North Schuylkill's starting five, Jadelin Stitzer, Mya Conti, Monica Selgrade, Addisyn Balicki and Gianna Capone, huddle prior to a Schuylkill League Division I game at Blue Mountain (Photo by Leroy Boyer).

6 Schuylkill League teams in action this weekend

It’s tough to face a team three times in a season.

Especially when that third matchup is a win-or-go-home playoff game.

That’s the scenario facing the North Schuylkill and Tamaqua girls’ basketball teams Saturday in the District 11 Basketball Tournament.

The fifth-seeded Spartans (16-8) and fourth-seeded Blue Raiders (16-7) tangle in a Class 4A quarterfinal at 1 p.m. Saturday at Martz Hall.

The teams met twice during Schuylkill League Division I play. Tamaqua claimed a 46-43, overtime win over the Spartans on Jan. 9 in Tamaqua before North Schuylkill rolled to a 51-28 victory Feb. 2 in the league finale at the Cesari-Hope Gymnasium.

Both coaches are looking forward to Round 3.

“The more times you play the same team, familiarity certainly comes into play,” North Schuylkill coach Rich Wetzel said. “We won’t change much as far as preparation and continue to try and play our style of basketball.”

Added Tamaqua’s Erika Davis: “Matching up with a familiar team in postseason play, like North Schuylkill, there are no secrets and we know each other really well being division opponents. It’s going to come down to the little things, like getting stops/limiting runs, taking care of the ball, rebounds, finishing around the basket, foul shots and which style of basketball will be played.”

The Spartans and Blue Raiders are among six Schuylkill League girls’ teams in action this weekend. When it comes to local teams, only the Class 3A and Class 4A brackets have quarterfinal games, so five of the league’s 11 District 11 qualifiers — Pottsville, Williams Valley, Marian, Shenandoah Valley, Weatherly — don’t play until the semifinal round Tuesday and Wednesday.

Other District 11 girls’ playoff games this weekend involving local teams:

TONIGHT

** 3A quarterfinal, Schuylkill Haven (20-4) vs. MaST Community Charter (13-9), 6 p.m., Martz Hall

** 3A quarterfinal, Mahanoy Area (18-6) vs. Executive Education (14-7), 7 p.m., Palmerton HS

** 3A quarterfinal, Pine Grove (13-9) vs. Catasauqua (18-6), 6 p.m., Executive Education HS

SATURDAY

** 4A quarterfinal, Blue Mountain (12-11) vs. Lehighton (23-2), 1 p.m., Palmerton HS

Advance tickets for every District 11 basketball playoff game cost $8 (plus applicable fees) and are only available online at www.districtxi.com. Cash sales will be held at the door, with those tickets costing $10.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s games involving local teams by classification:

CLASS 4A

North Schuylkill vs. Tamaqua

The first time North Schuylkill and Tamaqua met this season, Lauren Ligenza dominated in the paint for the Blue Raiders, scoring 20 points and pulling down 15 rebounds. The Spartans opened the game on a 12-4 run, but Tamaqua used a big second quarter to get back in it.

North Schuylkill led 21-18 at halftime and 32-27 entering the fourth before Tamaqua rallied to force overtime. Kendle Miller opened the extra session with a 3-pointer as the Blue Raiders outscored the Spartans 5-2 in overtime.

Millie Black added 13 points for Tamaqua, while Mya Conti scored 18 points for North Schuylkill.

In the rematch, the Spartans started fast and never let up, opening the game on a 14-4 run and leading 27-12 at halftime. Conti dominated, hitting four 3-pointers and scoring 27 points, while Monica Selgrade added 12. Ligenza had 11 points and Millie Black had 14 rebounds for Tamaqua.

“The biggest difference between Game 1 and Game 2 was by far the energy and competitive attitude,” Davis said. “In Game 1, our girls kept finding ways to battle from behind and to stay in the game. In Game 2, North Schuylkill came out pedal down and we didn’t have an answer, played flat, and let them dictate the tempo.

“We watched film, made some adjustments based off of our first two games, and have had a great week of preparation,” Davis continued. “Now we need to take the game plan and have it carry over to the court on Saturday afternoon when it matters.”

