Two games on Friday’s District 3 girls’ basketball slate, one title game and one third-place game.
Here’s a preview and predictions …
CLASS AAAA CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 4 Wilson (21-7) vs. No. 3 Dover (24-2), at Giant Center, 8:30 p.m. — Four league champions reached the semifinal round, and the Berks winner (Wilson) and York/Adams winner (Dover) made it through to the title tilt. … Bulldogs beat CD East (69-32), Hempfield (59-29) and No. 1 seed Manheim Township (66-42) to make it to the championship round. … Dover knocked off Exeter (46-38), Lebanon (47-43) and No. 2 seed Cumberland Valley (45-38) to make the finale. … Wilson has won 15 games in a row. Dover has won six games in a row, all in the postseason. … Both teams are in PennLive’s Class AAAA state rankings; Wilson is No. 6, Dover No. 9. … Wilson is appearing in its ninth District 3-AAAA title game. Bulldogs are the defending champs; they beat Central Dauphin in last year’s finale. Wilson also won crowns in 2008 (over CD East), 2000 (over Reading), 1998 (over Harrisburg) and 1997 (over Red Lion). Bulldogs lost in title games in 2011 (to Red Lion), 2009 (to Central Dauphin) and 1985 (to Manheim Township). … This is Dover’s first trip to the district finals. … The plot: Plenty of star power on the Giant Center’s floor, but keep an eye on Wilson point guard Avery Marz, a St. Joe’s recruit, doing battle with Dover point guard Alayah Hall, who was superb in the semis vs. Cumberland Valley. Those two make their respective clubs go, and they’ll wage war trying to stop the other from setting the tempo. Fascinating matchup.
PICK: Wilson by 11
CLASS AAA THIRD-PLACE GAME
No. 6 Lancaster Catholic (24-3) vs. No. 4 Fleetwood (23-4), at East Pennsboro, 6:30 p.m. — Crusaders were bounced in the semifinals by rampaging West Perry, 49-39. Tigers led early but lost to No. 1 Susquehannock 56-36 in the semis. … Both teams have qualified for the state playoffs; this is a seeding game. … The plot: After watching West Perry convert several fourth-quarter press-breaks into easy layups, Lancaster Catholic coach Lamar Kauffman vowed that his squad would be ready to go in its next game. So Fleetwood should not only expect the Crusaders’ usual arsenal of presses, but a more focused Lancaster Catholic unit, according to its veteran coach. And that’s the bottom line: Can the Tigers beat the press?
PICK: Lancaster Catholic by 6