DeAnna Pugh, Marian girls' basketball

PHILADELPHIA — Parlaying a suffocating defense with career night by junior DeAnna Pugh, Marian rolled to a 66-24 victory over Vaux in a PIAA Class AA first-round game Friday night at Philadelphia High School for Girls.

The victory advanced the District 11 runner-up Fillies (15-11) to Tuesday’s second round against District 2 runner-up Wyoming Seminary, a 32-27 winner over District 4 champion Muncy.

Despite the nearly two-hour trek down the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Fillies entered the City of Brotherly Love ready to play opening the game on a 32-9 run.

“We came here prepared and took care of business,” Marian head coach Jeff Onushco said. “We thought we had a chance, but with a two-hour bus trip, you never know what you’re going to get out of your team.”

If Onushco was apprehensive because of the journey, that feeling was short lived. Marian shot out of the gate and took a 10-0 lead, thanks to a triple by Katie Knock, five straight points by Pugh and an inside bucket by Addy Marek.

If the lead wasn’t enough, the rout quickly turned into a starting lineup affair as Haley Minzola and Brooke Hannis-Miskar then got into the scoring act.

Marian employed a 1-2-2 pressure defense that stifled the Lady Cougars. While two free throws by A’Niyah Reed and a bucket by Valerie Sams got it to 10-4 at the 4:33 mark of the opening stanza, that was the closest the host team would get, as Minzola and Hannis-Miskar got into the scoring act, making it 15-4 at the 4:02 mark.

Pugh scored four points, sandwiching a bucket by Minzola, and with 2:52 left in the first stanza, the Fillies had a commanding 21-4 lead.

“We put the full-court press in versus Williams Valley (in the District 11 final), but we didn’t play well there,” Onushco said. “But tonight, I thought we did a decent job. We were ready, had good eyes and pressured the ball nicely.”

In the first 16 minutes, the Fillies forced 28 Lady Cougar miscues.

Clearly, the main beneficiary of the pressure defense was Pugh. The speedy junior was all over the floor, picking up buckets at ease and proceeding to tally 31 points, her career best, including 25 in the first half.

“It feels awesome,” Pugh said of her big night. “I’m very happy and proud of my teammates. We just have to keep moving forward and have to continue working hard.”

The Fillies never took their foot off the proverbial gas pedal in the first half. Marian led 32-9 after one quarter, scored the first 10 points of the second frame and led 54-17 at intermission.

Hannis-Miskar added 10 points for Marian. All eight girls on the Marian squad scored at least two points.

“It was nice to see everyone get in the scoring column,” Onushco said. “It helps them to build confidence in themselves.”

PIAA Class AA First Round

At Philadelphia HS for Girls

MARIAN (66) — Bushati 1 0-0 2, Pugh 13 5-5 31, Minzola 3 0-0 6, Hannis-Miskar 3 2-2 10, Knock 2 0-0 6, Kwon 1 0-0 2, Decosmo 2 0-2 4, Marek 1 3-4 5. Totals 26 10-13 66.

VAUX (24) — Sams 5 0-1 12, Warren 1 1-8 4, Un 1 0-0 2, Reed 2 2-4 6, Cruz 0 0-0 0, Yaw-Williams 0 0-0 0, Grazier 0 0-0 0, Minagala 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 3-13 24.

3-point FGs: Hannis-Miskar 2, Knock 2, Sams 2, Warren

Officials: Taylor, Frazier, Doyle

Class 3A First Round

Imhotep Charter 62, Pine Grove 33

PHILADELPHIA — Hollyn Sampson scored a game-high 24 points but the Cardinals fell to the District 12 champion Panthers in a PIAA Class 3A first-round game at Ben Franklin High School.

Pine Grove trailed just 26-17 at intermission. Imhotep then used a 26-5 run in the third quarter to pull away as Taylor Linton hit four 3-pointers. She finished with 14 points.

Anai Kenyatta added 12 points and McKenna Alston had 10 for Imhotep Charter (16-10), which advances to play District 2 runner-up Holy Redeemer, a 61-55 winner over District 4 runner-up Loyalsock Township.

PIAA Class 3A First Round

At Ben Franklin HS, Philadelphia

PINE GROVE (33) — K. Umbenhauer 0 0-0 0, Leffler 1 1-2 4, M. Umbenhauer 1 2-2 5, Heming 0 0-0 0, Reichert 0 0-0 0, Fidler 0 0-0 0, Sampson 9 6-10 24. Totals 11 9-14 33.

IMHOTEP CHARTER (62) — Kenyatta 6 0-1 12, Linton 5 0-0 14, Alston 3 2-3 10, Brown 1 2-2 4, Willis 1 0-0 3, Hargrove 1 0-2 2, Johnson 1 0-0 3, G. Hawthorne 3 2-2 8, C. Hawthorne 1 0-0 2, Z. Bell 0 0-0 0, Myatt 2 0-1 4, Madison 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 6-11 62.

3-point FGs: Leffler, M. Umbenhauer, Linton 4, Alston 2, Willis, Johnson

Boys’ Basketball

Plumstead Christian 60, Weatherly 45

WEATHERLY — A rough third quarter spelled doom for the Wreckers, who fell at home to District 1 third-place finisher Plumstead Christian in a PIAA Class A first-round game.

Brandon Davis had 11 for Weatherly, while Ian McKeegan tallied 10. Plumstead led 25-21 at halftime, then used a 16-5 run in the third to take control.

Noah Kephart scored 21 points and Mason McClure had 20 for Plumstead Christian, which advances to play District 3 No. 4 Coventry Christian, a 58-48 winner over District 4 champion Sullivan County.

Also in Class A boys, District 11 champion Bethlehem Christian eliminated Lourdes 85-56. The Red Raiders finish the season 12-14.

PIAA Class A Boys First Round

At Weatherly HS

PLUMSTEAD CHRISTIAN (60) — McClure 6 4-4 20, Mandia 1 4-4 6, DeSiato 5 1-6 11, Anderson 1 0-2 2, Kephart 7 7-9 21. Totals 20 16-25 60.

WEATHERLY (45) — Kokinda 3 1-4 7, I. McKeegan 3 2-2 10, J. Hinkle 0 0-0 0, Saldukas 1 2-3 4, Davis 3 3-5 11, Wagner 3 0-0 8, Adler 2 0-0 5. Totals 15 8-14 45.

3-point FGs: McClure 4, I. McKeegan 2, Davis 2, Wagner 2, Adler

Officials: Senunes, Smolinsky, Amory