Scranton Prep’s Chloe Mamera takes a free throw shot during the Class 4A D2 girls championship basketball game at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Kamyl Lynady and Chloe Mamera defend Valley View’s Ashlan Palickar during the Class 4A D2 girls championship basketball game at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Scranton Prep’s Chloe Mamera takes a free throw shot during the Class 4A D2 girls championship basketball game at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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CLASS 4A FIRST ROUND
3-4 Lancaster Catholic (16-9) at 2-1 Scranton Prep (20-5)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Tickets: Ticket prices are $9 for advance online purchases and $10 day-of-game online purchases. Tickets at the door are $10, cash only, and exact change is required. Please note that due to capacity limits, tickets may not be available for purchase at the door. Pre-kindergarten children are admitted free of charge.
How they got here: Lancaster Catholic beat Eastern York, 52-21, then lost to Susquehanna Twp., 47-43, and won the third-place game to Northern Lebanon, 38-36. Scranton Prep defeated Hanover Area, 61-15, then Honesdale, 58-28, and Valley View, 52-47.
Up next: Winner advances to second round March 11 against winner of 11-1 Allentown Central Catholic and 4-2 Mifflinburg game.
Players to watch: Lancaster Catholic- Nevaeh Kennedy (Jr., 12.9 ppg, 26 3-pointers), Mia Bonafede (Fr., 11.6, 12 3s), Ava Swartz (So., 1.7), Morgan Gaylord (Sr., 4.6), Jacy Shane (Jr. 4.1, 20 3s); Scranton Prep- Chloe Mamera (6-1 So., 18.8); Eva Kaszuba (5-7 Jr., 9.1); Ava Fenton (5-7 Jr., 8.6); Shannon Bestrycki (5-9 So., 6.0, 41 3s); Kamyl Lynady (5-11 Jr., 3.4).
Noteworthy: This is the third meeting in the state playoffs between the teams. Lancaster Catholic is 2-0, winning in the 1996 Class 3A quarterfinals, 59-31, and the 2018 Class 4A quarterfinals, 49-38. Both years, the Lady Crusaders went on to win a state championship. Lancaster Catholic also won state titles in 3A in 1974, 1989 and 2024. This is its 37th PIAA appearance (69-36). The Lady Crusaders average 45.5 points. Seven of their nine losses have been by seven points or less. … Despite graduating its five senior starters from last season, Scranton Prep won its fourth straight District 2 Class 4A title and eighth in nine years with a new, younger lineup. This is the Classics’ 30th PIAA appearance (34-29). Scranton Prep won 14 of its last 15 games, the lone loss coming to North Pocono in the Lackawanna Division I all-season playoff that ended its streak of eight division titles in a row. The Classics average 51 points and allow 35 points.
2-2 Valley View (19-6) at 11-2 Blue Mountain (14-12)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Tickets: Ticket prices are $9 for advance online purchases and $10 day-of-game online purchases. Tickets at the door are $10, cash only, and exact change is required. Please note that due to capacity limits, tickets may not be available for purchase at the door. Pre-kindergarten children are admitted free of charge.
How they got here: Valley View beat Mid Valley, 50-9, then Nanticoke, 74-46, before losing to Scranton Prep, 52-47; Blue Mountain beat Saucon Valley, 39-36, Lehighton, 49-34, and North Schuylkill, 44-37, before losing to Allentown Central Catholic, 46-31.
Up next: Winner advances to second round March 11 against winner of 12-1 Neumann Goretti and 3-5 Susquenita game.
Players to watch: Valley View- Cora Castellani (5-5 Jr., 18.1 points, 62 3-pointers); Ava Gazoo (5-7 Sr., 8.4); Sadie Cardoni (5-8 Jr., 7.7); Mady Minelli (5-1 So., 5.4); Ali Mauro (5-5 Fr., 5.0); Ashlan Palickar (5-4 So., 4.9); Blue Mountain- Callie Peel (Jr.), Hailey Place (Sr.), Karlet Koch (So.), Mila Fleagle (Jr.)
Noteworthy: Valley View is making its third straight PIAA appearance and 14th overall (11-13). This is the 40th anniversary of the team that lost in the 3A final to Mercyhurst Prep, 42-38. The Cougars average 53.1 points and allow 36.5 points. Castellani scored her 1,000th career point Jan. 28. … Blue Mountain is making its 10th PIAA appearance (6-9). Peel is a Schuylkill League Coaches All-Star honorable mention. She scored 26 points in the upset win of Lehighton in the District 11 quarterfinals. Place added 10 points in the win over Lehighton and netted 18 in the victory over North Schuylkill. Fleagle had 10 points in the win over North Schuylkill.
CLASS 5A First round
2-2 North Pocono (21-5) vs. 1-3 Gwynedd Mercy (16-9)
When: Saturday, noon
Where: Wissahickon HS
Tickets: Ticket prices are $9 for advance online purchases and $10 day-of-game online purchases. Tickets at the door are $10, cash only, and exact change is required. Please note that due to capacity limits, tickets may not be available for purchase at the door. Pre-kindergarten children are admitted free of charge.
How they got here: North Pocono beat Berwick, 47-13, then Dallas, 44-41, before losing to Crestwood, 57-32; Gwynedd Mercy defeated Sun Valley, 49-30, lost to Villa Maria Academy, 38-26, then beat Marple-Newtown, 56-46.
Up next: Winner advances to second round March 11 against 12-1 Archbishop Wood and 1-7 Sun Valley winner.
Players to watch: North Pocono- Ella Clementoni (5-9 Jr., 14.5 points, 58 3-pointers, 60-75 FT, .800), Anna Clementoni (6-0 So., 12.5), Julia Biko (5-9, So., 6.0, 27 3s), Celia DeCesare (5-10 Sr., 5.1), Aleah Quinn (5-7, Sr., 1.4); Gwynedd Mercy- Bailey Balkir (Sr.), Brooke Evans (Sr.), Chloe McCarthy (So.), Shelby Stefan (Fr.)
Noteworthy: North Pocono is making its first PIAA appearance since 2015 and 14th overall (6-7). The Lady Trojans won the Lackawanna League Division I title, ending Scranton Prep’s eight-year run as champion. They average 47.5 points and allow 34.5 points. North Pocono’s five losses came against three district champions (Hazleton Area, Scranton Prep, Crestwood) and two district runners-up (Valley View, Loyalsock). All five are state qualifiers. Ella Clementoni scored her 1,000th career point in the district final against Crestwood. … Gwynedd Mercy is making its 20th PIAA appearance (20-19). Lady Monarchs coach Taylor Sweeney is in her second season. She played 28 games in two seasons at King’s College. Balkir, a Gettysburg College commit, was named Most Valuable Player of the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies for the second consecutive season and is a three-time first-team league all-star. On Dec. 16, she became the fourth player in program history to score 1,000 career points. McCarthy is a second-team all-AACA selection.
— SCOTT WALSH