HAZLE TWP. — Scranton Prep came out swinging in its bid to advance in the PIAA Class 4A girls basketball tournament Wednesday.

The Classics dazed Allentown Central Catholic with a 26-point first-quarter flurry, the jump-start to their 63-28 win over the Vikettes in a second-round game at Hazleton Area High School.

“We emphasized throwing the first punch and scoring the first points all week,” said Scranton Prep junior co-captain Ava Fenton, who was one of four Classics with at least nine points. “Once we got the lead, we wanted to keep building on it.”

That the Classics did.

Taking advantage of the first 11 of ACC’s 26 turnovers, Scranton Prep scored 15 of the game’s first 17 points on the way to a 26-9 lead after the first quarter. Five Classics contributed in the early outburst, including Eva Kaszuba with eight points, Fenton with five and Chloe Mamera and Kamyl Lynady with four apiece. That kind of offensive balance is par for the course to the man who knows them best.

“This group, when you look at our juniors, including (McKenna) Toolan, and (Shannon) Bestrycki and Mamera, who are both sophomores, have waited their turn,” Classics coach Bob Beviglia said. “They played behind five really good players for the past two years. They have been very much unified, both as JV players and in their moment in the (varsity) spotlight. I’m not surprised at all. Sometimes, they’re a little too unselfish, but I just love watching them play, especially when they play with the energy they played with tonight.

“I thought we had them on their heels from pretty much the jump ball,” he added. “Our defense was solid for the most part. We created a lot of turnovers and got some easy baskets off them. But we shot it pretty well from the perimeter, too. When you put the two things together, we’re going to be a tough out.”

Scranton Prep (22-5) kept the District 11 champions backed into the corner in the second quarter, as Kaszuba wrapped a 3-pointer and layup around a short Mamera jumper to stretch the Classics’ lead to 33-11, with still five minutes until halftime.

“We always seem to get past that first-round game, but then we run into a real doozy (of an) opponent in the second round,” Central Catholic coach Kathy Davidowich said. “They’re a fantastic team and we knew that coming in. My key … was handling their pressure, but we just couldn’t do it tonight.”

Kaszuba finished the second quarter with five more of her team-high 15 points, while Fenton and Mamera tacked on another four apiece. Morgan Seageaves topped the Vikettes (15-13) with five of her game-best 16 points.

Bestrycki’s 3-pointer at the 4:59 mark of the third quarter hiked Scranton Prep’s lead to 48-17 and kicked in the PIAA’s mercy rule, meaning the final 13 minutes were played with a running clock. Once again, five Classics added to their team’s point total, which Beviglia was more than happy to note afterward, especially that not a single Scranton Prep player who saw action was a senior.

“It’s unusual,” he said. “We’re in an immediate gratification society. These kids understand that when they come to Prep, they’re going to have to put in the time and the work. I always tell them, ‘You have to work while you wait,’ and that’s what they did. I’m thrilled that they’re now getting their moment in the sun.”

For the District 2 champs, that “moment” will continue against Susquehanna Twp., the District 3 titlist, in Saturday’s quarterfinals.

“I’d say they’re a year ahead of schedule,” Beviglia noted of his players. “I always tell them, ‘We’re overachievers,’ but I would much rather coach or teach overachievers than underachievers.”