blend of experience and youth.

Valley View (19-6) is making its fourth straight state playoff appearance and reached last year’s Final 4, losing to eventual champion Devon Prep. The Cougars nearly reached the District 2 final, but dropped a 46-43 semifinal at the buzzer to Dallas before downing Wyoming Area, 61-50 in the third place game.

Sophomore Case Roe averages 14.4 points per game, junior Michael Muto 12.0, senior Noah Symuleski 10.7 and senior Jagger Roe 9.6. All four are 6-feet or taller. Valley View averages 56.6 points per game and is 3-5 against state qualifiers.

—Lewisburg (21-4) earned its first district championship since 2022 and has won 16 straight games, also winning HAC-II and Heartland Conference titles. The Green Dragons have made a 13-win improvement from two years ago and are making their fourth state tournament appearance in five years.

LJ Tucker, Nazir Meredith and Cooper Mowry were named first team HAC-II all-stars and Cortland Michaels and Rebira Jemana second teamers. All five are averaging more than nine points per game and Jemana was named HAC-II Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season.

Big Spring (14-11) defeated Susquenita, 60-44 before losing to Bishop McDevitt and Schuylkill Valley to finish fourth in District 3. Big Spring is making its second straight state tournament appearance, losing to Valley View in last year’s opening round.

Sophomore guard Landon Sallie is one of District 3’s best players and is averaging 28.6 points per game and earning Mid-Penn Capital Division Player of the Year honors. The 6-2 guard also averages four 3-pointers per game. Highlighting the team’s youth and potential, freshman Joven Stine has had a super debut season, averaging 16.8 points per game. No other player averages more than 5.9 per game after Sallie and Stine.

BOYS CLASS A

Sullivan County (22-4) is making its 11th state playoff appearance in 16 years, and won its third district championship in thrilling fashion eight nights ago. There, Sullivan erased a late third quarter, 13-point deficit and dethroned previous champion North Penn-Liberty, 58-54. Six players scored at least seven points and the Griffins have their most wins since 2018.

Sullivan is seeking its first state tournament win since that season and also won the Mid-Penn East Division title. It has made a nine-win improvement this season and Tucker Blasi was named Mid-Penn Defensive Player of the Year for a second time. Colin King grabbed 14 rebounds in a semifinal win against Lourdes and was a first team selection.

Coventry Christian (22-5) won 16 straight games following a 1-2 start and had won 20 of 21 games before losing to District 3 champion High Point Baptist in the semifinals and, 48-43 to Dayspring Christian in the third place game. Junior guard Byrce Correia averages 20.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, adding 77 3-pointers. Carter Correia is at 14.4 points per game and has hit 74 treys. Elijah Cyrus is tough inside, averaging a double-double of 10.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Jomaree Moon averages 7.8 points per game.

—North Penn-Liberty (16-10) is making its fourth state tournament appearance in six seasons and seeking its first state win. The Mounties also have played in four district finals during that span and are a balanced team with three players averaging in double figures in scoring and/or rebounding. Landon Mattern scored 17 third quarter points against Sullivan in less than four minutes and Luke Kreger and Evan McTish have had excellent senior seasons. Sophomore Conner Lewis burst onto the scene and grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 14 straight games at one point. North Penn-Liberty made it back to the district final and states after graduating three starters from last year’s championship squad.

York Country Day (21-4) finished as the District 3 runner-up, losing to defending champion High Point, 51-49 after leading the game for the first three quarters. YCD had won 15 of its previous 16 games entering that contest and lost in last year’s opening round of states to eventual finalist Sankofa Academy.

YCA features a balanced attack with six players averaging 7.2 or more points per game and all five starters at 9.2 or higher. Ryan Maus leads the way at 17.6 points per game and is followed by Elijah Slaughter (14.3), Isaiah White (11.6) and Johnson Iongo (10.8).

