Schuylkill Haven's Ava Terefencko (13) prepares to shoot a free throw (Photo by Eli Doyle).

Schuylkill Haven faces Holy Redeemer tonight at Lehighton

The last time Schuylkill Haven’s girls’ basketball team advanced this far in the PIAA Tournament, Route 61 was two lanes through the borough and there weren’t any southbound traffic lights between Dock Street and Hamburg.

Hills was the best department store in the area, The Alley and Dusselfink were still going strong, the East Ward and South Ward still housed elementary school students and Art’s was the place to get your vehicle serviced.

It’s been 41 years since the Hurricanes reached the PIAA quarterfinals, known as the Eastern semifinals back then in 1985. Led by Cheryl Trumbo, Tracy Herb, Angie Miller and others, Schuylkill Haven went on to win the PIAA Class A state title that season, beating Linesville in the title game in Hershey.

CHAMPS HONORED: Revisit a ceremony to honor the 1985 state champions held in 2025 here https://www.t102sportsnow.com/2024/12/14/girls-basketball-schuylkill-haven-honors-1985-piaa-state-champions-beats-pottsville/

That drought ends tonight when Schuylkill Haven (24-5) takes on District 2 runner-up Holy Redeemer (20-8) in a PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal at 7 p.m. at Lehighton Area Elementary Center.

The Hurricanes played one of their best games of the season in Tuesday’s second round, getting 23 points from Mckenna Runkle and 15 from Audrey Hutchinson to upend Pequea Valley 52-33 at the Geigle Complex in Reading.

Schuylkill Haven’s defense shined from start to finish as the Hurricanes’ aggressiveness forced 25 turnovers and Haven controlled the boards.

For the Hurricanes to take one more step on the Road to Hershey, they’ll need a similar performance tonight.

Holy Redeemer is a PIAA regular, making its 16th state playoff appearance in the last 19 years. The Royals are coming off back-to-back impressive PIAA victories, beating District 4 runner-up Loyalsock and District 12 champion Imhotep Charter.

In fact, the Elite Eight of the Class 3A bracket contains several programs that have made long PIAA runs and/or captured state championships.

** District 4 champion Hughesville and District 2 champion Dunmore square off in the other half of the top part of the Class 3A bracket.

** District 3 champion Trinity faces District 7 runner-up Greensburg Central Catholic and District 7 winner Shade Side Academy battles District 6 champion Central Cambria in the other two state quarterfinals.

Tickets for tonight’s game cost $9 if purchased in advance online or $10 at the door. Lehighton’s Elementary Center is located to the west of the football stadium, if you’re familiar with the Lehighton school complex. The gym is around the back of the elementary school.

If you can’t attend, you can listen live on T-102 (101.9 FM) and get live updates on the T102 Sports Now Facebook page. …. Listen Live here: https://player.aiir.com/wavt/

Here’s a capsule look at tonight’s game:

PIAA Girls’ Basketball Quarterfinal Preview Capsule

CLASS 3A

11-2 Schuylkill Haven (24-5) vs. 2-2 Holy Redeemer (20-8)

When: Tonight, 7 p.m.

Where: Lehighton Area Elementary Center

TV/Radio: Game will be broadcast on T-102 (101.9 FM) with Chaz Hepler and Ty Wartman on the call

Live updates: Follow T102 Sports Now writer Eli Doyle on X @iamelidoyle and get score updates on the T102 Sports Now Facebook page

Tickets: Advance tickets cost $9 and can be purchased online at www.piaa.org. All tickets at the door cost $10.

Up Next: Winner advances to Monday’s semifinals against the 4-1 Hughesville (26-3) vs. 2-1 Dunmore (24-3) winner. The Class 3A state title game is Thursday, March 19, at 6 p.m. at the Giant Center in Hershey.

About Holy Redeemer

Head coach: John Jezorwski

How they got here: District 2 runners-up downed 4-2 Loyalsock 61-55 and 12-1 Imhotep Charter 67-62

Regular-season results: Royals went 16-6 overall in the regular season, 13-3 in Wyoming Valley Conference Section 2. Earned non-league win over District 11 champion Executive Education 39-35 on Dec. 5. …. Lost to Hazleton Area 78-51 in WVC semifinals. …. In District 2 playoffs, second-seeded Royals downed Lakeland 54-16 and Lake-Lehman 61-44 before falling 37-35 in District 2 championship game to Dunmore at Mohegan Sun Area.

