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PIAA Playoff Preview: Local Second-Round Highlights (March 12)

03/11/2022, 9:45am EST
By Josh Verlin & Andrew Robinson

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin) &
Andrew Robinson (@ADrobinson3)

(Ed. Note: due to weather, all games scheduled for Saturday, March 12 have been postponed. Updated schedules can be found at the bottom)

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The PIAA fields are cut in half, Wednesday night’s opening round the first hurdle in a five-game trek towards hoisting a trophy on the GIANT Center floor in Hershey a couple weeks from now. 

The girls’ 1A, 4A and 5A brackets and the boys’ 2A, 3A and 6A tournaments continue on Saturday night, with 23 programs from District 1 and District 12 in action — down from the 41 local squads that were alive in the first round. For a few programs who had easier games in the opening round, Saturday will represent a significant step forward; for others, it’s yet another tough opponent, and for some a familiar face.

Here’s a look at some of the key notes ahead of Saturday night, with the full schedule for local teams down below. Complete brackets can be found here on the PIAA’s website.

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Wood-Reading highlights Lehigh Valley tripleheader


Justin Moore (above) is a big part of a new-look Archbishop Wood after last year's runner-up finish in states. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Assuming the weather holds off — the forecast is foreboding, with rain turning to snow, with heavy winds, the precipitation getting worse the further north you go — the gym at Easton Area Middle School might be the place to be, with a tripleheader that features at least four programs with legitimate state championship prospects. The first game of the doubleheader is the biggest draw, as Archbishop Wood and Reading clash in a big-time 6A boys matchup, a rematch of last year’s title game, with the winner amongst the favorites to win the whole thing.

Reading (26-3), the District 3 champs and defending PIAA Class 6A state champions, come into the weekend off a 56-42 win over Downingtown West. Rick Perez’s Red Knights, who’ve won two state titles under his watch, feature 6-6 senior wing Daniel Alcantera, senior guard Joey Chapman, and junior guards Ruben Rodriguez and Myles Grey, all of whom fit into Perez’s controlled chaos style. Few programs around are as confident, and the whole city of Reading’s behind them, making them even more dangerous.

Wood, however, has the pedigree to not get flustered by Reading, as John Mosco’s Vikings (18-7) are aiming for their first state title since 2017 after falling one win shy last year. But Wood’s group is almost entirely different from the one that fell 58-57 in the title game last year, with only former reserves Tyson Allen and Mike Knouse, now both senior starters, still in the rotation. Drexel-bound Justin Moore, who came over from Bishop McDevitt when it closed, is a huge piece, as is sophomore Jalil Bethea, who bided his time on the JV squad last year and is in the midst of a breakout season; 6-8 junior Carson Howard and 6-5 junior Bahsil Laster are two more Division I recruits. 

Once that game gets decided, Wood’s girls will play Scranton Prep in a 4A second-round matchup. The Vikings (21-5), who are defending their state championship, have a tremendous senior duo of Vanderbilt-bound Ryanne Allen, the Catholic League MVP and a one-woman force on the court, and Delaware signee Bri Bowen, a defensive specialist and top-notch distributor who can score from all three levels given the opportunity. Scranton Prep (21-4), the District 2 runner-up, got 22 points each from seniors Lizzie Neville and Maria Belardi to beat North Schuylkill 62-52 in its opener. A year ago, Wood topped Scranton Prep, 56-39 in the semifinals as the Vikings went on their way to a state championship.

Capping off the night is another 4A girls’ game, as one of the other state favorites, Dunmore (24-1), plays District 1 runner-up Villa Joseph Marie (18-7). Dunmore’s best player is junior wing Ciera Toomey, one of the top prospects in the entire 2023 class, but Toomey missed the opening-round 51-25 win over Shamokin Area, and her status is not known for Saturday’s matchup.

The Jems will be paced by their senior duo of Tori Nigro and Sammi White, two of the St. Basil Academy transfers who have helped the program reach the AACA title game, district title game and pick up a first-round state playoff win.  — JV

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Cougars and Tigers at Lions (oh my)

The only District 1 vs. District 1 matchup on the girls’ side Saturday is between two programs who are plenty familiar with one another: Central League rivals Springfield (Delco.) and Marple Newtown. The two Delaware County schools, just about a 10 minute drive from one another, will be meeting for the fourth time this season, a berth in the quarterfinal on the online.


Mia Valerio (above) and Springfield (Delco.) are 2-1 against Marple Newtown this season. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Springfield (Delco.) won the first two matchups, at Springfield in December (42-36) and at Marple in January (29-28), but Marple got them back when it mattered most, a 45-40 overtime defeat in the Central League semifinals at Springfield last month. So there’s no secrets left between Ky McNichols’ Cougars and Ryan Wolski’s Tigers, who are sure to draw a big local crowd to O’Hara’s court for their 3 PM Saturday tipoff.

Marple (17-8), which beat St. Hubert’s 48-27 in the opening round for its first-ever state playoff win, is led by senior guard Nikki Mostardi, as well as Haley Levy and Mary O’Brien; all three got to double digits in the win over the Bambies, followed closely by Brooke Impriano’s eight. The last time the two teams met, Mostardi had 15, with Levy and O’Brien scoring 10 each in a game that saw the lead change hands 11 times.

Springfield, which won the District 1 5A championship last year and made it to the 2021 5A semifinals in an abbreviated bracket, has played almost the whole season without its go-to option, junior guard and multi-sport star Lexi Aaron, who injured her knee back in December. But Aaron’s junior classmates have stepped up, including Mia Valerio, who had 19 points in the Cougars’ 32-19 win over Lower Dauphin in the opening round, as well as Kaitlyn Kearny, Taylor Hunyet and Anabel Kreydt.

