The two Lehigh Valley-area boys basketball teams playing on Tuesday night in the PIAA tournament are getting rematches.

Suffice to say, however, that Bethlehem Christian’s rematch with Sankofa Freedom in the second round of the Class 1A tournament is a bit fresher in the hearts and minds of the Panthers.

It was just last year when Sankofa beat Bethlehem Christian 75-66 in the same round in the tournament. It was a defeat that motivated the Panthers throughout the offseason and a season which has resulted in a 26-2 record, a second straight District 11 title and a PIAA first-round win.

At 6 p.m. Tuesday at Souderton High School, Bethlehem Christian’s wait for a second chance at Sankofa is over as the teams meet again in the Class A round-of-16.

Salisbury is also getting a rematch of its last state playoff loss, a 99-46 defeat to Scranton Prep in 2017. The Falcons, the No. 3 entry out of District 11, will play the District 2 champions at 7:30 Tuesday night in a Class 4A second-round game at Pleasant Valley.

Both Bethlehem Christian coach Matt DeJesus and Salisbury mentor Jason Weaver know their teams face major challenges, but both are excited for the challenge.

“We played Scranton Prep at Marywood University, and they took it to us,” Weaver said. “I have been watching them on film and they’re big, but they’re really quick. In some instances, our game against West Philly on Friday night, prepared us a little bit for Scranton Prep, but these guys are much better shooters.”

Salisbury’s 54-45 win over West Philly in Friday’s first round was its first state tournament win since a 65-60 victory over Delone Catholic in the second round of the 2001.

It was a special moment for a senior-laden team that has not given up after suffering frustrating losses to Northwestern Lehigh in the league semis and to Allentown Central Catholic in the district’s final four.

“The kids were pumped up, and it was a great locker room after the game,” Weaver said. “We’ve had some tough losses in the playoffs, but to go on the road and get a win in states in Philly was awesome. They played really well. They played with a lot of composure, didn’t take bad shots and Lozada was awesome. He had nine rebounds to go along with 25 points, and he controlled everything for us. We worked for good shots and made 10 3s.”

Weaver said that his team has been in every game it has played but unfortunately lost some close ones.

“The goal on Tuesday night is to be in that game late and give ourselves a shot,” Weaver said. “We’re happy with the site. We were on the bus for an hour and 50 minutes to get to Philly on Friday with all of the traffic. Then it took us about 20 minutes to get through the security. So, going to Pleasant Valley is nice. It’s in District 11 and it’s a gym I have been in before and I think most of our guys have been in there as well.”

Meanwhile, Bethlehem Christian has a little bit further of a ride to Souderton, but the Panthers don’t care where the game is being played. They are focused on the opposition.

“We’re ready to play for sure,” said coach Matt DeJesus. “We look back on last year and feel it was a game we should have won. We had opportunities to win. We made a couple of mental mistakes in the third quarter and that cost us. We didn’t shoot well from the line either. So, there were a couple of things we talked about all season. We have to be better with turnovers and be better on defense. When we get to the line, we have to shoot well and not let free points out there. We can’t take plays off if we get a little bit of a lead. We have to finish games out.”

DeJesus said he’s looking forward to the game but has great respect for Sankofa.

“We have to rebound and we can’t turn the ball over and stay out of foul trouble,” DeJesus said. “Their graduated a couple of guys from last year, but they are very similar to last year. They have height and they can shoot and they bring the pressure on defense.”

The hope is that the strong nonleague schedule Bethlehem Christian played will have them ready for the challenge.

“This team reminds me a lot of Executive with how they play,” DeJesus said. “That’s why we played those out-of-league games to get us ready for districts and states. I think our guys are ready. There’s going to be a lot of excitement. We just have to be able finish this time.”

PIAA Class 4A second-round

Who: Salisbury (District 11, No. 3, 24-4) vs. Scranton Prep (District 2 champ, 21-5)

When/where: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Pleasant Valley High School.

At stake: Winner plays either Devon Prep (District 12, No. 4, 6-18) or Valley View (District 2, No. 3, 20-6) in Friday’s Class 4A quarterfinals.

SALISBURY

Coach: Jason Weaver (18th season, 267-174)

How they got here: Beat North Schuylkill 51-42 in D11 3rd-place game; beat West Philadelphia 54-45 in first-round of state tournament.

Players to watch: Bryan Gonzalez (6-0, Sr. G) 6.4 ppg; Steven Lozada (6-2, Sr. G) 15.0 ppg; Julian Makhoul (6-3, Jr. F) 11.9 ppg; Drew Petrie (5-11, Sr. G) 9.7 ppg; Garrett Leiner (6-0, Jr. G) 8.3 ppg; Keaton Frye (6-1, Jr. F)  Riley Cady (5-11, Jr. G) 2.3 ppg.

