(EDITOR’S NOTE: Since May of 1999, the Times News Sports Department has featured an On This Date practically every day, highlighting an event that happened in the past. With the coronavirus putting a halt to sports locally and nationally, the On This Dates have been expanded to the stories that actually ran in the next day’s newspaper. Today’s On This Date story is from March 19, 1999).

By Joe Plasko

TIMES NEWS Staff

READING - For Panther Valley, a trip to the PIAA Class AA Eastern semifinals was unchartered territory, while Trinity is a perennial state playoff fixture.

The Lady Panthers demonstrated by their 81-66 dismantling of Trinity Friday night that they are rapidly rising to the occasion.

The Panthers also have long memories. A year ago, Panther Valley’s season came to a sudden halt at the Geigle Complex with a 67-58 loss to Wyomissing.

This time, a return to the Reading High hardwood saw the Panthers move one step closer to Hershey with a superb all-around performance against one of the state’s premier programs.

With the resounding victory, the District 11 champion Panthers (26-5) advance to the Eastern finals for the first time in school history, where they will face Bishop Hoban, a 56-38 winner over Wyomissing, on Tuesday at a site to be determined.

While Panther coach Rob Kovac might be disappointed his club won’t get another shot at Wyomissing (“If there’s a basketball God, we’ll get Wyomissing on Tuesday,” he said following the game), the Panthers more than made up for it by routing the District 3 champion Shamrocks (25-6).

“To beat Trinity, you have to believe you can,” said Kovac. “We tried to play it low-key all week, but I think every kid in our locker room honestly believed we were going to win this basketball game tonight.

“We talk a lot about destiny, but maybe we’re starting to believe it right now,” he added.

Panther Valley made believers out of the Shamrocks, who arrived late for the game when their bus driver got lost en route to Geigle. Despite an early 6-0 lead, Trinity never did get untracked against the physical, well-balanced Panthers.

“We have no excuses,” said Trinity coach Harry DeFrank. “They outplayed us completely, in all phases of the game. They deserved to win, and I hope they go the whole way.”

If there were any demons lurking from last year’s season ending loss, the Panthers quickly exorcised them. Junior center Esther Hoffer’s back-to-back triples gave PV a 15-10 edge late in the first period, and the Panthers never looked back.

“A lot of people thought we wouldn’t want to come down here again after the unfortunate situation last year, but we relished it,” said Kovac. “We had a point to prove, not only to Trinity, but to everyone in Berks County, that we’re a good basketball team.

“One of our goals was to survive the first eight minutes, and if you told me before the game that we’d be up seven after one, I’d have jumped on it in a heartbeat. For the first time since districts started, we made our shots in the first quarter.”

An 8-of-13 effort from the field in the opening stanza, topped by Hoffer’s eight points, had PV in front 18-11 after one. From there, the Panthers had the answer for everything Trinity threw at them.

The Shamrocks tried fullcourt defensive pressure, but Panther guards Nadia Gauronsky and Mandy Watkins got the ball to junior Lacey Gonzalez in the open court.

Gonzalez’ slashing drives not only beat the press and resulted in 22 points, it also got Trinity’s Chrissy Walker and Maria Wall in foul trouble, with both eventually fouling out.

“Nadia Gauronsky did an unbelievable job against the press,” said Kovac. “She broke a lot of it herself. Mandy also kept her composure, and Lacey finished on the fast break so many times.

“We have a philosophy. If you try to press us, we try to score. We look at it as a sign of disrespect, so if you come at us with pressure, we’re going to make you pay,” furthered Kovac.

“Our game plan was to throw the ball over the top and get it to me, so we could beat the press and get a 2-on-1,” added Gonzalez.

The Panthers maintained the seven-point spread at 30-23 at the half after each side tallied a dozen in the second stanza.

Junior Kristin Blazosky, whose hustle produced 13 rebounds, hit two foul shots to kick off a 7-0 Panther run to open the second half. A Watkins’ trey and two Gonzalez charity tosses widened the gap to 37-23.

The Shamrocks cut the deficit to eight several times in the frame, but they couldn’t stop Gonzalez, who netted nine points. PV was also a perfect 9-for-9 from the line in the period and led 48-37 at the end of the third quarter.

The final period was a foulathon, as the Shamrocks kept putting the Panthers on the line. PV responded by sinking a whopping 25 of 34 from the stripe for the quarter and 38--for-49 for the game. Hoffer swished 9-for-10, while Trish O’Gurek chipped in by sinking seven of her 10 free throw attempts.

That foul shooting proficiency allowed PV to hold off a rally bid that saw Trinity move within seven at 62-55 with 4:32 left. Wall and Walker exited on fouls shortly after that, however, and the Panthers regained command.

In addition to Gonzalez’ 22 points, Hoffer finished with a brilliant 21 point, 13 rebound, six blocked shot effort. Watkins added 11 points.

Ellen Holjes led Trinity with 22 points.

HOOPLA ... Panthers shot 20 for 37 from the floor (54 percent) while Trinity was 22 for 66 (33 percent) ... Panthers held a 41-33 rebounding edge ... Trinity forced 21 turnovers but Shamrocks didn’t capitalize, getting in foul trouble instead. Trinity committed 13 turnovers.

PANTHER VALLEY

Bruch 0-0-0-0, Gonzalez 6-10-17-22, Blazosky 2-4-4-8, N. Gauronsky 3-2-2-8, Hoffer 5-11-12-23, Watkins 3-4-4-11, O’Gurek 1-7-10-9. TOTALS: 20-38-49-81.

TRINITY

Holjes 7-6-8-22, Twomey 4-4-6-14, Giusti 0-0-0-0, Walker 5-2-4-12, Gillis 2-2-2-6, Mardis 0-0-0-0, Gianinni 0-0-0-0, Wall 2-4-6-8, Schemeck 2-0-0-4, Stoner 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 22-18-26-66.

Panther Vy. 18 12 18 33 - 81

Trinity 11 12 14 29 - 66

Officials: Falcone, McCabe, Pierce.

Three-point goals: PV - Hoffer 2, Watkins 1; T - Holjes 2, Twomey 2.