SATURDAY’S GAMES

GIRLS CLASS AAAA

Lewisburg (13-12) is making its fourth straight state tournament appearance and overcame the loss of dynamic senior point guard Maddy Moyers who tore her ACL last summer. She is part of a strong senior class which has made states each season and Lewisburg has played its best basketball down the stretch, winning five of six games and pushing Central Columbia harder than any other district playoff team in the semifinals. Lewisburg clinched its berth by defeating Jersey Shore, 50-40 in the third-place game.

Senior forward Teagan Osunde missed the start of the season but heated up as she worked her way back and had 18 points, 15 rebounds and five assists against Jersey Shore. She and fellow senior Ava Motto were first team HAC-II all-stars and Addy Shedleski has 24 points with 15 rebounds in her last two games. Lauren Schwartz was a HAC-II defensive all-star and freshman India Walker is part of a young core which could help Lewisburg continue excelling next year.

Penn Cambria (19-5) captured the District 6 championship, dethroned defending champion Forest Hills, 59-46 and has won five straight games. It avenged a loss in last year’s final and has continued moving upward after losing to North Catholic in the 2025 state tournament’s first round.

Four players are scoring in double digits and eight average more than four points per game. Highlighting the team’s balance, its four leading scorers are separated by less than a point. Makenna McCoy averages a high of 10.6, Sophia Beard and Rachel Fisher 10.3 and Kaydance Baney 10.0. Four players also average more than two steals per game.

BOYS CLASS AAA

Warrior Run and Dunmore meet at Loyalsock and this has the potential to be one of the state’s best first-round games with each team featuring potent rosters. Warrior Run (24-2) captured its first district championship since 1988 in dramatic fashion, rallying from a seven-point fourth quarter deficit and defeating Southern Columbia, 70-65 in overtime. Aiden McKee hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining to force overtime and Clayton Skokoski hit big 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter and overtime as Warrior Run completed a three-game sweep, three times edging Southern in overtime.

McKee, Ethan Balzer, James Keifer and Landon Polcyn all average more than nine points per game. Carter Sheesley played a crucial role in a semifinal win against state qualifier Mifflinburg and Warrior Run has its most wins in a season during the 2000s. The seniors have taken Warrior Run from one win the year before they arrived to 70 over the past four. The Defenders also captured the HAC-III championship, going undefeated in league play.

Dunmore (21-4) is the only team to beat Riverside this season and almost did again, dropping a 51-48 District championship heartbreaker. The Bucks are making their first state tournament appearance since 2010 and are both balanced and physical. Four starters average at least 12.3 points per game and Dunmore started the season 16-1. Brayden Caravan is a 1,000-point scorer who averages a team-high 18.3 points per game. Carter Sload is close behind at 17 points per game, Jimmy Clark averages 13.6 and Nate Aviles 12.3. The Bucks have made a nine-win improvement since last season and have wins against both Riverside and District 2 AA champion Old Forge.

BOYS CLASS AA

Muncy (18-8) gets a second crack at Clarion after losing to it, 57-42 in last year’s opening round. The Indians are making their fifth straight state playoff appearance and have played in five consecutive finals. They also are trying to earn their first state win since 2023.

The Indians romped through the first two rounds of districts before dropping a 34-33 championship heartbreaker against Northeast Bradford. Nate Rogers returned after missing the regular season with injury and made four steals in the final. Jaxton Frantz has had a big season starting for the first time and three starters (four if one counts Rogers who has been brought off the bench thus far since coming back) return next season.

Clarion (18-8) lost to Redbank Valley for a second straight year in the District 9 final and fell to Northgate in the second round of states a season ago. Nolan Frederick scored a game-high 19 points against Muncy last year and leads Clarion in scoring, averaging 15 points per game. Dylan Smail averages 11.6 points and Mason Burford, who had eight against Muncy last year, 7.6. Each of those three players also averages more than five rebounds per game. Clarion does a lot of its damage inside the arc, hitting 58 3-pointers through 19 games.