GIRLS' A FINAL
TRI-VALLEY VS. VINCENTIAN ACADEMY
NOON, SATURDAY, GIANT CENTER (PCN)
TRI-VALLEY
27-3, District 11 champions
Coach: Robert Felty Jr.
PROBABLE STARTERS
No. Name Ht/Cl/Pos Pts/G
10 Juli Weber 5-7 sr G 14.5
15 Kylie Spickler 5-5 jr G 7.0
30 Taylor Troutman 5-9 sr F 12.4
34 Chelsea Stutzman 5-7 sr G 5.0
35 Tara Nahodil 6-4 sr C 18.0
TOP RESERVES
31 Carla Ney 5-11 jr C 2.2
21 Brittany Smeltz 5-5 jr G 3.4
ABOUT THE DAWGS: Following its impressive takedown of two-time defending state champion Steel-High (73-72) in the quarterfinals, Tri-Valley whipped District 5 challenger Southern Fulton 82-45 Tuesday at East Pennsboro High. The Dawgs were 10-for-12 from the floor in the initial eight minutes and coasted to their first championship appearance. … Point guard Weber, headed to the University of South Florida on a softball scholarship, pumped in 29 points against the Indians. … Nahodil chipped in 25 points against Southern Fulton. The Seton Hall recruit also knocked down the game-winning shot that sank the Rollers at Reading's Geigle Complex. Chipped in 17 caroms and six blocks against the Rollers. … Banked fourth consecutive District 11-A title by defeating Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg 65-31 on March 2. … Very similar to Vincentian's fast-paced approach, Dawgs are averaging 66.1 points and 15.7 steals per game. … Troutman, Tri-Valley's unsung hero, is averaging nearly 14 points and eight rebounds in the postseason.
VINCENTIAN
29-1, WPIAL champions
Coach: Ron Moncrief
PROBABLE STARTERS
No. Name Ht/Cl/Pos Pts/G
4 Torrieonna Cash 5-7 fr G 4.9
12 Ally Bartoszewicz 5-11 jr F 5.4
14 Kayla Key 5-6 jr G 6.8
15 Abbey Bartoszewicz 5-6 sr G 6.6
50 Brenna Wise 6-1 so F 22.3
TOP RESERVES
23 Maia Joiner 5-5 fr G 5.1
25 Kiersten Elliott 5-10 fr F 4.8
ABOUT THE ROYALS: Only Quad-A Gateway, back on Feb. 11, has been able to solve the Vincentian riddle so far. What Moncrief brings to the table is an up-tempo, flash offense paced by sophomore Wise, the Royals' jack-of-all trades. Vincentian's top scorer also posts more than 11 rebounds and three blocks per game. Swift, penetrating guards Cash and Key, alongside Ally and Abbey Bartoszewicz, helped steer the Royals past senior-laden Bishop Guilfoyle in the semifinals. … Motivated by a semifinal loss to North Catholic last season, the Royals' pressure has produced 627 steals and nearly 63 points per game. … Wise has posted 30 or more times five times this season, including 32 in that loss to Gateway. … Abbey Bartoszewicz chipped in 14 points, 10 rebounds and four steals against Bishop Guilfoyle. … Vincentian is making its first championship appearance since 2002, when Trinity clipped the Royals 67-58 in the Class AA finals.
THE PICK: Tri-Valley
On Twitter: @threejacker