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Pittston Area’s commute for Friday night’s game is approximately three miles. North Penn will be traveling close to 100.
The Patriots, playing in their first state playoff game in school history, will take on Lansdale’s North Penn in the PIAA Class AAAA girls basketball first round at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 6 at Wyoming Area’s gym in Exeter.
Pittston Area (22-3) copped the District 2 championship with a win over Hazleton Area. The Patriots head into the state tournament as District 2’s only representative. North Penn (17-7) was the seventh place finisher in the loaded District 1. District 1, which extends Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties, sends 10 teams to the state tournament.
Pittston Area’s win over Hazleton in the district title game was the biggest in school history. Thanks to Allie Barber’s 13 points, including the 1,000th of her career, the Patriots took a 50-40 win over the Cougars. It was the school’s first basketball district championship since the boys team won in 1978.
“It’s all about our coaching staff and players,” Pittston Area coach Kathy Healey said. “It’s great for me but it’s great for the community and the kids. It’s great for our younger kids to see what the older kids accomplish.”
The Patriots will be playing in the second game Friday night at Wyoming Area. In the opener at 6 p.m., GAR’s boys team will face Manheim Central in the Class AAA bracket.
Just three miles away from their home gym, Pittston Area’s home court advantage is rather significant. The Patriots have already proven they can win on their rival’s floor.
In the District 2 semifinals this season, the Patriots took down defending champion Wallenpaupack, 49-31, at Wyoming Area. Last season, Pittston Area beat Nanticoke in the District 2 quarterfinals at Wyoming Area.
“It’s definitely going to be a great advantage,” Healey said. “The community has followed us all year. The cheerleaders and student section have been awesome all year. Pittston will be out in full force.”
North Penn comes in having made the state quarterfinals in three straight seasons. According to Healey, they have a batch of talented guards and a scorer inside.
Guard Sam Carangi and center Mikaela Giuliani lead the team in the offensive and defensive end. Both were named all-league players this season.
Carangi scored a game-high 17 points in the District 1 seventh-place game.
“They pick up full court and play a lot of man,” Healey said. “They have really good guards and all can score. Giuliani inside is a tall, lanky girl and goes to the basket well.”
The Patriots pride themselves in their defense and their ability to take care of the ball. North Penn coach Maggie Demarteleire said her team must do exactly that to win.
The Knights are a young team, Demarteleire said. They field just one senior and start three sophomores. They won the District 1 title last season and four of those players were on that team.
“I always feel like when you get to playoffs it’s defense, rebounding and taking care of the ball,” Demarteleire said. “We need to box out well and make good decisions offensively.”
The Patriots seemed to find their second wind after a blowout loss to Hazleton Area in early February. That was their second straight loss. Since then, Pittston Area has won five in a row, allowing just 32 points per game.
“I think we need to keep going what we’ve been doing the past couple weeks,” Healey said. “We’re getting better at the right time. The girls have really kept their composure. They are doing the little things right.”
The district title last month gave a few Pittston Area players their third district title in less than a year. Barber, Liz Waleski and Taryn Ashby each won a track and field title, a soccer title, and now a basketball title.
Waleski leads the charge for the Patriots averaging 14.6 points per game, which includes 51 threes. Barber’s the floor general, while Ashby takes care of the opposition’s best offensive player. Ashby will be tasked with guarding Carangi Friday night.
“Their knowledge of the game and their desire to win is impressive,” Healey said. “They want to win at everything. If there’s a parking spot they will try and beat you to it. You can’t teach that. Practice is rough because these kids are so competitive.”