PIAA Class AAAA Semifinal Preview: CB West vs. Palmyra

Central Bucks West will face Palmyra in a PIAA Class AAAA semifinal game on Tuesday night at Reading High School’s Geigle Complex (6 p.m.). Check back for a complete game report.

Central Bucks West will play the biggest game in program history on Tuesday night when the Bucks travel to Reading High School’s historic Geigle Complex to do battle with District 3 runner-up Palmyra in a PIAA Class AAAA semifinal game.

On the surface, it might not seem as though the two teams have a whole lot in common, but they do.

Both teams start four seniors, and both programs have achieved unparalleled success over the past four years. Palmyra is 104-15 while CB West is 100-23. For West, seniors Mackenzie Carroll, Corrinne Godshall, Nicole Munger and Peyton Traina have elevated the program to new heights. For Palmyra, it's the foursome of Kristen Smoluk, Katy McClellan, Maria Tukis and Katie Dembrowski that have been the cornerstone of the program.

This is the first trip to the PIAA Class AAAA semifinals for both squads although the state semifinals are nothing new to the Cougars. Palmyra – which moved up to the Quad-A ranks this season – advanced to the state semifinals at the Class AAA level last year. Last year, Palmyra fell to eventual state champion Black Hawk 49-41 in the state semifinals.

Both teams will look to continue making history by earning a spot in Friday night’s state title game in Hershey.

(1-1) CENTRAL BUCKS WEST vs. (3-2) PALMYRA (at Reading High School’s Geigle Complex, 6 p.m.)

Central Bucks West

14-0 SOL, 31-1 overall
SOL Continental Conference champions
Captured first ever SOL Tournament title with 51-38 win over fifth-seeded Abington
Led by offensively Nicole Munger (18.0 ppg), Mackenzie Carroll (10.9), Corrinne Godshall (10.5) and Mackenzie Mason (8.6)
Regular season wins over #7 Upper Dublin (63-41), #8 North Penn (60-50 & 56-44), #12 CB South (59-35, 73-29), #23 Neshaminy (61-25), #26 Pennridge (71-50, 71-39) & #32 CB East (64-38, 67-37)
Only loss came at the hands of Lake Taylor (Va.) in the Boo Williams Holiday Classic (68-57)

How they got here:

In Friday’s state quarterfinal game, West opened up a 14-6 lead after one quarter over District 12’s third place team, Archbishop Carroll, and the Bucks took a 30-16 lead into halftime on their way to a 60-45 win. Senior Mackenzie Carroll led the way with 19 points while Peyton Traina added 13 and Corrinne Godshall, 10 points.
In second round action, the Bucks defeated a shorthanded Upper Dublin squad 57-28. Nicole Munger led a balanced attack with 13 points while Mackenzie Carroll added 12. Corrinne Godshall and Makenzie Mason both contributed 10 points.
In Friday’s state opener, West turned a 5-4 lead into a 24-4 lead on its way to a 63-27 win over District 3’s seventh place team, Hempfield. Nicole Munger, who buried four three-pointers, scored 17 of her game-high 25 points in the first half. Mackenzie Carroll (12 points) and Makenzie Mason (11 points) also finished in double figures.
In the district title game at Temple, the Bucks led by just four late in the third quarter but responded with an 11-0 run to seal Abington’s fate in a 59-46 win. Nicole Munger led the way with 19 points while Corrinne Godshall added 14.
In a district semifinal win, Nicole Munger scored 19 first-half points, propelling the Bucks to a 34-23 halftime lead on their way to a convincing 69-44 win over 11^th-seeded Downingtown East. Munger finished with a game-high 23 points while Corrinne Godshall (12 points) and Mackenzie Carroll (10 points) also finished in double figures.
In a quarterfinal game featuring a pair of SOL conference champs, Corrinne Godshall had a big night, contributing 19 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in the Bucks’ 55-40 win over Upper Dublin. Nicole Munger added 13 points, eight rebounds and four steals.
In second round action, the Bucks defeated #15 Council Rock North 55-38. Nicole Munger (16 points, 12 rebounds), Corrinne Godshall (15 points, nine rebounds) and Makenzie Mason (10 points, nine rebounds) led a balanced West attack.
In the opening round, the Bucks defeated #32 Owen J Roberts 75-31, opening up an 18-8 lead after one quarter and taking a 35-15 lead into halftime. Mackenzie Carroll (19 points), Corrinne Godshall (15 points) and Nicole Munger (15 points) led the Bucks.

Palmyra

27-4 overall
14-1 Mid-Penn Keystone Conference champions
Led offensively by 1,000-point scorer Kristin Smoluk
Defense is the calling card of a Cougar squad that held defending state champion Cumberland Valley to 25 points in the District 3 title game.
Maria Tukis, a standout cross country runner, has connected on 104 foul shots this season and is also the team's top defender.

How they got here:

In Friday’s quarterfinal round, Palmyra defeated District 12’s top Class AAAA team, Cardinal O’Hara, 54-42. Maria Tukis scored a game-high 14 points, which included a 10-of-12 effort at the foul line. Katy McClellan (11 points), Kristen Smoluk (nine points) and Molly Gunderman (eight points) also contributed.
In a second round state playoff game, Palmyra led Mount St. Joseph 34-27 at halftime but rolled to a 57-38 win. Katy McClellan had a huge game, finishing with 18 points – which included three treys – and 11 rebounds. Kristen Smoluk added 14 and Molly Gunderman, 12 points.
Palmyra turned an 18-15 lead into a 48-35 win over District One six seed Garnet Valley in an opening round state playoff game. Maria Tukis finished with a double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds) and was 10-of-12 from the foul line. Molly Gunderman (11 points) and Katy McClellan (10 points) also finished in double figures.
In a low-scoring District 3 title game, Palmyra saw its districts hopes go up in smoke when junior Kelly Jekot scored on a last-second putback to give Cumberland Valley a 26-25 win. Kristen Smoluk’s nine points led the Cougars.
In a district semifinal contest, top-seeded Palmyra avenged a 65-61 overtime loss on Jan. 28 to fourth-seeded Cedar Crest by earning a 48-42 win. Kristen Smoluk led the Cougars with 16 points while Maria Tukis had 10 and Katy McClellan, nine points.
Palmyra turned a 5-4 lead after one quarter into a 28-14 halftime lead over ninth-seeded Hempfield. The Cougars outscored the Black Knights 28-14 in the second half on their way to a 51-27 win. Kristin Smoluk, who scored 11 points, surpassed the 1,000-point milestone. Katy McClellan led the way with 15 points while Josie Stovall added 10.
In an opening round District 3 game, Palmyra, the top-seeded team, sprinted to a 34-15 halftime lead on its way to a 61-39 rout of 17^th-seeded Cedar Cliff. Katy McClellan (18 points), Molly Gunderson (15), Josie Stovall (12) and Kristen Smoluk (10) all finished the game in double figures.