LEHIGHTON — When the offense wasn’t performing as usual, Holy Redeemer turned to its defense to secure a win Friday night.
Redeemer held Schuylkill Haven over 10 minutes without a field goal and McKenzie Chimock took care of the bulk of the scoring as the Royals posted a 51-36 victory in a PIAA Class 3A girls basketball quarterfinal game.
District 2 runner-up Redeemer (21-8) advances to the state semifinals for the third time in the program’s history and for the first time since 2015. The Royals will play District 4 champion Hughesville (26-3) on Monday at time and site to be announced. Hughesville defeated District 2 champion Dunmore 46-40.
“It means everything, honestly, because it means we’re peaking at the right moment,” Chimock said.
Chimock scored a season-high 27 points, including 12 in the first quarter where Redeemer took the lead and never surrendered it. She and fellow senior Bella Boylan are the team’s main scorers, but Boylan missed much of the second quarter in foul trouble and didn’t have her normal offensive output.
District 11 runner-up Schuylkill Haven (24-6) scored a basket with 4:18 left in the second quarter to move within 21-20. The Hurricanes didn’t record another field goal until the final minute of the third quarter.
During that lull, Redeemer outscored Schuylkill Haven 16-1 to take a 37-21 lead. The Royals had eight turnovers in the third quarter, but held the Hurricanes to 2-of-13 shooting.
“They do a great job getting back in a high post,” Redeemer coach John Jezorwski said. “We really wanted to take that away and keep pressuring them and play our defense in the halfcourt. The girls did a fantastic job.”
Foul trouble was prevalent for both teams and Redeemer received better minutes from its main reserves — freshmen Kira Millard and Elizabeth Bilbow and junior Kourtney Jezorwski, the coach’s niece.
Millard led the way with six points and six rebounds. Starter Gillian Parsons was dominant on the boards once again, snagging 10 rebounds.
Redeemer took a 37-26 lead into the fourth as Schuylkill Haven shot 8-of-38 (21%) through three quarters.
“We wanted to make it difficult for every shot,” Chimock said. “We wanted our defense to be the main catalyst of the game.”
A victory Monday would put Redeemer in the state championship game for the first time since the school was founded in 2007.
PIAA Class 3A Quarterfinals
Holy Redeemer 51, Schuylkill Haven 36
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (36) — Audrey Hutchinson 5 3-7 13, Kylie Siket 0 1-2 1, Mckenna Ruckle 5 2-3 13, Ava Terefencko 2 3-4 9, Braelynn Strenkoski 0 0-0 0, Madison Bayer 0 0-0 0, Tessa Benedict 0 0-0 0, Abby Farrell 0 0-0 0, Aubree Brand 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 9-17 36.
HOLY REDEEMER (51) — Kearney Quinn 0 0-0 0, Tessa Cegelka 0 0-0 0, Bella Boylan 4 0-0 8, McKenzie Chimock 9 6-8 27, Gillian Parsons 2 2-3 6, Kira Millard 3 0-0 6, Kourtney Jezorwski 1 0-0 2, Elizabeth Bilbow 1 0-0 2, Olivia Dutko 0 0-0 0, Izzy Wasley 0 0-0 0, Cali Glaser 0 0-0 0, Irelyn Curley 0 0-0 0, Amara Makarczyk 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 8-11 51.
Schuylkill Haven`12`8`6`10 — 36
Holy Redeemer`16`11`10`14 — 51
Three-point goals: SH 3 (Ruckle, Terenfencko) . HR 3 (Chimock 3).
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