GIRLS CLASS AA

South Williamsport (23-4) vs. Mount Carmel (21-6) at Danville High School, 7 p.m.

South route to Elite Eight: In District 4, beat Millville, 42-36, and Mount Carmel, 37-30; lost to South Colombia, 56-44; in the United States, beat Minersville, 37-35, and Sacred Heart, 42-32

South’s notes: The Mounties are in the state quarterfinals for only the second time in program history and the first time since 1987. South rallied to win their first three playoff games, but led Sacred Heart from start to finish and awarded single digits in all four quarters. South is allowing less than 30 points per game and gave up just nine points in the second half to overcome an 18-point deficit against Millville. South and Mount Carmel are meeting for the third time this season. Mount Carmel won the regular season contest, 42-34, in December before South ended their six-year reign as district champion in the district semi-finals. Claudia Green scored a career-high 24 points in the victory. Lacey Kriebel scored 12 points against Sacred Heart and point guard Piper Minier scored 11 against Minersville. Aleigha Rieppel is also one of four players averaging more than six points per game and Sofia Casella scored five fourth-quarter points as South erased a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit at Minersville. Abby Akers and Elizabeth Schuler also played well off the bench. South’s 23 wins are the most in a season by an RCMP team since 2009. The RCMP also repeated as Mid-Penn champions.

Mount Carmel Road to Elite Eight: In District 4, defeat East Juniata, 47-26; lost to South, 37-30, and beat Northeast Bradford, 50-38; in the United States, beat Holy Cross, 40-39 and Columbia, 59-49

Mount Carmel Notes: The Torandoes are the defending state champions and have won six straight state tournament games. HAC-II Defensive All-star Mia Chapman made the game of the game against Holy Cross, breaking up what looked like a layup winner. The Tornadoes gradually retreated in the fourth quarter against Columbia and were outstanding at the foul line in the final minutes. Guard Jenna Pizzoli scored a career-high 27 points and was 11 of 13 at the line. Alyssa Reisinger scored 15 points and Katie Witcoski 10. Resinger was a valuable reserve on last year’s state champion and became one of the best post players in the district, earning first-team HAC honors- II. Witkoski was a second teammate and Chapman a third teammate. Chapman is the lone starter for last year’s squad and made a triumphant comeback after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in the first quarter of the national final. Katie Witkoski and Ava Chapman also made solid contributions to a team with wins over District Central Columbia champions Loyalsock and Northumberland Christian. The Tornadoes have won at least one state playoff game in each of the past six seasons. This will be the third time in two years and the fourth in three that South and Mount Carmel have met in the playoffs.

Winner plays: Either District 4 champion Southern Columbia or District 6 runner-up Bishop McCort

CLASS A BOYS

Linville Hill Christian (24-3) vs. St. John Neumann (24-3) at Martz Hall, Pottsville, 7 p.m.

Linville Hill Road to Elite Eight: In District 3, defeat High Point Baptist, 63-39, and Lancaster Country Day, 51-42; in the United States, beat Fannett Metal, 75-60, and Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg, 66-56.

Linville Hill Notes: The Warriors present a well-balanced roster and several scoring threats. All five starters scored in double figures against Fannett Metal. Senior guard Jesse Landis had a big game against Notre Dame, scoring a game-high 25 points. Guard Matthe Lapp and forward Daniel King each added 14 points. The Warriors are a hard-working team that compete hard on both ends and have held 19 teams to under 50 points. The Warriors started the season 16-0 before losing back-to-back games to Lancaster County Christian and Steel-High. Their only other loss is to fellow state quarter-finalist Mount Calvary Christian. Linville Hill avenged that Lancaster County loss in emphatic fashion, routing them 81-50 a week later. The Warriors rallied from five in the third quarter to defeat Lancaster Country Day and win the program’s first district championship. This is only the fifth season of the program. Linville Hill has had kindergarten through eighth grade since 1944 but didn’t open high school until 2016. The Warriors went 14-6 last year and would have qualified for the States if they didn’t. there had not been a condensed tournament. Landis is the only senior starter on the team. The Warriors started strong in both state tournament games and led Notre Dame 33-22 at halftime.

Neumann Road to Elite Eight: In District 4, defeat Millville, 100-56; Lourdes, 77-64, and North Penn-Liberty, 64-50; in the States, defeated High Point Baptist, 63-40, and Faith Christian, 61-39

Neumann’s Notes: The Knights are in the Elite 8 for the second year in a row and for the fifth time since 2014. They are trying to reach the Final 4 for the first time since this 2014 season. Neumann has played his best two games of the playoffs in his two previous state tournament victories. The Knights led from start to finish against Faith Christian, with every player in the rotation delivering quality performances. Neumann has won 20 of his last 21 games and a loss in his regular season finale may have helped him develop for the playoffs. The Knights have won three straight district championships and at least a share of 10 straight titles in Mid-Penn. Davion Hill, Hanief Clay and Naseer Dymeck all scored in double digits last Friday while JerVal Weeks-Shuler grabbed 10 rebounds. Naz Smith played one of his best games and was instrumental in improving the defense defense. Joe Savage made his way after missing two weeks late in the season and finished well around the basket throughout the playoffs. Neumann has the second-longest winning streak in the region in at least one state tournament game each season, doing so four times in a row.

Winner Plays: Either District 11 Champion, Pottsville Nativity, or District 3 Third, Mount Calvary Christian

–By CHRIS MASS