Scranton Prep’s Shannon Bestrycki (10) takes a three-point shot during the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinal game at Pottsville Area High School on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Susquehanna Township’s Ja’Zara Lee (3) prevents Scranton Prep’s Chloe Mamera (32) from taking a shot during the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinal game at Pottsville Area High School on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Ava Fenton (4) loses control of the ball during the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinal game at Pottsville Area High School on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Scranton Prep’s Shannon Bestrycki (10) takes a three-point shot during the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinal game at Pottsville Area High School on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Last season, Scranton Prep lost to Neumann-Goretti in the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals at Bethlehem Liberty High School. It brought an end to the careers to the Classics’ five senior starters Maya Jenkins, Bella Dennebaum, Jenna Hillebrand, Claire McGrath and Ashyln Moore.
With five new and young starters this season, coach Bob Beviglia probably didn’t figure to be back so quickly.
Yet here is Scranton Prep, returning to Bethlehem Liberty on Tuesday at 6 p.m. to again face Neumann-Goretti, this time in the Class 4A semifinals and a berth in the state final.
“There was a lot to process last year when we lost,” Beviglia said. “Those kids had been staples in the program for three consecutive years. They played in two Final Fours, they played in a state final. Such huge contributors and the faces of the program for a long time. The thought that we would be moving forward without them was a little bit hard to wrap my head around.
“But as I said to the kids, the program didn’t end when those kids graduated. We knew we had kids who had worked very hard and waited their turn, which is not an easy thing for kids to do, especially today. All we asked them to do was to work while they waited and they did. When I see and think about their growth, that’s a credit to them and buying into what we asked them to do because they were behind five really talented kids.”
Throughout the postseason, Beviglia has talked about this year’s players making the most of their opportunity. They are.
It has been a team effort throughout the postseason. Kamyl Lynady contributing 10 key points in the District 2 final against Valley View. Eva Kaszuba’s all-around effort in the first-round win over Lancaster Catholic — 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, five steals. Chloe Mamera scoring 22 of the team’s first 30 points in the first three quarters of the quarterfinal win over Susquehanna Twp. Shannon Bestrycki hitting three clutch 3-pointers and scoring 11 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter against Susquehanna Twp. Ava Fenton sealing that quarterfinal victory with five free throws down the stretch. McKenna Toolan and Carly Kezywiec providing minutes off the bench.
“We’ve said all year long it doesn’t matter where the points come from, as long as they come,” Beviglia said. “There’s not substitute for kids making shots. Shannon’s ability to make big shots in big spots, for a sophomore in high school, was so integral to us winning the (quarterfinal) game. They did a better job in the fourth quarter of taking Chloe away and it was kind of chaos as far as where the ball was going to end up. Shannon’s teammates were able to find her in positions where she could get her feet set and get a look without defensive pressure and make shots.”
Mamera, the 6-foot-1 sophomore, was the one player who saw significant minutes in last year’s game against Neumann-Goretti. She contributed 14 points, six rebounds and four assists off the bench.
In that game, Scranton Prep was within 39-38 after three quarters. But a slow start to the fourth quarter by the Classics (0 for 5, 1 turnover) enabled Neumann-Goretti to score the first 10 points. Scranton Prep tried to rally, but the Saints went 8 for 8 from the foul line down the stretch to seal the victory and advance. They wound up winning the state title.
Junior Reginna Baker had 18 points last year against Scranton Prep. She is back this season as one of Neumann-Goretti’s leaders. The Saints also boast a standout freshman point guard in Azzure O’Connor.
“The recipe needs to be the same as the other day (against Susquehanna Twp.),” Beviglia said. “We need to keep them from dribble-penetrating, which is easier said than done. Whether we’re playing man or zone, we have to be very conscious of help. They have a couple kids who can make threes, so we have to be able to recover under control and hopefully not allow them to catch and shoot.
“But we have to limit the amount of dribble penetration and limit any transition baskets. We have to force them, as we did on Saturday, to score against us 5-on-5. If they do, then they deserve to beat us. But I don’t want be in 3-on-1, 4-on-2 situations. We need to get back on defense and build a wall around the paint and force them to shoot over top of us.”
Valley View is a common opponent for both teams. Neumann-Goretti beat Valley View in the second round of the tournament, 60-51. Scranton Prep split two meetings with the Cougars in Lackawanna League Division I play, then beat them in the district final.
Both teams also seem to be playing their best basketball at the right time. Neumann-Goretti won 16 of 19 after a 2-7 start, playing a challenging nonconference schedule against top teams from New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Illinois. Scranton Prep won 17 of 18 since consecutive league losses to North Pocono and Valley View. The lone loss was to North Pocono in the Lackawanna Division I championship playoff and Kaszuba did not play in that game.
“There’s an incredible amount of belief in this group,” Beviglia said. “Watching them on the floor, you can see it. They’re very well-connected. They talk to each other in ways that they’re communicating and also in ways that they’re supporting each other. As a coach, that’s a really nice thing for me to see.
“They’re very excited and very focused on the idea that they’re 32 minutes away from playing in a state final. There’s a great deal of pride in this group given the work they’ve done and how much they’ve grown from Nov. 15 to now.”