Schuylkill Haven's Mckenna Runkle leans past Mahanoy Area's Ella Connolly to score a bucket during Tuesday's Schuylkill League semifinals at Martz Hall (Photo by Danie Mae Photography).

Hutchinson, Runkle lift Hurricanes past Mahanoy Area

POTTSVILLE — Audrey Hutchinson started it with a steal and layup.

Eighteen seconds later, Ava Terefencko did the same thing, poking the ball away from a Mahanoy Area player and cruising in for a layup.

Just like that, after a rough start that saw Schuylkill Haven fall behind by nine points in the first quarter, the Hurricanes were back in it.

The rest of the story, as Paul Harvey once proclaimed, was all Schuylkill Haven.

Hutchinson paced a trio of double-digit scorers with 19 points as Schuylkill Haven used a massive second-quarter run to defeat Mahanoy Area 53-38 in a Schuylkill League girls’ basketball semifinal Tuesday night at Martz Hall.

The victory advances the defending champion Hurricanes (19-4) to Friday’s championship game against Division II champion Lourdes at 6 p.m. at Martz Hall. The Red Raiders (22-1) knocked out North Schuylkill 49-32 in Tuesday’s other semifinal.

“We really pride ourselves on our defense,” Hutchinson said afterward. “I knew to get things jump-started … if I played hard defense I’d get a steal and that’s what happened.

“It helps us when we get on a roll like that and that’s what happened tonight.”

Mahanoy Area (18-6) opened the game on fire as Felicia Bro scored 10 of her team-high 15 points and Lilly Carl splashed three 3-pointers in the first quarter.

Carl’s second triple made it 16-7 with 1:53 left in the opening frame. After the two aforementioned steals and layups, Carl drained another 3-pointer to put Mahanoy Area up 19-11.

Schuylkill Haven answered with an impressive 20-2 run to close the first half, effectively taking over the game. Hutchinson and Mckenna Runkle each had six points in the spurt, while Kylie Siket knocked down a pair of 3-pointers.

Mahanoy Area shot 1-for-8 from the field in the second quarter and committed six turnovers as Haven upped its defensive pressure.

The Hurricanes went into the halftime locker room with a 31-21 lead.

“They started hitting shots and they picked up their defense,” Mahanoy Area coach Tom Scheeler said. “We didn’t handle it well. Big credit to their defense. They took us out of things.”

Schuylkill Haven continued its dominance in the third quarter as Hutchinson scored her team’s first eight points.

The Hurricanes’ lone senior, Hutchinson was proficient at the short jumper from the foul line area, getting good looks off screens and penetration into the lane.

“I definitely realized near the end of the season that if I pull up and I can have confidence, it goes in,” Hutchinson said of her scoring spree. “That’s been benefitting our team.

“I’m just going to try best to get open and take those little shots. If they go, it’s great for us.”

Runkle then took over the game in the fourth, scoring six points and dominating the boards as Haven pulled away.

The Hurricanes led 43-31 after three quarters. Mahanoy Area sliced the deficit to nine, at 45-36, with 6:17 remaining, but Runkle scored on a short jumper and a scoop shot to up the lead back to double digits. The Bears didn’t threaten the rest of the way.

For the game, Runkle collected 13 points and 16 rebounds. Siket finished with four 3-pointers for 12 points while Terefencko collected nine points.

“In practice we really preach to box out and get the rebounds and that’s what we did tonight,” Runkle said. Haven outrebounded Mahanoy Area 30-20. “I’m glad I was able to show out in that tonight.”

The victory improves this group of Haven starters to 8-0 at Martz Hall over the past two seasons and puts them one win away from being the first girls’ team to repeat as Schuylkill League champions since North Schuylkill in 2020-21.

“Martz Hall is like our home away from home. We all feel pretty comfortable here,” Hutchinson said. “We’d like to keep that going Friday and hopefully get that big win.”

Added Runkle: “I’m super excited knowing we did it last year and knowing we can do it again. I’m super excited that we have the opportunity to get there again.”

Game Summary

Schuylkill League Girls’ Semifinal

At Martz Hall

MAHANOY AREA (38) — Wonsock 0 1-2 1, Bro 6 1-2 15, Carl 4 0-0 12, Kowalick 0 0-0 0, Connolly 5 0-1 10, Haughney 0 0-0 0, Christian 0 0-0 0, Manley 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 2-5 38.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (53) — Hutchinson 8 3-6 19, Siket 4 0-0 12, Runkle 4 5-6 13, Terefencko 4 0-0 9, Strenkoski 0 0-0 0, Wade 0 0-0 0, Benedict 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 8-12 53.

3-point FGs: Bro 2, Carl 4, Siket 4, Terefencko

Officials: J. Dean, Erie, Wood