The Northern Lehigh girls will play for a District 11 championship tonight, while the Marian girls will play for the right to join the Bulldogs and Minersille in the PIAA Class 2A State Tournament.

District 11 Class 2A

Championship Game

No. 4 Northern Lehigh (16-9)

vs. No. 2 Minersville (21-4)

Friday, March 1, 6 p.m. at Martz Hall.

LEADING OFF

One year after meeting in the District 11 Class 2A consolation game, Northern Lehigh and Minersville will play tonight for an even bigger prize - a District 11 championship. The No. 4 seeded Bulldogs stunned No. 1 seed Marian, 52-49, in the one semifinal on Tuesday night, while the No. 2 seed Battlin’ Miners knocked off No. 3 seed Schuylkill Haven, 37-29.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Northern Lehigh – Aubrey Pollard (17.6 ppg), Katelyn Barthold (15.0 ppg), Teegan Simms (9.76 ppg, 42 three-pointers), Dekota Barthold (7.44 ppg, 29 three-pointers).

Minersville – Brooke Kopinetz (14.6 ppg), Kaycee Raczka (14.1 ppg), Taylor Conti (12.7 ppg), Keera Brennan (8.7 ppg).

BY THE NUMBERS

0 – Northern Lehigh is in search of the first District 11 title in program history. The Bulldogs are 0-for-3 in championship game appearances, having lost in the finals in 1984, 2010 and 2011.

7 - The Battlin’ Miners have captured seven district championships in school history (1989, 1990, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022)

14 – Jared Homa has been Minersville’s girls basketball head coach for the last 14 years - and has led his team into the distict tournament in each of those seasons.

27 – The number of points the Bulldogs’ Katelyn Barthold scored in last season’s consolation game victory over Minersville.

2017 – The year the Battlin’ Miners knocked off Bishop McCort (63-49) to capture the PIAA State Class 2A Championship.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“The biggest thing in our win over Marian was the mental toughness we showed. In a game against the No. 1 seed, you’re up by double digits, and suddenly you’re going into the fourth quarter down one. I think a lot of teams at that point throw the white flag up. But our girls didn’t, and that’s what I was most proud of. The game took a lot out of us, so I’m hoping we have some stuff left for Friday night. We’re excited about being here.” – Northern Lehigh coach Chris Heery.

District 11 Class 2A

Consolation Game

No. 1 Marian (19-5) vs.

No. 3 Schuylkill Haven (20-5)

Friday, March 1, 6 p.m. at Blue Mountain.

LEADING OFF

Top-seed Marian enters tonight’s consolation game in unusual territory after playing in a district championship game three straight seasons. After dropping a three-point decision to Northern Lehigh in the semifinals, the Fillies will try to bounce back and claim a state playoff berth for the fourth straight season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marian Catholic – Carly Minchhoff (14.73 ppg); Addison Fritz (12.22 ppg); Frankie Martinelli (10.89 ppg); Deanna Pugh (7.75 ppg); Aliya Tikhtova (6.48 ppg).

Schuylkill Haven – McKenna Runkle (10.4 ppg, 7.0 rebounds per game), Karlee Feger (7.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Anna Schaeffer (6.8 ppg, 5 rpg), Alea Porter (6.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Audrey Hutchinson (6.2 ppg, 5.0 steals per game).

BY THE NUMBERS

7 – Tuesday night was only the seventh time in 24 games this season that Marian was held under 50 points. They are 2-5 in those games. The Fillies are 17-0 when they score more than 50 points.

11 – Schuylkill Haven opened the 2023-2024 regular season with an 11–game win streak that was snapped by Minersville (48-20) on Jan. 5.

12 – Marian’s margin of victory (58-46) in the regular seaosn meeting between the two teams on Jan. 22 in Hometown. The Fillies’ Carly Minchhoff surpassed the 1,000 career-point mark in the game that Marian led by 25 points late in the fourth quarter before a late Haven run made it look more respectable.

16 – Schuylkill Haven ended a 16-year District 11 playoff drought this season.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“We’re fortunate to be in this situation, and have another opportunity to continue our season after losing on Tuesday. Now we need to take advantage of that. So far, our season has fallen a little short of our goals. We wanted to get to the championship game in the Schuylkill League, and we wanted to be playing for a District championship. But we have new life now. We have another opportunity to qualify for States. You never know what could happen. We just need to come in with a clear mind, enjoy the moment, and play Fillies’ basketball.” – Marian coach Damian Fritz.