THROOP — Neveah Baran and Kate Reed each detected an increased energy level from their team between the first and third quarters.
Baran and Reed were also largely responsible for what they sensed.
Their combined efforts created the spark that helped Nanticoke Area surge past host Mid Valley 45-32 in Wednesday’s District 2 Class 4A girls basketball quarterfinals.
“I think we had more energy and we worked more as a team,” Baran said.
Baran scored 19 points, seven of which came in a streak of 16 straight by the Trojanettes. Reed had five in the streak, which included the first 14 points of the second half, and finished with 13.
“We’ve had games like this before where we start off not too hot,” Baran said, “but we always seem to come back.”
The win over fourth-seeded Mid Valley (15-8) sends fifth-seeded Nanticoke Area (13-10) into Saturday’s 1 p.m. game at top-seed and defending champion Scranton Prep. The Classics (21-1), a state finalist last year and the No. 1 ranked Class 4A team in the state by suburban Pittsburgh media outlet tribhssn.com, are unbeaten within Pennsylvania.
To advance, Nanticoke Area had to overcome a dreadful start offensively.
The Trojanettes turned the ball over six times and got off just two shots in the first 4:21.
Mid Valley had leads of 9-0 and 11-1 in the last minute of the first quarter.
Nanticoke Area went 7:18 without scoring and 9:07 before its first field goal.
The start of the second half looked much different. The Trojanettes made eight of their first 11 shots.
“I think we just came out slow in the beginning,” Reed said, “but then we went back in the locker room and we just came out in the third quarter ready to end it.”
As is often the case, defense and rebounding helped create better chances for the offense.
Nanticoke Area also executed in-bounds plays from under the basket during a 22-7 third quarter. Baran gave the Trojanettes their first lead, 16-15, on one 1:24 into the second half and added another layup in the same situation less than two minutes later.
Reed hit a 3-pointer from the left corner off another in-bounds play for Nanticoke Area’s biggest lead 34-17 with 1:42 left in the third.
Nanticoke Area had a 42-33 rebounding advantage with seven from Caitlynn Majiros, six each from Baran, Reed and Natalee Atkins and five from Jordyn Johnson.
Krista Cortazar led Mid Valley with 10 points and four steals. Parker Bennett had seven points.
Elisa Larson led Mid Valley’s fast start with six points and two steals in the first quarter, but Nanticoke Area held her to one point the rest of the way.
Nanticoke Area 45, Mid Valley 32
NANTICOKE AREA (45) — Natalee Atkins 1 1-2 4, Caitlynn Majiros 2 1-3 5, Kate Reed 4 3-4 13, Marlie Donahue 0 0-0 0, Neveah Baran 6 7-12 19, Jordyn Johnson 2 0-0 4, Amiah Ceruti 0 0-0 0, Hailey Verazin 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 12-21 45.
MID VALLEY (32) — Elise Larson 3 1-6 7, Parker Bennett 4 0-0 9, Addison Frein 0 0-0 0, Krista Cortazar 4 0-0 10, Mackenzie Adolfson 1 1-2 3, Mackenzie Richards 1 0-0 3, Madison Tully 0 0-0 0, Kayla Wilson 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Costello 0 0-0 0, Julianne Barnauskas 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 2-8 32.
Nanticoke`3`9`22`11 — 45
Mid Valley`11`4`7`10 — 32
Three-point goals: NAN 3 (Reed 2, Atkins), MV 4 (Cortazar, Bennett, Richards).
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