RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Hughesville’s Alli Anstadt is surrounded by teammates after she reaches her 1000th career point during their game against Mt. Carmel on Tuesday.
Girls Class AAA
Holy Redeemer (20-6) vs. Hughesville (22-4)
at Williamsport, 7 p.m.
Redeemer road to states: In District 2, beat Western Wayne, 48-16 and Lake-Lehman, 53-37; lost to Dunmore, 49-44
Redeemer notes: Like Hughesville, Redeemer also returns a quality group from a 2024 state quarterfinalist. The Royals held a second-half lead against Dunmore in the District 2 final, a rematch from last year, before the Bucks rallied and denied them a repeat. Redeemer avenged two regular season losses against Lake-Lehman in the semifinals. The Royals feature good balance with Megan Albrecht averaging 10.6 points per game, Bella Boylan 10.3, McKenzie Chimock 10.1, Brooke Kroptavich 9.5 and Gillian Parsons 5.3. Redeemer and Hughesville mirror each other so closely that both average a little more than 57 points per game and allow a little more than 35. The Royals are making their third straight state tournament appearance.
Hughesville road to states: In District 4, beat Bloomsburg, 59-41 and Mount Carmel, 44-25; lost to Loyalsock, 52-49
Hughesville notes: The Spartans are making their second consecutive state tournament appearance a year after winning the first two state tournament games in program history. Hughesville’s 46 wins the past two seasons are the most by any Spartans team over a two-year stretch. Hughesville played an excellent game against Loyalsock in the final with the outcome not decided until the last second ticked off. It has utilized an eight-player rotation throughout the season, receiving consistent production from starters and reserves alike. Alli Anstadt and Vivian Draper both have more than 500 career rebounds and senior Ava Snyder also has compiled impressive numbers in her four years starting. Maddie Smith averages 15.3 points per game and scored 17 against Loyalsock, while Kendall Hamm hit some big first half shots to turn an early deficit into a seven-point halftime advantage.
Winner plays: Either Imhotep or Executive Education
Biglerville (16-9) at
Loyalsock (25-2), 7 p.m.
Biglerville road to states: In District 3, beat Upper Dauphin, 48-28; lost to Trinity, 61-31; beat Oley Valley, 54-41
Biglerville notes: The Canners have made four-win improvements in each of the last two seasons and are making their first state tournament appearance since 2003. They feature quality balance with four players averaging more than six points per game. Senior Claire Roberts is strong inside and produces 10.2 points and 5.9 points per game after battling back from a torn ACL at the end of last season. Fellow forward Kierney Weigle averages 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and led Adams County in free throw attempts (141). Forward Evangeline Hollabaugh averages 8.9 points and has made 29 3-pointers, while guard Rylie Brewer averages six points per game and has hit 28 3-pointers. Ava Peterson has added 17 treys. Jocelyn Miller is strong off the bench, averaging 6.1 points per game. Weigle helps spark the defense and averages 3.1 steals per game. Biglerville has won eight of its last 11 games.
Loyalsock road to states: In District 4, beat Line Mountain, 77-31; Towanda, 52-20; and Hughesville, 52-49
Loyalsock notes: Loyalsock is making its ninth straight state tournament appearance and reached last year’s Final 4 for the first time. The Lancers rallied from 11 down in the third quarter to edge Hughesville for their fourth district title in seven years. Their two losses are against District 2 Class 5A champion Crestwood and District 4 Class AAAA champion Central Columbia by three combined points. Alaina Dadzie and Lacey Kriebel both are 1,000-point scorers and Julie Ellis is a three-year starter and part of two district champions. Jaekairah Harden has developed into one of the district’s premier defenders and Jillian Kennedy has come on strong after missing last season with a torn ACL. Loyalsock’s run of nine straight state tournaments is the longest among District 4 teams.
Winner plays: Either West Catholic or New Hope Solebury
GIRLS Class AA
Elk Lake (22-3) at
Muncy (20-5), 7 p.m.
Elk Lake road to states: In District 2, beat Forest City, 65-9 and Holy Cross, 46-40; lost to Mountain View, 34-17
Elk Lake notes: The Warriors won 15 straight games before Hughesville defeated it late in the regular season. They and Muncy have a common opponent in Northeast Bradford with the Warriors winning, 50-35 in their second game this season. Elk Lake swept the regular season series from Mountain View before being held to its lowest point total this season in the district final. Forward Leah Traver is having a strong season and averages a team-best 16.7 points per game. Kylie Shingler averages 9.9 points per game and has made 26 3-pointers. She is one of six players who averages 5.5 or more points per game. Camryn Greenwood has drained 38 3-pointers and Madisyn Casselbury 25. Elk Lake was a 3A team last year, finishing 18-5. It just missed reaching states, losing to Lake-Lehman in districts before the Black Knights advanced to the state tournament’s second round.
Muncy road to states: In District 4, beat Williamson, 54-18; Northwest, 29-15 and Northeast Bradford, 48-37
Muncy notes: Muncy became the first team in program history to repeat as District 4 champions, avenging previous losses against Northwest and NEB. The Indians have made history in consecutive years after becoming the first to reach the state quarterfinals last season. Muncy knocked off NEB as the top seed in the final for a second straight year and have won 20 games for the first time since 2001. The Indians feature a stifling defense and have allowed just 23.4 points per game. Only three teams have reached 40 points against them as well. Senior point guard Addi Eyer and center Addi Gresh, as well as junior guard Anna Zalonis, started on last year’s team, while guards Ava Eyer, Rosie Zalonis played prominent roles off the bench. Addi Eyer scored 19 points in the district final and Rosie Zalonis helped spark the district run when she scored 16 points and made seven steals against Williamson. Ava Eyer nearly had a double-double against Northwest in the semifinals. Alexis McKeta and Emma McCormick have excelled off the bench during the postseason.
