The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media March 10-11 girls basketball PIAA playoff preview

The PIAA state playoffs are set to start this week and the Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media area is well-represented across five of the six classifications.

Area teams head into states with many different experience levels.

Archbishop Wood and Lansdale Catholic are on one end of the spectrum. The Vikings have won back-to-back state titles and still have senior Deja Evans, who scored 15 points and grabbed a state title game record 20 rebounds in the final last year. Lansdale Catholic reached the state final last year and has Gabby Casey, the all-time leading scorer in Crusaders boys or girls basketball history and is also the 2022-23 Philadelphia Catholic League MVP and Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year.

On the other end of the experience spectrum is Upper Dublin. Coach Morgan Funsten led the Cardinals to a state championship in 2018, but his current seniors were still in the seventh grade then. This Upper Dublin team features the dynamic freshman duo of Colleen Besachio and Megan Ngo and junior Amy Ngo, none of whom have any state playoff experience.

Below are game-by-game previews for area teams.

CLASS-6A

Archbishop Carroll vs. Neshaminy >> (12-3) Archbishop Carroll hosts (1-5) Neshaminy at 4:30 p.m. Friday afternoon.

The Patriots are 11-11 this season while the Skins are 19-6.

Sisters Taylor and Brooke Wilson are a strong 1-2 punch for Carroll. The two first team All-PCL selections combined for 48 points in the Patriots PCL quarterfinal win over Neumann-Goretti a couple weeks ago.

The winner will face the winner of (1-1) Perk Valley and (3-6) Red Lion in the second round Tuesday.

Abington at Wyoming Valley West >> (1-9) Abington travels to (2-1) Wyoming Valley West at 7 p.m. Friday night.

The Ghosts are 21-5 this season while Wyoming Valley West is 16-8.

Abington’s all-time leading scorer Cire Worley led her team into the state tournament. After an early exit from the district playoffs, she averaged 27 points per game in playback wins over Plymouth Whitemarsh, Conestoga and Unionville.

The winner will face the winner of (12-2) Central and (1-8) Springfield Delco in the second round Tuesday.

Souderton at Central York >> (1-7) Souderton travels to (3-2) Central York at 7 p.m. Friday night.

The Indians are 21-5 this season while Central York is 23-4.

Big Red has won nine of its last 11 games. Seniors Casey Harter and Teya McConnaha both earned first team All-Suburban One League Colonial Division honors after leading their team to the league championship.

The winner will face the winner of (11-1) Easton and (1-10) Unionville in the second round Tuesday.

Upper Dublin at Bethlehem Liberty >> (1-6) Upper Dublin visits (11-2) Bethlehem Liberty at 7 p.m. Friday night.

The Cardinals are 17-10 this season while Bethlehem Liberty is 14-11.

Upper Dublin reached the state playoffs despite entering districts as the 19th seed. Wins over Council Rock South and defending district and state champion Plymouth Whitemarsh clinched the Cardinals a spot in states. After a quarterfinal overtime loss against Pennsbury, the Cardinals split playback games against Springfield Delco and Neshaminy to enter states as the sixth seed.

Upper Dublin wasn’t your typical 19th seed going into the district playoffs. Standout Amy Ngo suffered a knee injury during the 2022 district playoffs and missed the first half of this season. Now that she’s up to speed, the Cardinals are a much different team than they were through the first dozen games of the season.

The winner will face the winner of (3-1) Cedar Cliff and (1-12) Garnet Valley in the second round Tuesday.

CLASS-5A

Gwynedd Mercy Academy vs. Freire Charter >> (1-4) Gwynedd Mercy Academy faces (12-2) Freire Charter at Archbishop Wood High School at 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

The Monarchs are 20-6 this season while Freire Charter is 11-15.

Gwynedd Mercy reached the District 1-5A semifinals by beating Strath Haven, 52-35, and Upper Moreland, 48-34, before losing to eventual champion West Chester Rustin, 46-24. The Monarchs have a young team, but experience at the point guard position with senior Hannah Griffin.

The winner will face the winner of (1-5) Upper Moreland and (11-1) Bethlehem Catholic in the second round Wednesday.

Upper Moreland at Bethlehem Catholic >> (1-5) Upper Moreland travels to (11-1) Bethlehem Catholic at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Bears are 20-6 while Bethlehem Catholic is 17-8.

Upper Moreland, led by senior EmmyFaith Wood and junior Holly Gohl, won its two District 1 playback games to earn the fifth seed in states. The Golden Bears beat West Chester East, 53-41, and Mount Saint Joseph Academy, 30-26.

The winner will face the winner of (12-2) Freire Charter and (1-4) Gwynedd Mercy Academy in the second round Wednesday.

Mount Saint Joseph Academy at Archbishop Wood >> (1-6) Mount Saint Joseph Academy travels to (12-1) Archbishop Wood at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

The Magic are 13-14 this season while the Vikings are 20-5.

In the District 1 playoffs, the Mount won its opener against Marple Newtown before losing to Bishop Shanahan. In playbacks, they beat Phoenixville before losing to Upper Moreland. The Magic have an experienced group, led by wing Lauren Hoffman and forward Georgia Pickett.

Wood, which won Class-4A state titles in 2021 and 2022 before moving up to 5A this season, won the District 12-5A championship last time out, 70-23, over Freire Charter. The Vikings have a deep squad with plenty of shooters. Ava Renninger runs the point and Evans is dominant in the paint.

The winner will face the winner of (1-2) Villa Maria Academy and (2-3) Scranton in the second round Wednesday.

CLASS-4A

Lansdale Catholic vs. Bishop McDevitt >> (12-1) Lansdale Catholic takes on (3-6) Bishop McDevitt at Archbishop Ryan High School at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

The Crusaders are 23-2 this season while Bishop McDevitt is 18-8.

Lansdale Catholic is enjoying the best season in program history. The Crusaders won the PCL title for the first time, 50-47, over Archbishop Wood thanks to a deep Olivia Boccella three-pointer with 20 seconds remaining. They followed that up with their third District 12 championship, an 85-55 win over Audenried, behind Casey’s 40 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

The winner will face the winner of (4-2) Jersey Shore and (2-2) Wyoming Area in the second round Wednesday.

CLASS-2A

Faith Christian Academy vs. Belmont Charter >> (1-1) Faith Christian Academy hosts (12-3) Belmont Charter at 7 p.m. Friday night.

The Lions are 19-6 this season while Belmont Charter is 3-7.

Faith Christian’s had almost two full weeks of rest. Last time out, the Lions won the District 1-2A championship over Sacred Heart, 42-29, on Feb. 25.

The winner will face the winner of (4-1) South Williamsport and (3-2) Lancaster Mennonite in the second round Tuesday.

CLASS-A

Jenkintown vs. Christian School of York >> (1-2) Jenkintown hosts (3-3) Christian School of York at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

The Drakes are 10-14 this season while Christian School of York is 21-4.

Jenkintown has had plenty of time to rest up for the state playoffs. The Drakes last game was the District 1-A championship game on Feb. 25. They lost to the Christian Academy, 40-20.

The winner will face the winner of (2-1) Mountain View and (3-5) Harrisburg Christian in the second round Wednesday.