Pictured above: Jenna Hillebrand, shown in the district championship game, helped Scranton Prep get through overtime Wednesday. (Tim Drewes Photo)
Playoff basketball was beginning to look easy for the Scranton Prep girls.
The trend of playoff routs – but not the season – came to an end Wednesday night.
The Classics overcame a fourth-quarter deficit and, with Maya Jenkins and Jenna Hillebrand leading the way in overtime, escaped the Easton Middle School with a 51-47 victory over Nazareth Academy in a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 4A girls basketball second-round game.
Scranton Prep (23-2) had beaten Nanticoke by 19 in the District 2 semifinals, Wyoming Area by 27 for the district title and Lewisburg by 33 in the state opener.
District 1 champion Nazareth Academy presented a different level of challenge.
After the Classics took an 11-10 lead at the end of the first quarter, they trailed at both halftime (22-19) and entering the fourth quarter (32-30).
Rita Collins had two baskets in the fourth quarter to help Scranton Prep get to overtime tied at 40-40.
Once there, Jenkins and Hillebrand scored four points each as Scranton Prep outscored Nazareth Academy, 11-7.
Jenkins led Scranton Prep with 13 points while Hillebrand came off the bench to add 11.
Hillebrand was effective early and late. She had five points in the first quarter.
After Hillebrand put Scranton Prep ahead early in overtime, Jenkins went 4-for-4 from the line to help keep them there.
Claire McGrath, who finished with 10 points, kept Scranton Prep close in the third quarter by hitting a pair of 3-pointers.
Reese Power led Nazareth Academy with 14 points. Abby Rock hit four 3-pointers, including one in overtime, for 12 points. Gracie Sullivan scored 10.
Scranton Prep, the Lackawanna League Division 1 champion, advances to face Trinity Saturday at 1 p.m. at Pottsville’s Martz Hall. The fifth-place finisher out of District 3 is 19-10.
