Holy Redeemer’s McKenzie Chimock gets a hug from Kira Millard while Gillian Parsons celebrates behind them near the end of Monday’s semifinal win.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Holy Redeemer players celebrate at the final buzzer on Monday to clinch the program’s first trip to the state championship.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Holy Redeemer senior McKenzie Chimock (22) battles for the ball in Monday’s state semifinal win over Hughesville.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Boylan
Cegelka
Chimock
Parsons
Quinn
The last time a Wyoming Valley Conference girls basketball team played for a PIAA state championship, the current arena wasn’t even there.
That was back in 2000 when now-closed Bishop Hoban played at the Hersheypark Arena, a facility built in 1936 and still in use.
Two years later, the Giant Center was built nearby and no WVC girls team has played for a title there.
That changes starting 6 p.m. Thursday as District 2 runner-up Holy Redeemer (22-8) plays District 7 second seed Greensburg Central Catholic (23-7) for the Class 3A girls championship.
“It was our number one goal throughout the whole season,” Redeemer senior guard Tessa Cegelka said. “We lost the district; we didn’t win the conference. Being here in the state final, I can’t even put it into words.”
The Royals battled through the state tournament after losing 37-35 to Dunmore in the District 2 championship game on a 3-pointer with 6.6 seconds left.
“After we lost, our main goal was to get to the state championship, and that’s what we did,” Redeemer senior guard Kearney Quinn said.
Bishop Hoban also played for a girls championship in 1994 and 1999, coming home with its only state gold in 1999. It played its last game in 2006 and merged with three other Catholic schools to form Redeemer, which is housed in the former Hoban building.
The Royals are the fourth WVC girls team to play for a state championship since the PIAA began a girls tournament in 1973. Berwick lost in the Class 3A title game in 1998. Nanticoke Area won the Class 3A championship in 1990.
• The Starting Five: Redeemer has gone with the same lineup most of the season, except early on when Bella Boylan missed some time.
Four seniors are in the lineup. McKenzie Chimock is averaging 18.5 points in the state playoffs, followed by Boylan at 15.3 per game. The backcourt of Kearney Quinn and Tessa Cegelka has combined for just over six per game, but their main duties are ballhandling and defense.
Junior Gillian Parsons is averaging 4.5 points and has been a force on the boards. She had 14 rebounds vs. Imhotep in the second round and 10 vs. Schuylkill Haven in the quarterfinals.
• The Bench: Redeemer has received quality minutes from its three main reserves — junior Kourtney Jezorwski and freshmen Elizabeth Bilbow and Kira Millard.
Millard has been particularly impressive and her size will be needed Thursday. She has flipped the momentum a couple of times, is averaging 7.8 points in states, which is double her regular-season average and has been a strong rebounder.
• Size Advantage: Redeemer will have to contend with a taller Central Catholic team.
Senior guard Erica Gribble, a Richmond commit, is 5-foot-10, as is fellow senior Jayla Peterson. Junior Avery Jones is 5-11 and junior Morgan Skoloda is 5-9. Jones had 16 points in the semifinal win.
Based on game footage, Redeemer might be a tick quicker than the Centurions.
• Streak Stoppers: Redeemer and Central Catholic made it to the finals by ending long winning streaks in the semifinals.
Redeemer defeated District 4 champion Hughesville 39-27, ending the Spartans’ 15-game winning streak.
Central Catholic ended District 7 champion Shady Side Academy’s 17-game winning streak with a 49-27 win in the semifinals. The Centurions held Shady Side to one field goal in the second half.
Shady Side had defeated Central Catholic three times this season, twice by double digits.
• Bumping The Finalists: Loyalsock Township defeated Shady Side Academy 55-43 for the 3A championship last season. Both were eliminated by the current finalists.
Redeemer defeated Loyalsock Township 61-55 in the first round. Central Catholic knocked off Shady Side in the semifinals.
• Zoning In: Redeemer has allowed 31.5 points per game in its last two games. The Royals have been using a zone defense that coach John Jezorwski saw utilized by a college women’s team.
• No Champions: The Redeemer vs. Central Catholic matchup marks the first time since 2012 that a district champion isn’t in the 3A title game.
Back in 2012, Archbishop Wood was the third seed out of District 12 and Indiana was the third seed in District 7.
• Third Time The Charm: Redeemer lost in the state semifinals in 2014 and 2015 before its breakthrough win against Hughesville. All three times, the Royals didn’t win the District 2 championship.
• Going For Another: Central Catholic won the 1997 Class 2A state championship a year after losing in the 2A state finals.
The Centurions have a long history in the PIAA playoffs dating back to 1982 and Thursday’s game will be their 91st state game.
• District 2 Connection: The Old Forge boys are the only other District 2 team playing for a state championship. The District 2 champion Blue Devils play Sewickley Academy at 2 p.m. Friday.
• Whistle Blowers: Two District 2 officiating crews will also handle games.
Tony Demaranville, Kim Reuther and Jeff Shook will officiate the Class 2A girls game at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Bruce Weinstock, Jason McDermott and Mike Burnside will officiate the Class 6A boys game at 8 p.m. Saturday.
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