SOL Girls’ Basketball PIAA 6A Preview (3-12-19)

Four SOL girls’ basketball teams will be in action in Tuesday’s second round of the PIAA 6A Tournament. Check back for recaps of the games.

#1-2 NESHAMINY vs. #2-1 HAZLETON (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Liberty High School)
Neshaminy

25-4 overall
12-0 SOL National Conference champions
Fell to Abington 51-44 in SOL Tournament title game
Led by Bucknell signee Brooke Mullin, who averages 14.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.8 steals.
Allison Harvey (9.1 points, 3.4 rebounds), who is dangerous from long range, and point guard Kristin Curley (8.1 points. 4.2 assists) are also key contributors.

How they got here: In Friday’s state opener, Neshaminy notched a 48-38 win over District 3’s fourth place team, Cedar Cliff. The Redskins, minus Alexis McCoy (illness), were led by Brooke Mullin (18 points), Kristin Curley (12) and Emily Tantala (9).

Hazleton

21-6 overall
10-1 Wyoming Valley Conference
Fell to Holy Redeemer in Wyoming Valley Conference title game
Defeated Williamsport 48-41 in the district/sub-regional title game
11 game-winning streak after a 3-4 start to the season
Marissa Trivelpiece is a force on both ends of the court.
The Cougars’ rely on their full-court press to create their offense.
Opening round win over Central Bucks West was the program’s first state win in a decade.

How they got here: In Friday’s opener, Hazleton stunned Central Bucks West 40-38 when Virginia Yarchak scored at the buzzer. The Cougars forced 20 West turnovers. Faith Grula (12 points) and Virginia Yarchak (10 points) led the way.

#1-3 ABINGTON vs #3-1 CUMBERLAND VALLEY (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Garden Spot High School)
Abington

25-4 overall
13-1 SOL American Conference co-champions with Upper Dublin
SOL Tournament champions with 51-44 win over Neshaminy
Sixth straight trip to PIAA Tournament
Led by University of Rhode Island signee Kassondra Brown (18 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.6 steals.
Also receive important contributions from Tamia Wessels (11.6 points), Cam Lexow (10.9 points, 3.1 steals) and freshman point guard Khalis Whiting (10.7 points, 5.1 assists).

How they got here: In Friday’s opening round, Abington crushed District 11’s fourth place team, Parkland, 56-34. Cam Lexow – 16 points, 4 steals – ignited the Ghosts offensively and defensively.

Cumberland Valley

24-4 overall
14-1 Mid-Penn Commonwealth champions
Defeated Dallastown 33-27 in the District 3 title game.
Balanced attack led by sophomore Julie Jekot (10.0 points), sophomore Abbie Miller (8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds), senior Kennedy Kuffa (7.0 points, 4.9 rebounds) and junior Kylie Holcomb (6.3 points).
CV has connected on 134 3-pointers with Jekot (46), Holcomb (36) and Kuffa (21) leading the way.

How they got here: In Friday’s opener, Cumberland Valley downed Fox Chapel, District 7’s fifth place team, 35-27. Seniors Kennedy Kuffa and Linda Leitzel both scored eight points to lead the Eagles.

#1-5 UPPER DUBLIN vs. #7-2 NORTH ALLEGHENY (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Chambersburg High School)
Upper Dublin

23-5 overall
13-1 SOL American Conference co-champions with Abington
Led by junior center Jackie Vargas (13.1 ppg), sophomore Dayna Balasa (9.7 ppg) and sophomore Sarah Eskew (7.2 ppg).

How they got here: In Friday’s opening round, Upper Dublin defeated District 3’s third-place team, Central Dauphin, 47-36. Leading the Flying Cardinals were Jackie Vargas (13 points), Dayna Balasa (12 points – 4 threes, 9 rebounds) and Kara Grebe (10 points).

North Allegheny

24-2 overall
14-1 WPIAL 6A regular champion
Fell to Peters Township 43-40 in overtime in the WPIAL title game.
Sixth straight season North Allegheny has won 24 or more games
Led by a trio of guards who won first team All-Section honors: seniors Rachel Martindale and Brynn Serbin and sophomore Lizzy Groetsch
Martindale, who will continue her basketball career at the University of Akron, surpassed the 1,000-point milestone as a junior when she averaged 15.3 points and six rebounds.

How they got here: In Friday’s state opener, North Allegheny rolled to a 44-22 win over District 3’s fifth place team, Governor Mifflin. The two teams were deadlocked 7-7 after one quarter. North Allegheny closed out the game with a 37-15 tear. Rachel Martindale (14 points) and Brynn Serbin (11 points) led the Tigers.

#1-7 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH vs. #3-2 DALLASTOWN (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Governor Mifflin Intermediate School)
Council Rock North

20-6 overall
10-2 SOL National Conference second place behind Neshaminy
Four seniors represent the heart and soul of the team.
Led by senior Dana Bandurick, who averages 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds. She also leads the team with 66 blocked shots and 65 steals.
Trio of sharpshooting guards – Sydney Blum (11.7 ppg), Olivia Boyle (9.0) and Camryn Polinsky (6.6 ppg) – have combined for 122 three-pointers. Blum leads the team with 55. Polinsky, the Indians’ point guard, averages 3.5 assists.

How they got here: In Friday’s opening round state game, Council Rock North defeated District 12 runner-up Central 84-15. Dana Bandurick (20 points), Emma Benson (14 – 4 3s) and Sydney Blum (12) led the Indians.

Dallastown

25-3 overall
10-1 York-Adams 1 regular season champions
Defeated Spring Grove 36-26 in YA1AA Tournament championship game
Lost to Cumberland Valley 33-27 in the District 3 title game.
Led by St. Francis commit Sam Miller, a 6-1 senior forward

How they got here: In Friday’s opening round, Dallastown defeated District 1’s eighth place team, Downingtown East, 43-39. Sam Miller (16 points) and Lily Jamison (10 points) led the Wildcats.