READING - Lancaster Catholic got its payback.
And Danielle Atkinson had her fingerprints all over it.
In a rematch of last year's PIAA-AAA girls' state basketball championship game, this time the Crusaders picked up the win, knocking off Archbishop Wood 54-46 in a second-round game Wednesday night in Reading High's Geigle Complex.
The Crusaders denied the Vikings a shot at four PIAA titles in a row.
Lancaster Catholic, now 30-1 overall, will take on District 7 fouth-seed Blackhawk on Saturday in a state quarterfinal game.
PIAA-AAA girls' basketball playoff bracket.
Once again, Atkinson was a key cog in Lancaster Catholic's defensive effort on Wednesday. Coach Lamar Kauffman geared back a tad with full-court pressure, having his team concentrate on playing tough halfcourt match-up man and 2-3 zone looks.
Atkinson anchored the D at the top of the key, not letting Archbishop Wood guards drive or force-feed passes to taller players in the post.
Instead, the Vikings often settled for jumpers or long 3-point attempts, and did not shoot a good percentage; Archbishop Wood was 1-for-9 from 3 in the second half, when Lancaster Catholic grabbed the lead with a 22-7 third-quarter run and pulled away.
Atkinson, averaging 9 points a game coming in, chipped in with 7 points. But her efforts on the defensive end helped the Crusaders advance to the state quarters - again.
Chatted with Atkinson after Lancaster Catholic's win over Archbishop Wood about the defensive switches and where the Crusaders go from here. Take a look.