Lourdes' Onaleigh Barnes (14) looks to pass during a PIAA Class A Second-Round girls' basketball game Wednesday at Hamburg Area High School. Also pictured for Lourdes is Kyle Sandri (00). The Red Raiders defeated Bethlehem Christian 65-23 (Photo by Eli Doyle).

HAMBURG — Lourdes was in control from start to final buzzer.

Hannah Lokitis and Kylla Sandri scored a game-high 16 points apiece as Lourdes rolled past Bethlehem Christian 65-23 in a PIAA Class A second-round girls’ basketball game Wednesday at Hamburg Area high School.

“That was our gameplan, we wanted to create turnovers,” Red Raiders coach Michael Klembara said. “We knew they had issue with turnovers, and likewise we didn’t want to commit many turnovers. And we wanted to execute our offense the way we did. We shot the ball well, moved the ball well, and everybody contributed.”

And boy, did Lourdes (22-6) ever execute so well.

The Panthers (15-7) committed 18 turnovers during the first half and the Red Raiders added 18 points off those possessions. Sandri, a freshman guard, netted eight of her 16 points in the first quarter. Lourdes’ defense was menacing and turned the pressure on early. When Bethlehem Christian was capable of getting past the Red Raiders’ full-court pressure, the Panthers still had to get past Lourdes’ stifling 2-3 zone defense.

The Red Raiders led 17-6 at the end of the first quarter and they were only getting started.

Lokitis, a sophomore center, complemented Sandri’s scoring with seven points in the second quarter as Lourdes hit its mark. Vivian Reiprish netted a pair of 3-pointers and Sandri added five more points as the Red Raiders jumped way ahead 42-9 at halftime.

The Panthers committed another turnover to begin the third quarter and Lokitis capitalized in transition. The Red Raiders continued to play masterfully, and a platoon swap signaled the beginning of the end with 1:10 left on the clock in the frame. Lourdes outscored Bethlehem Christian 14-6 in the third.

The clock continued to roll through fourth quarter, the Red Raiders outscored the Panthers 9-8 in the quarter, and Lourdes rolled to a 65-23 victory and clinched a berth in the elite eight of the PIAA Class A Tournament.

Sophia Karlovich chipped in 11 points for the Red Raiders, while Onaleigh Barnes added 10.

“We still have to be focused,” Klembara said. “We got to look at Saturday, and Saturday only. Because for somebody, Saturday is going to their last game.”

Lourdes will play District 1 runner-up Delco Christian (22-4) on Saturday at a site and time to be announced. Delco Christian defeated Northeast Bradford 43-31 in the second round.

GAME SUMMARY

PIAA Class A
Second Round
At Hamburg

BETHLEHEM CHRISTIAN (23) — Kreider 0 0-0 0, Kasper 2 0-0 6, Deboer 0 0-0 0, Khachadovnan 0 2-4 2, Arzuaga 0 0-0 0, Wilson 3 0-2 8, Quarnout 0 3-4 3, Merisca 1 0-0 2, Cornelius 1 0-0 2. Totals — 7 5-10 23.

LOURDES (65) — Sandri 7 0-0 16, Gonzalez 0 0-0 0, Barnes 3 2-2 10, Schu 0 0-0 0, Lokitis 7 2-4 16, Keer 1 0-0 2, Karlovich 5 1-2 11, Macaluso 2 0-0 4, Shingara 0 0-0 0, Reiprish 2 0-0 6. Totals — 21 5-8 65.

BC (15-7) 6 … 3 … 6 … 8 — 23

Lou (22-6) 17 … 25 … 14 … 9 — 65

3-point FGs: Kasper 2, Wilson 2, Sandri 2, Barnes 2, Reiprish 2

Officials: Ferko, Kirsch, Zimmerman