The girls have waited their turn, and now its their time to shine as they open the District 10 playoffs on Saturday.
The weekend action features one championship game in Class 6A, where McDowell and Erie are set to do battle, as well as four quarterfinal games in Classes 4A and 2A and three in Class 3A, with top seed Mercyhurst Prep getting a first round bye in the seven-team field.
The other top seeds in each bracket are Kennedy Catholic in Class 2A (the Golden Eagles were PIAA runner-up in Class 1A last season) and Fairview in Class 4A.
Here’s a brief look at each matchup.
CLASS 6A CHAMPIONSHIP
(1) McDowell vs. (2) Erie at Hagerty Family Events Center, 12 p.m.
These two teams met twice during the regular season, with McDowell winning by scores of 51-44 and 50-40.
The Trojans (17-5 have won back-to-back titles and are led by Amaiya Nelson at 10.2 ppg., while Jessica Hetz and Caylen Spano both check in at nine points per game.
Erie (10-12), meanwhile, is led by twin sisters Aundraya and Aubrey Neavins, who average 11.5 and 7.7 ppg., respectively, while Aliece Taylor adds 6.7 per game.
CLASS 4A QUARTERFINALS
(1) Fairview vs. (8) Hickory at Hagerty Family Events Center, 3 p.m.
Fairview (16-6) is coming off a strong close to the regular season, beating Erie and McDowell in back-to-back games.
Hope Garrity, last season’s D9and10Sports.com Player of the Year, has put together another terrific season as a senior, averaging just over 15 points per game.
Bre Heidt checks in at 10.9 ppg., while Sara Gennuos averages 8.1 per contest.
Kimora Roberts leads Hickory (10-12) at 12.2 ppg.
(2) Harbor Creek vs. (7) General McLane at Hagerty Family Events Center, 4:30 p.m.
Harbor Creek (17-5) comes in at 15-6 and owns wins over the likes of Erie, Fairview (season split), and Greenville.
Brooke Przybylski averages 12.0 ppg. and Samantha Zank 11.8.
General McLane (9-13), meanwhile, features one of the top scorers in District 10 in Libby Opp, who averages 15.9 ppg.
(3) Warren vs. (6) Grove City at Meadville H.S., 4:30 p.m.
Region 5 champion Warren (16-6), winners of three of the last four D10 titles in 5A, comes in red-hot, winners of nine straight.
The Dragons get it done with a balanced offense (they don’t have a player averaging double figures scoring) and a defense that has allowed 35 points or fewer in eight of its last nine games.
Sammie Ruhlman leads at 9.2 ppg., while Halle Kuzminski is at 8.5 and Alana Stuart 8.2.
Piper Como leads Grove City (10-10) at 13.9 ppg., as well as Delaney Callahan and Izzie Gamble.
(4) Conneaut vs. (5) Franklin at Farrell H.S., 4:30 p.m.
An intriguing matchup between two teams that split in the regular season.
Lainie Harrington has led CASH (14-8) this season to the tune of 15.7 ppg., while Hannah Brady also checks in at double figures with 10.5 ppg.
Conneaut has won four of its last five games going into the regular season, with the only loss coming to Warren.
Estella Adams leads Franklin (13-9) at 11.2 ppg. and Jenn Blum at 8 ppg.
The Lady Knights enter the postseason winners of three straight.
CLASS 3A QUARTERFINALS
(2) Wilmington vs. (7) Seneca at Farrell H.S., 3 p.m.
Region 4 champion Wilmington enters the playoffs at 19-3 and features one of the district’s top players in sophomore Lia Krarup, who averages over 20 points per game.
The Greyhounds have bookend six-game winnings streaks sandwiched in between a close loss to Greenville, going 12-1 in their last 13 games.
Seneca doesn’t have a player scoring in double figures, but at 13-9, they have gotten in done with defense.
Lauren Konkol leads the team at 7.5 ppg.
(3) Greenville vs. (6) North East at Meadville H.S., 3 p.m.
Greenville (17-5), the defending 3A champions, have been bit hard by the injury bug, losing Sarah Mallek and Reese Schaller to season-ending injuries, while Anna Harpst is working her way back from injury.
Grace Cano leads the Trojans at 12.8 points per game, while Josie Lewis is at 11.6.
North East (14-8), meanwhile, has been bolstered by the return of Alex Cozzens, who has averaged over 11 points per game since her return.
Lily Triana averages 8.3 ppg. and Gigi Gaston 7.5. for the Pickers.
(4) Northwestern vs. (5) Sharpsville at Hagerty Family Event Center, 1:30 p.m.
Northwestern (16-6) has won seven of its last eight games coming into the playoffs and features one of District 10’s top freshmen in Makayla Presser-Palmer, who averages 18.5 points per game.
Sharpsville (12-10), meanwhile comes in red-hot as well. The Blue Devils have won six-straight games to get to above .500 at 12-10.
Chasie Fry leads the way with 13.3 points per game and Tori Kimpan at 9.5.
CLASS 2A QUARTERFINALS
(1) Kennedy Catholic vs. (8) Eisenhower at Farrell H.S., 12 p.m.
The defending PIAA runner-up in Class 1A, Kennedy has the potential to get back to Hershey in Class 2A.
Layke Fields has been a force for the Golden Eagles (18-4), who have won 16 in a row, rebounding from an 0-3 start against a very touch schedule. Fields averages 20.1 ppg., while Bella Magestro is at 12.0I, Izzy Bianco and Monique Vincent at 8.6 and Hayden Keith at 7.0.
They will square off against an Eisenhower (12-9) team that has won as many games this season as it has in the last three years combined.
The Lady Knights are led by a talented freshmen core, paced by Clara Steinberg, who averages 15.1 ppg.
(2) Maplewood vs. (7) Mercer at Meadville H.S., 12 p.m.
Region 2 champion Maplewood (18-4) enters on an eight-game winning streak.
Senior 1,000-point scorer Sadie Thomas leads the way at 12.6 ppg., followed by Bailey Varndell at 8.1 and Savannah O’Hara at 6.4.
The Lady Tigers were runners-up a year ago to West Middlesex.
Mercer (12-10) is led by Pressley Washil Ashlyn Heckathorn and Ava Godfrey.
(3) Cambridge Springs vs. (6) West Middlesex at Meadville H.S., 1:30 p.m.
Cambridge Springs’ only losses since early January have come to Maplewood and a talented Hathaway Brown squad out of Ohio.
Makenzie Yanc has put together a strong senior season for the Blue Devils (17-5), averaging 12.5 ppg. while filling the stat sheet on a nightly basis.
Hailee Rodgers averages 9.5 ppg for the Blue Devils and Jordyn Wheeler 7.9.
West Middlesex (11-11), is led by Caitlin Stephens at 13.7 points per game. The Big Reds come into the playoffs following a 6-2 mark to close the regular season.
(4) Lakeview vs. (5) Union City at Farrell H.S., 1:30 p.m.
Lakeview (16-6) has gone 8-2 in its last 10 games coming into the postseason.
Emma Marsteller averages 12.9 ppg. and Kelsey Seddon 9.4.
They will be facing a Union City team that is 6-2 in its past eight games.
Brooke VanTassel paces a balanced UC (12-10) attack at 10 ppg.
