EDITOR’S NOTE: The semifinals of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association basketball tournament began Monday. While NEPASportsNation.com compiles more complete reports, here is a quick recap of the night’s action.
By Paul Gerrity and Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
POTTSVILLE – Dunmore led from start to finish Monday night while assuring that a girls basketball season that began with uncertainty will conclude at The Giant Center in Hershey.
Playing with poise while turning aside a series of challenges from the state’s top-ranked Class 3A team, the second-ranked Lady Bucks defeated Lancaster Catholic, 43-37, in a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association semifinal at Martz Hall.
Sophia Talutto scored the game’s first basket and had four points while the Lady Bucks were taking an 8-0 lead.
Dunmore got the lead into double figures in each of the four quarters, but Lancaster Catholic kept fighting back, including getting within, 29-26, late in the third quarter.
Ciera Toomey, the North Carolina commit whose availability to the team was uncertain as she was still rehabilitating a serious knee injury when the season started, led the way with 13 points. She twice converted offensive rebounds while the Lady Bucks were taking a 12-2 lead after one quarter.
Tristan Canavan, who sat most of the first half with two fouls, scored all 11 of her points in the second half.
Talutto added eight points.
Lackawanna League Division 3 and District 2 champion Dunmore (26-3) will play District 6 champion River Valley (29-2) Thursday at 6 p.m. for the state title. River Valley reached the final with Monday’s 44-38 victory over Our Lady of Sacred Heart.
While Dunmore never trailed, Montrose never led in its Class 2A girls semifinal at Central Mountain High School in Mill Hall.
District 6 champion Homer Center shut down the Lady Meteors, never letting up in a 47-13 victory.
Molly Kosmack led the way with 13 points, 18 rebounds and 5 blocked shots.
Kosmack led the Wildcats to a 38-18 rebounding advantage.
Homer Center forced 22 Montrose turnovers and held the Lady Meteors to 17.1 percent (6-for-35) shooting.
Hayley Pompey led the Lady Meteors with 10 points.
Lancaster Catholic and Dunmore were ranked 1-2 by www.TribHSSN.Triblive.com.
Dunmore is headed to its fourth state final and looking for its first title. River Valley will be making its championship game debut.
The Holy Cross boys, Scranton Prep girls and Mountain View girls play in state semifinals Tuesday.
MORE COVERAGE
Return to Basketball – NEPA Sports Nation more-detailed reports on Monday’s action and more upcoming coverage of the remainder of the state tournament.
