SL Girls’ Semifinal Preview: Can Hurricanes continue Martz Magic in league semis?
Schuylkill Haven's Mckenna Runkle drives through the lane and puts up a shot during a Schuylkill League Division I game against North Schuylkill at the CACL Center (Photo by Kelly Wiley).
Haven faces Mahanoy, North Schuylkill battles Lourdes tonight at Martz Hall
Martz Hall was a favorite destination last February for the Schuylkill Haven girls’ basketball team.
In their first-ever Schuylkill League playoff appearance, the Hurricanes collected wins over Lourdes, Marian and North Schuylkill to capture the school’s first Schuylkill League basketball championship of any kind, girls or boys.
Haven then added a win over New Hope-Solebury in the District 11 Class 3A semifinals and a 51-15 rout of District 12’s Bodine on the Martz Hall floor in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A playoffs.
All total, counting a pair of Schuylkill League Division I wins over Pottsville, this group of Haven players is 7-0 at Martz Hall over the past two years.
Tonight, Schuylkill Haven is back at the Mecca for the Schuylkill League girls’ basketball semifinals. Can the Hurricanes continue their Martz Magic?
The Division I champs (18-4) begin their quest for a league title repeat by facing Mahanoy Area (18-5) in the second of two semifinal games tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Martz Hall. In the opener, Division I runner-up North Schuylkill (16-7) takes on Division II champion Lourdes (21-1) at 6 p.m.
The Hurricanes and Golden Bears will be meeting for the second time this season. Schuylkill Haven won the first meeting Jan. 17 in a non-league game in Mahanoy City, prevailing 44-42.
If that game was any indication, tonight’s contest should be a dandy.
Mahanoy Area led 16-6 after one quarter before Haven knotted the score at 22-22 at halftime. Ava Terefencko’s two 3-pointers fueled the Hurricanes’ rally. The Hurricanes led 36-32 after three quarters and held on in the fourth.
Mckenna Runkle had a big game for Haven with 21 points, 13 in the second half. Audrey Hutchinson added 14. Ella Connolly had 13 points, while Felicia Bro and Naomi Kowalick each tallied 10 for Mahanoy Area.
The Golden Bears showed great poise down the stretch in Saturday’s Schuylkill League quarterfinals to oust Tamaqua 44-40. Bro and Connolly led the way with 17 and 14 points, respectively, but coach Tom Scheeler’s squad got key contributions in the fourth quarter from Lilly Carl and Naomi Kowalick.
The matchup of two of the league’s superstars, Runkle and Bro, will be fun to watch.
“We played them earlier in the year, they beat us at our place,” Scheeler said after Saturday’s win. “That’s a feather in their cap.
“They’re good. They’re the defending champs. We’ll go out and give it a shot.”
In the opener, North Schuylkill and Lourdes meet for the first time in 25 years.
A big question entering the Schuylkill League playoffs was “How good is Lourdes?” The Red Raiders have dominated their opponents all season, allowing just 22.3 points per game and holding the opposition to 20 or fewer points 12 times. They’ve won 15 straight games, the only blemish coming on a buzzer-beater at Shikellamy in December.
Six-foot-2 junior center Hannah Lokitis is one of three interior post players that stands 6 foot or higher, which is a big mismatch against the smaller Spartans. Guards Kylla Sandri and Onaleigh Barnes can hit the outside shot, create penetration and excel on the defensive end, while freshman Karmen Schroyer provides a spark off the bench.
North Schuylkill, meanwhile, thrives on its pressure defense and scoring points in transition off it. Can the Spartans put enough pressure on Lourdes’ guards to force turnovers and generate offense?
It worked against Marian, as the Fillies committed 33 turnovers in the Spartans’ 49-31 win in Saturday’s quarterfinals. Senior star Mya Conti was the biggest benefactor, scoring a game-high 21 points.
North Schuylkill and Lourdes have met six previous times in the Schuylkill League playoffs, with the Spartans winning all six.
Can Lourdes, which has never won a Schuylkill League title, get back to the championship game for the first time since 1996? We’ll find out tonight.
Here’s a capsule preview of both contests:
Schuylkill League Girls’ Basketball Semifinal Preview Capsules
North Schuylkill (16-7) vs. Lourdes (21-1)
When: Tuesday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m.
