The Dallas girls managed to hold off a late rally from Villa Maria Academy in the final quarter, and beat the Hurricanes 43-41 in the first round of the PIAA Class 5A girls basketball playoffs on Saturday at Great Valley High School.
The Mountaineers were ahead throughout the game, and had a seven-point lead going into the fourth quarter. Villa Maria, the second seed from District 1, reduced the lead to just one basket, but couldn’t win.
Molly Walsh scored 15 points for Dallas (21-7), and Elizabeth Viglone contributed 13 for the Mountaineers. Viglone was particularly effective in the fourth quarter, scoring eight of her 13 points and making four of her seven free throws in the fourth.
Carly Catania scored 16 points for Villa Maria Academy (17-9) in the loss.
Dallas will play District 12 champion Archbishop Wood, which defeated District 1 sixth seed Radnor 55-42, in the next round of the PIAA Class 5A playoffs on Wednesday at a time and location to be announced.
CLASS 6A BOYS
West Chester Henderson 80, Hazleton Area 73
Hazleton took an early lead, but fell behind by half and eventually lost on the road to District 1 third seed West Chester Henderson.
The Cougars led 16-12 after one quarter, but were outscored 23-13 in the second, allowing Henderson to maintain their lead for the rest of the game.
Dylan Stish led Hazleton with 26 points, while Joe Marshall contributed 14 and Luis Guzman added 10. The Cougars, the second seed from District 2, end the year with a record of 16-10.
Nyle Ralph-Beyer led all scorers with 32 points for Henderson, one of four Warriors to score in double figures. He made six three-pointers, and the Warriors as a team made 12 triples in the victory.
Henderson will face District 12 champion Roman Catholic on Wednesday at a time and location yet to be determined.
CLASS 2A BOYS
Mahanoy Area 58, Northwest Area 44
The Rangers were defeated by District 11 champion Mahanoy Area in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs on Saturday.
Josh Miner and Ryan Miner both scored in double digits for the Rangers, with 16 and 13 points, respectively. The Rangers, who entered the tournament as the third seed from District 4, finished the year with a record of 23-4, their second consecutive year with at least 20 wins.
Mahanoy Area improved to 28-0 for the year, and will play the winner of Saturday’s game between District 12 champ Constitution and District 1 second seed Delco Christian.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
PIAA Class 5A First Round
Dallas 43, Villa Maria 41
DALLAS (43) — Mizzer 1 2-2 4, DelGaudio 4 0-0 8, Wydra 0 0-0 0, Casey 1 1-2 3, Viglone 3 7-10 13, Comitz 0 0-0 0, Walsh 6 2-4 15. Totals 15 12-18 43.
VILLA MARIA (41) — Tray 2 3-4 7, Romeo 2 2-2 6, Sharp 1 0-0 2, Catania 7 2-2 16, Liberatore 0 0-0 0, O’Hare 2 0-2 4, Ferry 2 0-0 6, Dean 0 0-2 0. Totals 16 7-12 41.
Dallas'9'14'9'11 — 43
Villa Maria'8'5'12'16 — 41
Three-point goals — DAL 1 (Walsh), VMA 2 (Ferry 2).
PIAA Class 6A First Round
West Chester Henderson 80, Hazleton Area 73
HAZLETON AREA (73) — Gennaro scored 6 points, Santiago scored 8 points, Stish scored 26 points, S. Guzman scored 7 points, Saladin scored 0 points, Diaz scored 2 points, L. Guzman scored 10 points, Marshall scored 14 points, and Reimold scored 0 points. Total points for Hazleton Area are 73.
WEST CHESTER HENDERSON (80) — Ralph-Beyer scored 32 points, DeLucia scored 11 points, Fleet scored 20 points, Smith scored 13 points, Nelson scored 2 points, Ranalli scored 0 points, and McFadden scored 2 points. Total points for West Chester Henderson are 80.
Hazleton Area scored 16 points in the first quarter, 13 in the second, 22 in the third, and 22 in the fourth, making a total of 73 points.
Henderson scored 12 points in the first quarter, 23 in the second, 22 in the third, and 23 in the fourth, making a total of 80 points.
Three-point goals — HAZ made 7 three-pointers (Stish 4, Marshall 2, S. Guzman), WCH made 12 three-pointers (Ralph-Beyer 6, Smith 3, DeLucia 2, Fleet).
Class 2A First Round
Mahanoy Area 58, Northwest 44
NORTHWEST (44) — J. Miner scored 16 points, R. Miner scored 13 points, Shea scored 5 points, McCoy scored 3 points, Crawford scored 7 points, Chonko scored 0 points, and Bau scored 0 points. Total points for Northwest are 44.
MAHANOY AREA (58) — Yedsena scored 15 points, Cuff scored 9 points, Zawada scored 16 points, Alansky scored 12 points, Styka scored 6 points, Manley scored 0 points, and McGroarty scored 0 points. Total points for Mahanoy Area are 58.
Northwest Area scored 6 points in the first quarter, 11 in the second, 17 in the third, and 10 in the fourth, making a total of 44 points.
Mahanoy Area scored 19 points in the first quarter, 9 in the second, 16 in the third, and 14 in the fourth, making a total of 58 points.
Three-point goals — NW made 4 three-pointers (J. Miner 2, R. Miner, Shea), MAH made 6 three-pointers (Zawada 3, Yedsena, Cuff, Styka).
