PIAA semifinals: Bishop McCort Catholic girls geared up for District 6 title game rematch with Penns Manor
In the aftermath of Bishop McCort Catholic’s District 6 Class 2A title victory over Penns Manor Feb. 27 at Mount Aloysius College, Crimson Crushers coach John Hahn had a feeling that his team might encounter the Comets again in the PIAA tournament if it could handle its business.
The two District 6 powers will collide at 7 p.m. Friday when they’ll face off at Central Cambria High School with a trip to the PIAA 2A title game on the line. The winner will face either District 5 champion Berlin Brothersvalley or District 2 winner Mountain View March 27 at Hershey’s Giant Center.
“When the seedings came out and we looked where they were taking (Penns Manor) and where we were going, we thought that there was a real good possibility that we’d see them in the western final,” Hahn said.
Bishop McCort won its 15th District 6-2A championship, rallying past the Comets 54-49 to claim the program’s first District 6 title since 2018.
The battle to get by coach Jason Miloser’s now 25-5 Comets was one that stuck with Hahn in the weeks since.
“His girls fight. They don’t give up,” Hahn said. “Alyssa Altemus, she was a handful.
“I had Elle (Berkebile) on her and I believe she had 22, 23 points against us.
“Alyssa made her work.
“(Altemus) was tough. (Katie Bertolino) was tough, and Allie Mumau played well.
“I think she only had eight points, she had quite a few rebounds and is quite a good defensive ballplayer.”
To reach the semifinal, Penns Manor held Redbank Valley’s Mylee Harmon, a career 2,000-point scorer, to three points this past Friday. Much of the defensive work fell on Altemus, who notched 21 points in the 42-29 win over the Bulldogs at Armstrong Junior-Senior High School.
A 17-5 closing kick allowed the Comets to separate from Redbank Valley after the District 9 champs had cut the lead to one point.
The Comets also took down Wilmington 61-51 March 7 in the first round before a 52-29 triumph over Aliquippa March 11 in the second round.
Penns Manor has reached the PIAA semifinals twice, falling in overtime to West Catholic in 2018 and Neshannock in 2021. The Comets are trying to become the fourth Heritage Conference team to reach a PIAA girls basketball final in three seasons with Marion Center (2A in 2024) and Homer-Center (2A in 2023) each falling to Kennedy Catholic, while River Valley lost to Dunmore in the 2023 3A final.
District 6 and the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference saw a team reach the 3A final in 2024 as Westmont Hilltop took silver after Lancaster Catholic tripped up the Hilltoppers.
Add in the fact that District 6 had four quarterfinalists in this year’s 1A bracket, and Hahn eagerly points out that the district’s girls basketball pedigree is as strong as ever.
“I’d say the last four, five years, basketball in District 6 is loaded,” Hahn said.
In Bishop McCort’s quarterfinal win, also at Armstrong this past Friday, the Crimson Crushers missed their first 10 shots from the floor before nudging past Kennedy Catholic late in the second quarter and staving off the Golden Eagles by a 47-43 tally. The Crimson Crushers (25-4) avenged losses in the past two PIAA tournaments to the two-time defending Class 2A champion Golden Eagles.
A 70-34 victory over Eisenhower and a 66-39 decision over Winchester Thurston was on Bishop McCort’s docket before the showdown with Kennedy Catholic.
The Crimson Crushers boast three scorers averaging 10 or more points per game in Seton Hill signee Cami Beppler (17.5), Ava Zucco (11.8) and Emma Preuss (10.0).
Elle Berkebile (8.1) and Zoey Ferguson (7.1) also bolster the scoring with Kalina Bailey (5.5), Belle Toth (4.0) and Reese Bair (3.0) also supplying scoring jabs.
Zucco leads the team in rebounding with 10.4 per game, with Ferguson clearing the glass 8.5 times per game. Berkebile’s 6.5 assists per game lead the team, while Beppler is collecting three steals per outing.
While his team has some impressive pelts on its wall from this season, including the 1,000th win in program history, Hahn is not taking another for granted, but is grateful for what his team sees before the postseason.
“It’s tough to win. People don’t really know how tough it is to win,” Hahn said.
“It’s a battle. I thank God that I’m in the Laurel Highlands and that I get to play the Bishop Carrolls and the Bishop Guilfoyles, and the Forest Hills and the Johnstown Highs, because it gets you ready for this time of the year.”
Shawn Curtis is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5085. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnCurtis430.