The winner will play either Greencastle-Antrim or Cardinal O’Hara in Wednesday’s quarterfinals. — JV

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District 1 6A boys doubleheader (at Bensalem?)

Yes, it helped that District 1 got a staggering 12 bids into the state tournament this year, but it is assured of at least two quarterfinalists after Saturday’s results are in.

Cheltenham faces Penn Wood while Abington gets another chance at district champion Lower Merion after the Aces thumped the Ghosts in the District 1 quarterfinal round. (Ed note: While the Cheltenham-Penn Wood game is scheduled to take place at Bensalem (3 PM), the Lower Merion-Abington site hasn’t been officially released, though signs point to a doubleheader, weather permitting.) All four teams faced their own challenges in the first round, but managed to find their way through.


Josiah Hutson (above) and Cheltenham used a big second half to get past Cedar Cliff in the first round. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Cheltenham shook off a slow start to beat Cedar Cliff, giving their senior class an unbeaten home record this year while Penn Wood took the trip up to Allentown and knocked off District 11 champion Parkland in a resolute performance. Lower Merion got off to a fast start, then had to outlast a fierce charge by Chambersburg and Abington, which had to wait an extra day, dug in and won at Pocono Mountain West after playing an extra four minutes.

The Patriots (16-8) weren’t afraid to schedule tough this season and that’s paid off for a tough-minded group that’s strong, athletic and energetic. Naeem Purnell, Anthony Murray, Even Broward and Sahmir Massenburg accrued the bulk of Penn Wood’s scoring against Parkland and the Patriots will need more of that balance against Cheltenham’s aggressive defense.

A slow start wasn’t enough to end the Panthers (29-1) season thanks to a second half surge keyed by senior sixth man Justin Savage, senior Rasheem Dearry and freshman Josiah Hutson. Cheltenham, minus Hutson, is a senior-laden team that had its season cut short two years ago before it even got to play its second round game, so there’s no lack of motivation for this group.

Abington (17-11) has to be hoping the third time's the charm against the Aces. Last year, Demetrius Lilley and Lower Merion (25-3) ended Abington’s season in the District 1 6A title game then just a few weeks ago, ran past the Ghosts on their way to a second straight district crown.

The Ghosts got past a pretty good big man in Pocono Mountain West’s Christian Fermin on Thursday but they’ll need their entire roster, led by senior forward Derrius Lucas and guard Fhenyx Scutt if they want to try and slow down an Aces offense that’s been firing on all cylinders behind Lilley, Sam Brown, Sam Wright and Jaylen Shippen this postseason.

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Jenkintown faces familiar foe

Last season, the Drakes’ last hurdle to reaching Hershey was a home game against Northumberland Christian.

Things didn’t go as planned for the Warriors after a nearly three-hour drive when standout guard Emily Garvin injured an ankle in the first quarter and missed the rest of the game. 

Northumberland Christian has Garvin back, she scored her 2,000th point in the District 4 title game, and has hoped to get another crack at the Drakes sometime this postseason. Garvin has been getting plenty of help from emerging sophomore guard Eden Treas plus twins Anna and Emma Ulmer for the 23-3 Warriors.

Jenkintown, which finished third in District 1 after graduating four of five starters from last year’s state runner-up, will have its work cut out for it. Senior Katie McGrath, a Muhlenberg recruit who scored her 1,000th point earlier this season, is the only holdover from last year’s starting lineup for veteran coach Jim Romano.

McGrath had nine points and 11 rebounds as the Drakes topped Susquehanna on Thursday after their game was postponed a day due to weather. Lily O’Brien has come on strong during the season and had a team-high 13 on Thursday.

The Drakes have been one of the best small-school programs in the state over the last half-decade but with a relatively young team, they’ll have to find a way past a motivated opponent if they want to play into next week. — AR

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Boys’ 3A Second Round
West Catholic vs. Loyalsock (3 PM, Cumberland Valley)

Boys’ 6A Second Round
Norristown vs. North Hills (4:30 PM, Mifflin County)

Girls’ 1A Second Round
Faith Christian vs. Lourdes Regional (3 PM, Pottsville)

Girls’ 4A Second Round
Gwynedd Mercy vs. Bermudan Springs (4:30, Schuylkill Valley)

Girls’ 5A Second Round
Cardinal O’Hara vs. Greencastle-Antrim (6 PM, West York)

PIAA Doubleheaders/Tripleheaders
At Bensalem
Penn Wood vs. Cheltenham (1 PM)
Lower Merion vs. Abington (3:30 PM) 

At Spring-Ford
Girls’ 4A: Lansdale Catholic vs. Allentown CC (4:30 PM) 
Boys 3A: Devon Prep vs. Columbia (6 PM) 

At Liberty HS
Boys 6A: Roman Catholic vs. Central Dauphin (3 PM) 
Boys 3A: MCS vs. York Catholic (4:30 PM) 

At Cardinal O’Hara
Springfield (Delco.) vs. Marple Newtown (3 PM)
Lancaster Mennonite vs. Paul Robeson (4:30 PM) 

At Freedom
Boys 2A: Church Farm vs. Holy Cross (2:30 PM)
Boys 6A: Garnet Valley vs. Scranton (4:00 PM)
Boys 2A: Constitution vs. Shenandoah Valley (5:30 PM)

At Easton Area MS
Boys 6A: Wood vs. Reading (1 PM)
Girls 4A: Wood vs. Scranton Prep (2:30 PM)
Girls 4A: Villa Joseph Marie vs. Dunmore (4 PM)


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