Valley View’s Cora Castellani attempts to block Scranton Prep’s Ava Fenton during the basketball game at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Shannon Bestrycki shoots during the basketball game at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
North Pocono’s Julia Biko and Valley View’s Mady Minelli compete for the ball during the basketball game at Valley View High School on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Valley View’s Sadie Cardoni defends North Pocono’s Celia DeCesare during the basketball game at Valley View High School on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Valley View’s Cora Castellani attempts to block Scranton Prep’s Ava Fenton during the basketball game at Valley View High School in Archbald on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Class 5A second round
2-2 North Pocono (22-5) vs. 12-1 Archbishop Wood (13-12)
When: Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Where: Executive Education Charter Academy School, Allentown
Tickets: Tickets 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 defeated Gwynedd Mercy Academy, 42-35; Archbishop Wood beat Sun Valley, 76-30.
Up next: Winner advances to quarterfinals Saturday against winner of game between 11-1 Bethlehem Catholic and 1-2 Villa Maria.
Players to watch: North Pocono- Ella Clementoni (5-9 Jr., 14.6 points, 59 3-pointers, 65-81 FT, .802), Anna Clementoni (6-0 So., 12.4, 67-100 FT .670), Julia Biko (5-9, So., 5.9, 27 3s), Celia DeCesare (5-10 Sr., 5.2), Aleah Quinn (5-7, Sr., 1.4), Alexis Silva (5-11 Jr., 3.1), Trinity Litts (5-6 So., 2.7); Archbishop Wood- Colleen Besachio (5-11, Sr.), Abbie Kelly (5-10, So.), Zoey Whalen (5-10, So.), Emma Yogis (5-6, Sr.), Makayla Finnegan (5-6, Jr.), Casey Thompson (5-11, So.), Natalie Thompson (5-11, So.)
Noteworthy: North Pocono is making its first PIAA appearance since 2015 and 14th overall (7-7). Its first-round win was its first since 2005 when it defeated Villa Joseph Marie, 36-28, in the Class 3A second round. . … The Lady Trojans average 47.3 points and allow 34.5 points. … North Pocono’s five losses are to three district champions (Hazleton Area, Scranton Prep, Crestwood) and two district runners-up (Valley View, Loyalsock). … Archbishop Wood is making its 17th appearance in the PIAA appearance (65-7). Since the Philadelphia Catholic League joined the PIAA in 2008, the Lady Vikings are nine-time state champs, including four straight from 2021-24 — two in Class 4A (2021, 2022) and two in Class 5A (2023, 2024). They were runners-up last year, losing to South Fayette in the final, 45-37. … Archbishop Wood plays a challenging nonleague schedule, facing teams from the District of Columbia, Virginia, New York, Maryland and Georgia. Its win over Sun Valley marked the first time the Lady Vikings have been over .500 all season. … Yogis led Archbishop Wood with 15 points in its first-round win over Sun Valley. Kelly added 11 points and Besachio chipped in with 10 points. … Besachio is a Rider University commit. … The Lady Vikings average 46.3 points and give up 38.1 points.
Class 4A second round
2-1 Scranton Prep (21-6) vs. 11-1 Allentown Central Catholic (15-12)
When: Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Where: Hazleton Area High School
Tickets: Tickets 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: Scranton Prep beat Lancaster Catholic, 52-27; Allentown Central Catholic defeated Mifflinburg, 60-43.
Up next: Winner advances to quarterfinals Saturday against winner of game between 3-1 Susquehanna Twp. and 12-2 Audenreid.
Players to watch: Scranton Prep- Chloe Mamera (6-1 So., 18.7, 75-111 FTs .676); Eva Kaszuba (5-7 Jr., 9.4); Ava Fenton (5-7 Jr., 8.4, 16 3s); Shannon Bestrycki (5-9 So., 6.2, 43 3s); Kamyl Lynady (5-11 Jr., 3.7), McKenna Toolan (5-7 Jr., 2.2, 13 3s); Allentown Central Catholic- Morgan Seagraves (5-10 Sr., 11.0), Shamiya Roberts (5-4 Sr., 7.7), Skylar Thomas (5-10 Sr., 8.6), Alyssa Hursh (5-8 So., 6.4)
Noteworthy: This is a rematch of last year’s second round, which Scranton Prep won, 74-36. … This is the fifth meeting between the teams in the state tournament. Allentown Central Catholic won the first three: 84-56 in 2002 Class 3A semifinals; 49-33 in 2006 Class 3A quarterfinals; and 54-31 in 2020 Class 4A second round. … Scranton Prep is making its 30th PIAA appearance (35-29). … The Classics have won 15 of their last 16 games. They average 51.0 points and allow 34.7 points. … Allentown Central Catholic is making its 44th PIAA appearance (85-36). The Vikettes won seven state titles in Class 3A (1973,1978, 1987, 2001-04) and finished runner-up four times (1991, 2006 in Class 3A; 1989, 1995 in 4A). … Allentown Central Catholic was the No. 7 seed for the District 11 tournament, yet advanced to the final and beat No. 8 Blue Mountain for its fourth straight district title and 26th overall. … In the state first-round win over Mifflinburg, Seagraves scored 21 points and Hursh hit six 3-pointers for 18 points. Taylor did not play due to an appendectomy. … The Vikettes have won four games in a row and six of their last seven. … Allentown Central Catholic averages 46.0 points and allows 42.6 points.
2-2 Valley View vs. 12-1 Neumann-Goretti (16-10)
When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Lehighton High School
Tickets: Tickets 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 defeated Blue Mountain, 49-28; Neumann-Goretti downed Susquenita, 61-31.
Up next: Winner advances to quarterfinals Saturday against winner of matchup between 4-1 Central Columbia and 1-1 Villa Joseph Marie.
Players to watch: Valley View- Cora Castellani (5-5 Jr., 18.3 points, 67 3-pointers); Ava Gazoo (5-7 Sr., 8.4); Sadie Cardoni (5-8 Jr., 7.7); Mady Minelli (5-1 So., 5.2); Ali Mauro (5-5 Fr., 4.8, 18 3s); Ashlan Palickar (5-4 So., 4.9); Neumann-Goretti- Kamora Berry (Sr.), Reginna Baker (Jr.), Chrisette King (So.), Azzure O’Connor (Fr.), Zion Coston (Sr.), Sanai Johnson (Sr.), Haniyyah Solis-Morgan (So.)
Noteworthy: Valley View won its first-round game for the third consecutive season. The Cougars are making their 14th PIAA appearance (12-13). … The Cougars average 53.0 points and allow 36.1 points. … Castellani hit five 3-pointers and finished with 23 points in the first-round victory over Blue Mountain. … Neumann-Goretti is also making its 14th PIAA appearance (43-7). The Saints are defending Class 4A state champions, beating Lansdale Catholic in last year’s final, 48-45. They also win titles in Class 2A in 2015 and 2016 and Class 3A in 2017, 2018 and 2022. They lost in the Class 2A final in 2014 to Seton LaSalle, 58-50. … Neumann-Goretti plays a challenging nonleague schedule against teams from New York, Virginia, Illinois, New Jersey and Maryland. … After losing to Cardinal O’Hara in the Philadelphia Catholic League final, the Saints bounced back to beat Audenreid in the District 12 final, 67-52. … Baker led Neumann-Goretti in its first-round state win with 16 points. Berry followed with 15, while O’Connor totaled 10 points, eight assists, two rebounds and four steals. … The Saints average 57.8 points and allow 47.3 points.
— SCOTT WALSH