An interesting storyline will be how each team rebounds from losses in the Schuylkill League playoffs. Both teams had second-half shooting woes, with the Blue Raiders losing to Mahanoy Area in the quarterfinals and North Schuylkill falling to Lourdes in the semifinals.

Up Next: Winner faces the Blue Mountain-Lehighton winner in Wednesday’s semifinals

Blue Mountain vs. Lehighton

The Eagles are already 1-0 in the district tournament, rallying to beat Saucon Valley 39-36 in Tuesday’s first round. They’ll need a nearly perfect effort to reach the semifinals.

Lehighton (23-2) enters Saturday’s game on a seven-game win streak that includes a non-league win over Tamaqua and a 3-0 run through the Colonial League playoffs.

The senior-laden Indians’ only two losses during the regular season came to Northwestern Lehigh. After beating Wilson Area in the Colonial League quarterfinals, Lehighton avenged those two losses with a 52-49 win over the Tigers in the semifinals as senior Ryleigh Trotman scored 21 points. The Indians then throttled Class 3A top seed Notre Dame-Green Pond 44-26 in the title game to capture the program’s first-ever Colonial League championship.

Former Marian standout Olivia Serfass, now a senior, was a first-team Colonial League all-star for Lehighton. She’s ineligible for District 11 play after transferring from Marian to Lehighton after last season.

Rose Carper’s Eagles have relied on a balanced attack all season as Mila Fleagle (9.7), Hailey Place (9.0) and Callie Peel (8.3) have taken turns leading the team in scoring.

Up Next: Winner faces the North Schuylkill-Tamaqua winner in Wednesday’s semifinals

CLASS 3A

The quest for Schuylkill Haven, Mahanoy Area and Pine Grove tonight is simple — win and you’re headed to the PIAA playoffs.

Since District 11 gets four teams to the state playoffs in Class 3A, the teams that reach the semifinals qualify for states.

Here’s a look at the three Class 3A games involving Schuylkill League teams:

Schuylkill Haven vs. MaST Community Charter

The two-time Schuylkill League champion Hurricanes have won 12 straight games and are playing at “their home away from home,” Martz Hall, where this group is 9-0 over the past two years.

Mckenna Runkle (15.2 ppg) and Audrey Hutchinson (13.3 ppg) are among the top 10 scorers in the Schuylkill League. Both had dominating performances in Haven’s wins over Mahanoy Area (53-38) and Lourdes (38-31) in the league playoffs.

District 11 Class 3A is a subregional with District 1, with MaST Community being the only District 1 qualifier. Junior Tierney Hamilton (17.1 ppg) is the Panthers’ top player.

Up Next: Winner faces the Pine Grove-Catty winner in Tuesday’s semifinals

Mahanoy Area vs. Executive Education

The Golden Bears and Raptors met earlier this season, with Executive Education capturing a 42-31 victory in a non-league game Jan. 8 in Allentown.

The Raptors opened the game on fire, leading 14-5 after one period and 25-11 at halftime. Felicia Bro had 19 points for Mahanoy Area, but the rest of the team combined to score just 12 points. Sophomore Nia Bush scored 19 points for Executive Education.

Bro (15.3 ppg) and center Ella Connolly (15.1 ppg) lead the Mahanoy attack.

Up Next: Winner faces the Northern Lehigh-Notre Dame-GP winner in Tuesday’s semifinals

Pine Grove vs. Catasauqua

The Cardinals and Rough Riders meet for the first time since 2008. Overall, Pine Grove holds a 13-3 advantage over Catasauqua in 16 games between the schools.

Hollyn Sampson leads the Cardinals in scoring (12.1 ppg) and rebounding (8.3 rpg), while Lainey Fidler had hit 38 3-pointers.

For Pine Grove to be successful, the Cards will need to contain Colonial League Player of the Year Hailey Jenkins, a dynamic scoring guard who averages more than 20 points per game. Sophomore Kaylin Stewart was a second-team All-Colonial League selection.

Up Next: Winner faces the Haven-MaST winner in Tuesday’s semifinals.