Schuylkill Haven's Audrey Hutchinson pulls up for a jumper (Photo by Mel Rose).

Schuylkill League Girls’ Basketball Playoffs

Quarterfinal Preview Capsules

Schuylkill Haven (17-5) vs. Lourdes (16-5)

When: Today, 2 p.m.

Where: Martz Hall, Pottsville

Tickets: All tickets are cash sales at the door. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for students. There is no senior citizen discount.

Live updates: Follow T102 Sports Now Content Editor Leroy Boyer on Twitter @pubsportsboss

TV/Radio: Game will simulcasted on T-102 (101.9 FM) and WAVT (1360 AM/105.9 FM)

Up Next: Winner faces Division II No. 1 seed Marian (20-2) in Tuesday’s semifinals

About Schuylkill Haven

Head coach: Tony Sanders

How they got here: Second seed from Division I with 11-3 league record

Streaks: Have won two straight, six of last seven

Projected starting five: G Audrey Hutchinson (jr., 7.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.7 steals per game), G Kylie Siket (soph., 6.3 ppg, 3.4 steals per game), G Alea Porter (sr., 8.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.8 steals per game), F Anna Schaeffer (sr., 7.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.7 steals per game), F Mckenna Runkle (soph., 11.9 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 4.3 steals per game)

Key reserves: F Kelly Ulsh (soph., 2.4 ppg), G Ava Terefencko (soph., 2.6 ppg)

Schuylkill League history: Making second appearance in program history. Lost in last year’s quarterfinals to eventual league champion Blue Mountain 52-37

About Lourdes

Head coach: Michael Klembara

How they got here: Third seed from Division II with 10-4 league record

Streaks: Have won two straight, 11 of last 13

Projected starting five: G Kylla Sandri (5-6 fr., 11.3 ppg, 21 3-pointers, 57 assists, 67 steals), G Onaleigh Barnes (5-6 soph., 9 ppg, 39 3-pointers), F Anna Keer (5-9 sr., 6.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg), F Vivian Reiprish (5-9 soph., 7.2 ppg), C Hannah Lokitis (6-1 soph., 11 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 106 blocks)

Key reserves: C Sophia Karlovich (5-11 fr., 3.6 ppg)

Schuylkill League history: Making first appearance since 2019, when won Division II title. Lost to Division I champion Jim Thorpe in semifinals. …. Making ninth league playoff appearance overall, with 4-8 record. Made six straight Schuylkill League playoff appearances from 1991-96, losing in the league title game to North Schuylkill four straight years from 1993-96.

Game Breakdown

Lourdes enters with a distinct height advantage, with Lokitis playing exceptional basketball over the past 3-4 weeks. How the Hurricanes handle her inside will be one of game’s key matchups. …. Schuylkill Haven’s guard pressure, especially in the full court, will be tough for Lourdes’ guards to handle. Very similar to what happened to the Red Raiders in their two matchups with Division II co-champion Marian. Hurricanes need to force turnovers and turn them into offense to be successful. …. Both teams will need to hit outside shots to be successful. Look for Sandri, Barnes, Siket, Porter to launch 3s. … Lots of youngsters in this game, several getting their first taste of the bright lights of Martz Hall. How will they handle that pressure?

Tamaqua (17-5) vs. Williams Valley (20-2)

When: Today, 3:30 p.m.

Where: Martz Hall, Pottsville

Tickets: All tickets are cash sales at the door. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for students. There is no senior citizen discount.

Live updates: Follow T102 Sports Now Content Editor Leroy Boyer on Twitter @pubsportsboss

TV/Radio: Game will simulcasted on T-102 (101.9 FM) and WAVT (1360 AM/105.9 FM)

Up Next: Winner faces Division I champion North Schuylkill (17-5) in Tuesday’s semifinals

About Tamaqua

Head coach: Erika Davis

How they got here: Third seed from Division I with 9-5 league record

Projected starting five: G Kolbe Robb (5-4 sr., 6.0 ppg, 2.7 apg, 4.4 steals per game), G Samantha Plasha (5-5 sr., 4.0 ppg), F Kendle Miller (5-7 jr., 5.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg), F Leah Black (5-7 jr., 3.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg), C Lauren Ligenza (5-10 soph., 13.7 ppg, 8 rpg)

Key reserves: F Millie Black (5-10 fr., 9.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg), G Veronica Scott (5-6 sr., 2.6 ppg)

Schuylkill League history: Making second straight appearance and seventh overall since 1982. …. Last year, won play-in game 39-31 over Panther Valley for Division I No. 3 spot, then upset Division II champion Minersville 48-22 in quarterfinals. Lost in semifinals 42-37 to North Schuylkill …. Won Schuylkill League championships in 1977, 2010, 2011; lost in finals in 2009.

About Williams Valley

Head coach: Shane Zellers

How they got here: Second seed from Division II with 13-1 league record

Streaks: Have won eight straight

Projected starting five: G Mallory Miller (jr., 12.2 ppg, 3.6 apg), G Ella Kobularik (jr., 3.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg), G Ireland Kasper (jr., 6.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg), F Quin Smeltz (jr., 6.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg), F Sage Smeltz (sr., 14.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg)

Key reserves: None

Schuylkill League history: Making first Schuylkill League playoff appearance in school history.

Game Breakdown

Tamaqua has been up and down all season, like the Raiders are missing a wheel. If the Blue Raiders figure things out in the postseason, they could be a sleeper team. …. Tamaqua’s main problems have been turnovers, lack of guard shooting and poor free-throw shooting. Williams Valley’s aggressive defense causes a lot of turnovers and clogs the paint, making things difficult inside. …. Great matchup inside between Ligenza and Sage Smeltz. That will be fun to watch. …. Williams Valley has relied on a good inside-outside balance all season. Vikings will need that to continue to win Saturday.

—– Compiled by Leroy Boyer