-
Bishop McCort girls avenge previous losses to Kennedy Catholic, move on to state 2A semifinals
KITTANNING, Pa. – The biggest thorn in Bishop McCort Catholic’s side was finally removed. The District 6 champion Crimson Crushers overcame recent history and a weak start as it posted a 47-43 ...Yahoo Sports - 6d -
PHOTO GALLERY | 'It's amazing': Bishop Carroll girls beat Williamsburg to reach PIAA Class 1A semifinal opposite Bishop Guilfoyle
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Bishop Carroll Catholic girls basketball team earned its first PIAA final four appearance in seven years via its 60-47 victory over Williamsburg in an all-District 6 quarterfinal ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Details for PIAA basketball semifinal games announced
Three area girls basketball teams will play in the PIAA semifinals Friday and Saturday. The PIAA announced sites and times for those games Sunday. District 6 champion Bishop McCort will face ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Class MM girls basketball: Sheehan holds off East Catholic for championship victory
UNCASVILLE – The Sheehan girls basketball team won the Class MM championship game with a 56-51 victory over top-seeded East Catholic Sunday afternoon at Mohegan Sun Arena. It was Sheehan’s first ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Class L girls basketball: Northwest Catholic beats Bethel for its third straight title
UNCASVILLE – The top-seeded Northwest Catholic girls basketball team won its third straight state championship, this time in Class L, with a 56-40 victory over No. 2 seed Bethel Saturday night at ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
St. Mary Catholic earns title shot in Division 4 with win over Durand-Arkansaw
Defense, points in paint spark victory for St. Mary Catholic in WIAA Division 4 state semifinal girls basketball game.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14 -
Bishop Carroll girls, Forest Hills boys set for PIAA quarterfinal contests Saturday
The Bishop Carroll girls and Forest Hills boys each earned spots in the PIAA basketball quarterfinals Saturday with victories Wednesday. Trips to the semifinals will be at stake Saturday. High ...Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Fourth-quarter scoring barrage leads Berlin past Marion Catholic in PIAA 2A quarterfinal
Berlin Brothersvalley rallied to knock off Marian Catholic in the PIAA 2A girls basketball quarterfinalsYahoo Sports - 6d -
Bergen Catholic rallies in fourth to win state boys basketball title over Camden Catholic
Bergen Catholic rallied from a nine-point deficit to beat Camden Catholic, 52-49, and capture the Non-Public A state boys basketball title.Yahoo Sports - 6d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Ohio State women's basketball vs Montana State in NCAA Tournament first round
It's Ohio State women's basketball vs Montana State in the first round of March Madness. Follow for scores, NCAA Tournament updates from the game.Yahoo Sports - 45m -
Viktor Hovland contending at the Valspar Championship after (another) coaching change
Two weeks ago, Hovland announced a switch back to Grant Waite, insisting he's trying to "get to the bottom" of his slump.Yahoo Sports - 47m -
Auburn basketball vs Creighton: Who has edge in 2025 NCAA Tournament second round?
It’s Auburn Tigers vs. Creighton Blue Jays in the March Madness bracket. Here’s our prediction, pick for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.Yahoo Sports - 47m -
Georgia Amoore scores 34 points and Kentucky holds off charge by Liberty for 79-78 March Madness win
Georgia Amoore scored 34 points, including three free throws in the final 10 seconds for fourth-seeded Kentucky, which nearly blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead but held on for a 79-78 victory ...Yahoo Sports - 48m -
Mexican club Leon banned from FIFA Club World Cup
Club Leon from Mexico were incensed Friday after they were banned from the June-July Club World Cup in the United States for violating rules on multi-ownership, FIFA announced Friday. A FIFA ...Yahoo Sports - 52m
More in Sports
-
Ohio State women's basketball vs Montana State in NCAA Tournament first round
It's Ohio State women's basketball vs Montana State in the first round of March Madness. Follow for scores, NCAA Tournament updates from the game.Yahoo Sports - 45m -
Poch after loss: Wearing U.S. shirt 'not enough'
Mauricio Pochettino was left visibly frustrated after the USMNT's shock 1-0 defeat to Panama in the Concacaf Nations League, bluntly telling his players it was not enough to just simply show up in ...ESPN - 45m -
Skenes' 1-of-1 rookie card fetches record $1.11M
Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes' 2024 Topps Chrome Update MLB debut patch autograph card sold for a stunning $1.11 million, including buyer's premium.ESPN - 45m -
Bronny has season-high 17 points in Lakers' loss
Bronny James scored a season-high 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting and added five assists, three rebounds and a block in 30 minutes of playing time against the Bucks.ESPN - 45m -
Wood carded for signing autographs in NZ win
Chris Wood picked up a yellow card for signing autographs and taking pictures with fans during New Zealand's win over Fiji in their World Cup qualifier on Thursday.ESPN - 45m