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)
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)
Scranton Prep’s Eva Kaszuba (31) drives toward the basket 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 Chloe Mamera (32) takes 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) takes the ball down the court during the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinal game at Pottsville Area High School on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Eva Kaszuba (31) prepares to take a free throw to put her team ahead in the fourth quarter during the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinal game at Pottsville Area High School on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Scranton Prep’s Eva Kaszuba (31) handles 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)
POTTSVILLE — Scranton Prep led by one point with one minute and 37 seconds left in the game.
The Classics needed that one play that would give them separation from a tough Susquehanna Twp. team.
Shannon Bestrycki proved ready for the moment.
Scranton Prep star Chloe Mamera found her teammate in the corner, and Bestrycki buried the 3-pointer.
“I wasn’t really thinking about it,” Bestrycki said. “I just shot it because my teammates got me the ball, but I was happy it went.”
That shot, and Ava Fenton making five straight free throws down the stretch, sealed the 49-43 victory over District 3 champion Susquehanna Twp. on Saturday at Martz Hall and advanced Scranton Prep to the PIAA Class 4A girls basketball semifinals.
The District 2 champion will face District 12 and defending state champion Neumann-Goretti, a 58-41 winner over District 4 champion Central Columbia, on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.
“We were really tough,” Bestrycki said. “We were just going after every loose ball. We knew we had to pull off this win, and we knew they were going to be super tough.”
Mamera once again dominated in every aspect of the game. She finished with 22 points, accounting for all but eight of the team’s points through the first three quarters.
“I said to her yesterday, in order for us to win, you have to be a Division I basketball player, and she was,” Scranton Prep coach Bob Beviglia said. “(She) just made phenomenal plays, great moves, very strong, played tough and smart, all the things that you would ask. Any Division I schools who watched what she did today would be like, yeah, sign me up. I’ll take 32.”
Bestrycki had three of those points, scoring the team’s first field before putting the Classics on her back in the fourth quarter.
Trailing, 31-30, at the start of the fourth quarter thanks to a buzzer-beater from Susquehanna Twp.’s Jaycee Martin, Scranton Prep fed its star Mamera on the high post, which created an open look for Bestrycki.
She took advantage, knocking down a 3-pointer to give the Classics a 33-31 lead. The next possession, Mamera dove on a loose ball and gave it to Fenton, who passed to Eva Kaszuba on the wing. Kaszuba threw a cross-court pass with her off hand to Bestrycki, who buried another 3-pointer for a 36-31 advantage with 5:46 left in the fourth.
“She played really well,” Mamera said. “I’m glad we got her some open shots, and she was able to hit them like usual. So, that was really, really big.”
After a Devyn Archer basket, Kamyl Lynady hit a cutting Bestrycki, whose layup gave Scranton Prep a 39-33 lead.
Then, Londyn Le’Mon scored seven straight points, capped by a steal and breakaway layup, to give Susquehanna Twp. a 40-39 lead with 2:34 left.
Kaszuba answered, attacking the basket and knocking down two clutch free throws to give Scranton Prep a 41-40 advantage with 2:16 left.
After two strong defensive possessions, Fenton secured the rebound, and Mamera once again hit Bestrycki for an open 3-pointer for the 44-40 lead with 1:37 left. Bestrycki finished with 14 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter.
“The coaches can attest to this. We go through practice, and I get on her and she just smiles at me,” Beviglia said. “It’s that kind of composure that I think allows her to make the shots that she made. Obviously, we don’t win the basketball game without those shots.”
Fenton sunk five straight free throws to seal the victory for the Classics (23-5), who won 17 of their last 18 games.
“We played probably one of our best games all season,” Mamera said. “That was just a really gritty, gritty win. We didn’t stop, played super hard on defense and then executed on offense.”
Martin led Susquehanna Twp. (22-5) with 15 points.