Pictured above: Brenna Hunt (right) and Sophia Talutto, in file action, led Lake-Lehman and Dunmore to state wins Saturday. (Tim Drewes Photo)
Lake-Lehman went on extended runs to begin and end the game Saturday while pounding Pen Argyl, 62-35, at Moravian Academy to open the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 3A girls basketball tournament.
The Black Knights outscored the Green Knights, 20-5, in the first 12 minutes and, 30-11, in a similar stretch to end the game.
Third-place basketball teams from District 2 earned state playoff berths in three classifications, but Lake-Lehman was the only one from that group that was able to advance.
Brenna Hunt led the way for Lake-Lehman with 23 points.
Ella Wilson hit the team’s only two 3-pointers while adding 12 points. Hailey Kline was 5-for-6 from the line while scoring 11.
Jillian Morro scored 15 points while becoming the all-time leading scorer at Pen Argyl, which reached the state tournament with the first District 11 championship in program history.
Lake-Lehman, the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 and overall champion, never trailed.
The Black Knights scored the game’s first eight points, led 13-3 after one quarter and kept going with a 7-2 start to the second quarter.
Pen Argyl got within 23-17 at halftime, crept closer and remained within 32-24 before Lake-Lehman blew the game open.
Hunt scored 10 of her points in the third quarter and the Black Knights put together a 39-point second half.
Lake-Lehman closed the third quarter on a 10-2 run, then outscored Pen Argyl 20-9 in the fourth.
The Black Knights (24-5) are scheduled to face District 3 runner-up Columbia (24-4) Tuesday at 7:30 at Pottsville’s Martz Hall.
In other state Class 3A games involving District 2 teams:
Dunmore 64, Bloomsburg 33
Dunmore outscored visiting Bloomsburg by at least eight points in each of the first three quarters while winning at least one state tournament game for the 16th time in 17 years.
The only time the Lady Bucks have not won at least one state game since 2006 was two years ago when Dunmore did not compete in the postseason because of COVID.
The 44th state tournament win in program history turned into a Mercy Rule victory after the Lady Bucks opened leads of 14-5 at the end of the first quarter, 31-11 at halftime and 51-23 through three quarters.
Sophia Talutto scored 11 of her team-high 18 points in the first half.
Ciera Toomey added 15 points.
Cadie Lewis hit four 3-pointers while scoring 14.
Talutto scored seven points in the second and Toomey had seven in the third while Dunmore outscored Bloomsburg, 37-18, in the middle two quarters.
Tristan Canavan chipped in eight points.
Madeline Evans led Bloomsburg with 18 points.
Dunmore, the Lackawanna League Division 3 and District 2 Class 3A champion, moved into the second round against District 1 champion Imhotep Charter. The game is scheduled for Tuesday at Bethlehem Freedom at 6 p.m. Dunmore is 23-3. Imhotep is 16-10.
Mount Carmel 46, Holy Redeemer 36
District 4 champion Mount Carmel recovered from a six-point deficit after one quarter to eliminate visiting Holy Redeemer.
Alyssa Reisinger scored 17 points to lead the Red Tornadoes, who took the lead by halftime and outscored the Lady Royals in each of the last three quarters.
Jenna Pizzoli added 11 points and Ava Chapman had 10 for Mount Carmel (26-2).
Jillian DelBalso led Holy Redeemer with 11 points. Megan Albrecht added 10.
The Lady Royals, who finished 17-12, led 13-7 after eight minutes.