About the Falcons: Average 56.0 ppg, allow 44.2 … The win over West Philadelphia gave program its first PIAA win since a 65-60 win over Delone Catholic in the second round of the 2001 2A tournament. … Own a 9-20 all-time state playoff record … Lozada scored 25 points in the win over West Philly, including nine in the fourth quarter. Falcons made 10 3-pointers, including three by Petrie and two apiece by Lozada, Leiner and Gonzalez. … Four losses have come by a total of 20 points with two playoff losses by a combined six points.

SCRANTON PREP 

Coach: Larry Reagan (third season)

How they got here: Beat Dallas 67-52 in the District 2 title game; beat Schuylkill Valley, District 3’s No. 3, 65-48, in the first round of the state tournament.

Players to watch: Packy Doherty (6-2, Sr. G) 22.2 ppg; Brody Martin (6-1, Sr. G) 11.9 ppg; Chicky Skoff (5-10, Soph. G) 9.2 ppg; Max McGrath (6-3, Jr. F) 5.4 ppg, Charlie Skoff (6-1, Jr. G-F), 5.2 ppg.

About the Cavaliers: Won their eighth District 2 Class 4A championship since 2016-17. … Got 28 points from Chicky Skoff in the district title game and 20 points and 11 rebounds from Doherty, who followed it up with 25 points in the first round of the PIAA against Schuylkill Valley. Martin added 14 and Charlie Skoff chipped in 10 in the state tournament win … Own a 30-26 all-time in the state playoffs and have won in the first round in four straight seasons. … Doherty has scored more than 1,000 career points and has 33 3-pointers in seven state playoff games. … Had nine 3-pointers as a team against Schuylkill Valley. … Lost to Berks Catholic 51-47 in the second round of last year’s state tournament after beating Northwestern Lehigh 75-48 in the first round.

Keith Groller’s pick: Scranton Prep 60-53

PIAA Class A second-round

Who: Bethlehem Christian (District 11 champ, 26-2) vs. Sankofa Freedom (District 12 champ, 19-8)

When/where: 6 p.m. at Souderton High School

At stake: Winner plays either York Country Day (District 3, No. 2, 22-4) or Chester Charter (District 1 champ, 19-6) in Friday’s Class 1A quarterfinals.

BETHLEHEM CHRISTIAN

Coach: Matt DeJesus (fourth season, 87-24)

How they got here: Beat Weatherly 86-56 for second straight District 11 title; beat Lourdes 86-56 in first round of the state tournament.

Players to watch: Nick Kasper (5-9, Sr. G); Myles Harris (6-1, Sr. G); Gabe Transue (6-4, Sr. F); Caleb Brown (6-4, Sr. C); Deion Swift (6-1, Jr. G).

About the Panthers: Average 77.3 ppg and 6.9 3-pointers per game. … In the win over Lourdes, Transue scored 38 points, after tallying 41 in the district final, and Harris added 28 points and six assists. … Transue now has 2,235 career points, which is second in Lehigh Valley boys basketball history behind only Catasauqua legend Larry Miller, who scored 2,722 points in a career that ended in 1974. Transyue also has 1,193 career rebounds … Bethlehem Christian is 3-3 all-time in the state tournament and has won first-round games three straight years. … Currently have a 14-game win streak after a 79-59 loss at Allentown Central Catholic on Jan. 10. Other loss was to Nazareth, 87-68, on Dec. 13. … Most impressive wins were over Catasauqua, Dieruff and Executive Education.

SANKOFA FREEDOM

Coach: Isaiah Thomas (16th year).

How they got here: Beat MaST Community Charter 76-51 for district title; beat Dayspring Christian Academy 57-43 in state opener.

Players to watch: Nafis Dubose (6-3, Sr. F) 15.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg; Nasir Brown (5-11, Sr. G) 8.9 ppg. 2.5 apg; Sammad Geary-West (6-4, So. F) 9.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg; Terrence Fortson (6-3, Jr. F) 4.9 ppg; Yasir Johnson (6-0 Sr. F) 5.2 ppg.

About the Warriors: They are 18-8 all-time in the state tournament. … Lost to Neighborhood Academy 60-51 in last year’s state final. … Won the state title in 2019. … Coach Thomas is also a member of Philadelphia City Council. … Last loss was to West Philadelphia, 48-42, on Feb. 12.

Keith Groller’s pick: Bethlehem Christian 67-66