Projected starting five: G Tessa Cegelka, 5-7 sr. (6.3 ppg, 21 3s), G McKenzie Chimock, 5-5 sr. (12.8 ppg, 45 3s), F Isabella Boylan, 5-7 sr. (11.5 ppg, 17 3s), F Kira Millard, 5-10 fr. (3.9 ppg), F Gillian Parsons, 5-8 jr. (4.1 ppg)

Key reserves: F Kourtney Jezorwski, 5-9 jr. (2.6 ppg), F Kearney Quinn, 5-8 sr. (3.2 ppg), F Elizabeth Bilbow, 5-9 fr. (3.4 ppg)

About Schuylkill Haven

Head coach: Tony Sanders

How they got here: District 11 runners-up routed 12-4 Philadelphia Academy Charter 50-19 and dumped 3-2 Pequea Valley 52-33

Regular-season results: Went 18-4 in regular season, with losses to District 4 state qualifiers Hughesville and Mount Carmel, D-11 AA runner-up Marian and North Schuylkill. Schuylkill League Division I champions, Hurricanes defeated Mahanoy Area 53-38 and District 4 Class A champion Lourdes 38-31 in Schuylkill League playoffs to capture second straight league title. In District 11 playoffs, Haven defeated MaST Community Charter and Pine Grove to reach championship game before losing to Executive Education 39-33.

Projected starting five: F Mckenna Runkle, jr. (15.7 ppg, 19 3-point FGs); G Audrey Hutchinson, sr. (13.3 ppg); G Kylie Siket, jr. (7.9 ppg, 43 3-point FGs), G Ava Terefencko, jr. (6.2 ppg, 12 3-point FGs), C Braelynn Strenkoski, soph. (2.3 ppg)

Key reserves: G/F Aubrie Wade, fr.

Game Notes

Holy Redeemer is a Catholic school located in Wilkes-Barre. It was formed in July 2007 as the consolidation of Bishop Hafey, Bishop Hoban, Bishop O’Reilly and Pittston Seton Catholic high schools and is the only Catholic high school in Luzerne County. It is housed in the former Bishop Hoban building. …. Royals are in the PIAA playoffs for the 16th time in 19 years and have a 21-15 record all-time. Have never played in PIAA title game. Reached semifinals twice, losing in 2014 AA semis to Archbishop Wood and 2015 3A semis to Neumann-Goretti. …. Making fourth straight appearance in PIAA playoffs. Lost in the first round in 2023 (Mount Carmel) and 2025 (Hughesville). Reached quarterfinals in 2024 before losing to Loyalsock. …. Holy Redeemer is a senior-laden club led by the trio of Bella Boylan, McKenzie Chimock and Tessa Cegelka. Have good height, with most of the top-eight players standing 5-foot-8 or taller. Freshmen Kara Millard and Elizabeth Bilbow provide spark off the bench. …. Holy Redeemer led Dunmore by five points in final minute of District 2 title game before Bucks scored last seven points to win 37-35. …. Royals scored a season-high 67 points in second-round win over Imhotep Charter, with Boylan (22), Chimock (16), Cegelka (11) and freshman Kara Millard (14) all reaching double figures. Boylan had 23 points, Chimock 17 and Cegelka 10 in first-round win over Loyalsock. …. Schuylkill Haven is 11-5 all-time in the PIAA playoffs and in the state quarterfinals for the third time. Hurricanes lost in 1984 Class A semis to Marian, then beat Steel-High 52-46 en route to state title in 1985. Haven’s second-round win in that 1985 title run was over Pittston Seton Catholic, now part of Holy Redeemer. …. Holy Redeemer is one of a whopping seven District 2 girls’ teams that have reached the state quarterfinals. Mountain View (AA), Wyoming Seminary (AA), Dunmore (3A), Scranton Prep (4A), Crestwood (5A) and Hazleton Area (6A) are the others. District 2 girls’ teams are 16-3 so far in the PIAA Tournament. …. Schuylkill Haven and Bethlehem Catholic (5A) are the only girls’ teams from District 11 still alive in the tournament.

— Compiled by Leroy Boyer