Late drama, improbable comebacks and championship celebrations that were years, and even decades, in the making headlined an incredible week of high school girls basketball action last week.
Eva Jordan buried a clutch free throw with three seconds remaining to deliver Easton’s first EPC championship since 2016 while Lehighton’s unshakeable starting five played 31 consecutive minutes to dethrone Notre Dame-Green Pond and give the Indians a Colonial League championship in just their second season in the league.
Both teams clinched the top seed in their respective district tournament brackets while the finalists they defeated remained at the top in theirs as the brackets were revealed.
Easton headlines the 6A bracket just ahead of No. 2 Parkland which will attempt to become the first team since Allentown Central Catholic in 1992-1994 to win three consecutive district championships at the highest classification. Bethlehem Catholic will look to shake off its heartbreaking defeat to the Red Rovers as the heavy favorite to win a 10th consecutive championship between the 4A and 5A classifications.
Lehighton lines up across from No. 2 Northwestern Lehigh, the only team to defeat the Indians this year, in the 4A bracket after the Colonial League champions avenged a pair of regular season losses to the Tigers with a 52-49 semifinal victory on Wednesday night. A potential fourth meeting will require the Tigers to knock off three-time defending champion Allentown Central Catholic in the quarterfinal round.
The Crusaders are looking to follow in the Vikettes’ footsteps with their third straight gold medal, but will have their work cut out for them in a loaded 3A field. Williams Valley (2A) and Bethlehem Christian (1A) top the final two brackets with the Vikings vying to defend their title as the Panthers attempt to bring home their first in program history.
The two pigtail matchups between Northern Lehigh and Lehigh Valley Academy in 3A and Blue Mountain hosting Saucon Valley will take place Tuesday, with the quarterfinal round slotted to take place Friday and Saturday.
The full schedule for each bracket, as well as tournament predictions, can be found below.
Derek Bast is a freelance reporter who can be found on Twitter/X at @derek_bast or reached by email at derekbast11@gmail.com.
Class 6A
Quarterfinals (Friday, Feb. 20)
No. 8 PM West (10-13) vs. No. 1 Easton (22-3), 7:30 p.m. at Northampton; No. 7 Freedom (9-13) vs. No. 2 Parkland (17-5), 7:30 p.m. at Catasauqua; No. 6 Liberty (13-11) vs. No. 3 Emmaus (18-6), 6 p.m. at Catasauqua; No. 5 Dieruff (14-9) vs. No. 4 Nazareth (15-8), 6 p.m. at Northampton
Semifinals (Tuesday, Feb. 24, site and time TBD)
Parkland/Freedom winner vs. Emmaus/Liberty winner; Easton/PM West winner vs. Nazareth/Dieruff winner
Final (Friday, Feb. 27, site and time TBD)
Semifinal Prediction: Easton 50, Nazareth 41; Emmaus 44, Parkland 40.
Championship: Easton 41, Emmaus 34.
Class 5A
Semifinals (Wednesday, Feb. 25, site and time TBD)
No. 2 Southern Lehigh (11-12) vs. No. 3 Pottsville (7-15); No. 1 Bethlehem Catholic (21-4) vs. No. 4 Bangor (8-14)
Final (Saturday, Feb. 28, site and time TBD)
Semifinal Prediction: Bethlehem Catholic 62, Bangor 25; Southern Lehigh 43, Pottsville 37.
Championship: Bethlehem Catholic 58, Southern Lehigh 32.
Class 4A
Pigtail Round (Tuesday, Feb. 17)
No. 9 Saucon Valley (12-11) at No. 8 Blue Mountain (11-11), 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals (Saturday, Feb. 21)
Saucon Valley/Blue Mountain vs. No. 1 Lehighton (23-2), 1 p.m. at Palmerton; No. 7 Allentown Central Catholic (11-12) vs. No. 2 NW Lehigh (20-4), 1:30 p.m. at Catasauqua; No. 6 Wilson Area (16-7) vs. No. 3 Palmerton (16-7), 12 p.m. at Catasauqua; No. 5 North Schuylkill (16-8) vs. No. 4 Tamaqua (16-7), 1 p.m. at Martz Hall
Semifinals (Wednesday, Feb. 25, site and time TBD)
NW Lehigh/ACCHS vs. Palmerton/Wilson winner; Lehighton/SV/Blue Mountain winner vs. North Schuylkill/Tamaqua winner
Final (Saturday, Feb. 28, site and time TBD)
Semifinal Prediction: Lehighton 42, North Schuylkill 38; NW Lehigh 47, Wilson 43.
Championship: Lehighton 51, NW Lehigh 45.
Class 3A
Pigtail Round (Tuesday, Feb. 17)
No. 9 LV Academy (13-9) at No. 8 Northern Lehigh (9-13), 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals (Friday, Feb. 20)
NL/LVA vs. No. 1 Notre Dame-GP (20-5), 7:30 p.m. at Executive Education; No. 7 MaST Charter (13-8) vs. No. 2 Schuylkill Haven (20-4), 6 p.m. at Martz Hall; No. 6 Pine Grove (13-9) vs. No. 3 Catasauqua (18-6), 6 p.m. at Executive Education; No. 5 Mahanoy Area (18-6) vs. No. 4 Executive Education (14-7), 7 p.m. at Palmerton
Semifinals (Tuesday, Feb. 24, site and time TBD)
Schuylkill Haven/MaST winner vs. Catasauqua/Pine Grove winner; NDGP/NL/LVA winner vs. EEACS/Mahanoy winner
Final (Friday, Feb. 27, site and time TBD)
Semifinal Prediction: Notre Dame-GP 44, Executive Education 41; Schuylkill Haven 52, Catasauqua 48.
Championship: Notre Dame-GP 38, Schuylkill Haven 36.
Class 2A
Semifinals (Tuesday, Feb. 24, site and time TBD)
No. 2 Marian Catholic (13-10) vs. No. 3 Lincoln Leadership (13-8); No. 1 Williams Valley (16-6) vs. No. 4 Shenandoah Valley (11-11)
Final (Friday, Feb. 27, site and time TBD)
Semifinal Prediction: Williams Valley 41, Shenandoah Valley 35; Marian Catholic 50, Lincoln Leadership 42.
Championship: Marian Catholic 51, Williams Valley 44.
Class 1A
Semifinals (Wednesday, Feb. 25)
No. 2 Notre Dame-ES (7-15) vs. No. 3 Weatherly (7-15); No. 1 Bethlehem Christian (16-3) vs. No. 4 Salem Christian (8-11)
Final (Saturday, Feb. 28, site and time TBD)
Semifinal Prediction: Bethlehem Christian 40, Salem Christian 30; ND-ES 44, Weatherly 42. Championship: Bethlehem Christian 36, Weatherly 34.