Where: Martz Hall, Pottsville
TV/Radio: Game will be simulcast on both WPPA (1360 AM / 105.9 FM) and T-102 (101.9 FM) with Ed Beneshunas and Tim Coyle on the call.
Live updates: Follow T102 Sports Now content editor Leroy Boyer on X @pubsportsboss and get score updates on the T102 Sports Now Facebook page
Tickets: All tickets for the Schuylkill League playoffs will be cash sales at the door. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for students. There will NOT be a Senior Citizen discount.
Up Next: Winner advances to Friday’s championship game at 6 p.m. at Martz Hall
About North Schuylkill
Head coach: Rich Wetzel
How they got here: Division I runner-up downed Marian 49-31 in Saturday’s quarterfinals
Scoring Averages: Offense, 49.2 ppg; Defense, 38.6 ppg
Schuylkill League playoff history (since 1985): Making seventh straight league playoff appearance and 29th overall. Spartans have reached the title game the past six seasons. NS has won 17 league championships (2023, ’21, ’20, ’15, ’07, ’02, ’01, 1996, ’95, ’94, ’93, ’92, ’91, ’90, ’88, ’87, ’86) and was the runner-up five other times.
Projected starting five: G Monica Selgrade, soph. (7.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg), G Mya Conti, sr. (16.6 ppg, 26 3-pt FG), G Ella Digris, soph. (5.0 ppg, 31 3-pt FG), F Gianna Capone, jr. (8.8 ppg, 26 3-pt FG, 6.7 rpg), F Jadelin Stitzer, sr. (4.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg)
Key reserves: G/F Katie Urbanowicz, sr.; G Payton Gawrylik, fr.
About Lourdes
Head coach: Michael A. Klembara
How they got here: Division II champion with 14-0 league record
Scoring Averages: Offense, 52.3 ppg; Defense, 22.3 ppg
Schuylkill League playoff history (since 1985): Making second straight appearance and 10th overall. Looking for first Schuylkill League playoff victory since 1996 semifinals. Reached Schuylkill League championship game four straight years (1993-96), lost to North Schuylkill all four times. Has never won a Schuylkill League championship.
Projected starting five: C Hannah Lokitis, jr. (10.9 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 79 blocked shots, 49 assists, 67 steals); G Kylla Sandri, soph. (12.0 ppg, 31 3-pt FGs), G Onaleigh Barnes, jr. (7.2 ppg, 30 3-point FGs, 57 assists, 79 steals), F Sophia Karlovich, soph. (9.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg), F Vivian Reiprish, jr. (4.6 ppg, 17 3-pt FGs, 3.5 rpg, 79 assists)
Key reserves: G Karm Schroyer, fr. (2.7 ppg, 82 assists, 67 steals), G Lucy Shingara, sr. (2.4 ppg), F Alyssa Albert, fr. (2.2 ppg), G Adalyn Schu, soph.
Game Notes
First meeting since 2001 Schuylkill League semifinals. Spartans and Red Raiders have met six times in league playoffs (1991, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, 2001), with North Schuylkill winning all six matchups. Four of those (1993-96) were in league title game. … Mya Conti scored 21 points and Monica Selgrade and Gianna Capone each added 12 in quarterfinal win over Marian. Spartans forced 33 turnovers, outscoring Fillies 32-16 in middle quarters. … Lourdes has the best scoring defense in the league at 22.3 ppg, holding its opponent to 20 or fewer points 12 times. Run a trap-press similar to North Schuylkill’s, so turnovers may be aplenty in this one. … Red Raiders have won 15 straight games and are unbeaten in the 2026 calendar year. Their only loss was a 38-36 setback at Shikellamy on a buzzer-beater Dec. 29, 2025. … All five of Lourdes’ starters and its top reserve off the bench are underclassmen. …. Keys to the game: A) How does Lourdes handle North Schuylkill’s pressure defense?; B) How does North Schuylkill control Lourdes’ dominant inside game, especially Lokitis in the paint?; C) Does Lourdes get enough open looks from 3-point range, and do those shots fall?; D) Is North Schuylkill able to get out and run in transition, which is its bread and butter.