Winner plays: Either MAST Charter or Marian Catholic
Canton (17-9) at Mountain View (21-4), 6:30 p.m.
Canton road to states: In District 4, beat Southern Columbia, 48-45; lost to Northeast Bradford, 53-32; beat Northwest, 38-35
Canton notes: Canton is making its first state tournament appearance since 2002 and has equaled the previous mark for most wins in a season during the 2000s. The Warriors have made an eight-win improvement and became the first NTL-II team to beat NEB in league play in five years, defeating it, 45-41 late in the season. Kendall Kitchen is the team’s lone senior and scored her 1,000th career point late in the regular season. She and sophomore Cailyn Van Noy both average in double figures and junior Alexis McRoberts averages 7.7 rebounds per game. Lydia Roupp averages 7.7 points per game and Danah Wesneski two assists per game. Canton has won eight of its last 10 games and rallied from six down in the second quarter to defeat Northwest in the district’s third-place game.
Mountain View road to states: In District 2, beat Lackawanna Trail, 49-18; Wyoming Seminary, 45-38, OT and Elk Lake, 34-17
Mountain View notes: The Eagles played in Class A last season, reaching the state final after going to the semifinals in 2023. They avenged two regular season losses against Elk Lake in the district championship. Addison Kilmer is a 6-foot-1 junior center who earned Class A Player of the Year honors last year. She can take her game inside or outside, averaging 18.5 points per game and drilling 49 3-pointers. Kilmer has gone over 1,000 career points and rebounds as well. Ryleigh Kilmer averages 9.8 points per game and has hit 48 3-pointers, while Aubrey Sanders is at 9.1 points per game and 30 3-pointers. The Eagles have won six straight games since losing to Elk Lake in the regular season, not allowing an opponent to reach 40 points during that time.
Winner plays: Either Renaissance Academy or Belmont Charter
Boys Class A
Lancaster Country Day (15-9) at
N.P.-Liberty (18-8), 7 p.m.
LCD road to states: In District 3, beat Dayspring Academy, 58-40; lost to High Point Baptist, 60-50 and York Country Day, 62-54
LCD notes: The Lions are making their fourth straight state tournament appearance after reaching last year’s quarterfinals where they lost to state finalist Berlin Brothersvalley. They average 54.8 points and 5.6 3-pointers per game. Jordan Ashby averages a team-best 15.0 points per game, while Chris Dukes is 13.4. Ashby has hit a team-high 58 3-pointers as well. Sophomore Cam Harris is the third player averaging in double figures, producing 12.3 per game. Those three combined for 46 points against eventual District 3 champion High Point Baptist in the semifinals. LCD held a one-point halftime lead in that contest.
NPL road to states: In District 4, beat Millville, 67-31; Bucktail, 67-55 and Lourdes, 57-53
NPL notes: North Penn-Liberty captured its first district championship last Thursday, rallying late against Lourdes. It has come from behind in its last two playoff games,wiping out a nine-point deficit against 2024 champion Bucktail. The Mounties also won a third NTL-II championship in six seasons and are making their third state tournament appearance in four seasons. All five starters average at least nine points per game, while Evan McTish, Blake Oakley and Luke Kreger all average six or more rebounds per game. Adynn Wheeland averages a team-high 12.9 points per game and Louis Mercantino (10.8 per game) scored a team-best 18 points against Lourdes. All five starters either started or played key roles off the bench last season. The Mounties have won 10 of their last 12 games.
Winner plays: Either Lincoln Leadership or Phil-Mont Christian
Bucktail (12-12) vs. Bethlehem Christian (25-2) at Easton Middle School, 6 p.m.
Bucktail road to states: In District 4, beat Northumberland Christian, 60-54; lost to North Penn-Liberty, 67-55; beat Sullivan County, 45-30
Bucktail notes: Bucktail is making consecutive state tournament appearances for the first time after winning the program’s first district title since 1989 last winter. Bucktail has rallied from a 5-8 start and dominated the second half against Sullivan County after the game was tied at halftime. Senior Brody Pentz topped 1,000 points and 500 rebounds as a junior last season and is having another strong season. So is fellow senior Garry Whipp who scored 15 points against Sullivan while setting the second-half tone. Talan Ditty has been strong on the boards and Ethan Charcalla and Gavin Pick have had some big games. Aiden Ditty made three steals off the bench against Sullivan.
Bethlehem Christian road to states: In District 11, beat Weatherly, 86-52 and Lincoln Leadership, 63-48
Bethlehem Christian notes: The Panthers feature an explosive offense and are averaging 74.1 points per game with four players averaging in double figures. They have won 13 straight games since losing to 6A Nazareth, 69-59. Gabe Transue is having a monster season, averaging 24.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, while draining 62 3-pointers. He had a season-high 39 points and 18 rebounds against Weatherly. Myles Harris averages 15.6 points per game, Deion Swift 12.9 and Roman Rex 10.3. All three also have made at least 26 3-pointers. The Panthers are making their third straight state tournament appearance and reached last year’s second round.
Winner plays: Either Sankofa Freedom Academy or York Country Day