Colonial, EPC semifinals set
Pen Argyl stays hot; Emmaus pulls upset
Pen Argyl won its school-record 12th straight game this season in the Colonial League tournament quarterfinals and Emmaus pulled the second biggest upset in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference quarterfinals, seed-wise, since it went to an eight-team playoff format in in 2015.
Here’s a look at the semifinal matchups in each league.
The EPC semifinals will be held at PPL Center on Monday with No. 2 seed Allentown Central Catholic (20-3) vs. No. 7 Emmaus (14-9) at 6:05 p.m. and No. 1 seed Easton (23-0) vs. No. 5 Bethlehem Catholic (15-8), at 8 p.m. The championship game will also be held at PPL Center at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Mya Cooper scored 16 points and Paige Inman and Taylor Griffith had 13 each as the Green Hornets beat No. 2 seed Pocono Mountain West, 59-54. The only bigger quarterfinal round upset in the EPC’s recent format was No. 8 Freedom beating top-seeded Easton in 2018.
“We only lost to Pocono by three points earlier this year so we knew had to clean up a few things and we did that,” said Emmaus coach Kelsey Gallagher after they beat the Panthers without starting guard, freshman Gabby DeVito. “We are extremely excited to be playing in PPL Center as one of the final four teams. We have worked hard all year to be in this position.”
Central Catholic beat Nazareth in the quarterfinals, 48-39, for its 11 th straight victory behind a seasonhigh 21 points from Madi Szoke and 12 from Molly Driscoll. The Vikings beat Emmaus twice in the regular season, 57-28 and 69-49.
Central Catholic has won 23 conference championships while the Hornets have reached the conference semifinals for the first time since winning its sixth and last title in 2007.
“We’re taking it one game at a time,” first-year Vikette coach Kathy Davidowich said. “The girls have confidence in each other and we’re playing more as a team.”
Bethlehem Catholic beat Parkland in the quarterfinals, 52-41, as Cici Hernandez and Ella Bincarosky each tallied 13 points and Kendra Rigo added 10. The Golden
Hawks were the fifth seed last season when they beat top-seeded Easton in the semifinals after the Red Rovers won their first 23 games of the season.
Well, Easton turned that trick again this season as it brings a 23-0 record into the semifinal round again after beating Stroudsburg 66-16. Bethlehem Catholic has won the last five EPC titles (there was no tournament in 2021) and seven of the last eight.
Only Easton has interrupted the Hawks’ string of titles when it won its second league/conference championship in the modern era and first since 1970 in 2016.
“We know going forward every game will be a battle,” Easton coach Dave Lutz said. “We except a lot of close games so we must keep our poise.”
The Colonial League semifinals will be played at Catasauqua High School with No. 2 Notre Dame (17-5) meeting No. 3 Northwestern Lehigh (22-1) at 6:05 p.m. and No. 1 Palmerton (19-3) facing No. 4 Pen Argyl (19-4) at 7:35. The championship game will be held at Freedom High School 6:05 p.m. Friday.
Palmerton won a tiebreaker to claim the West Division title over Northwestern for a bye into the semifinals and Notre Dame won tiebreakers over both Pen Argyl and Bangor to claim the East title and a bye into the semis.
“Northwestern is the most complete team in the league,” Crusader coach Josh Kopp said. “They have the best post player in the league , and also get very strong production out of their guard play. Our team has been very focused all season long. We have a hardworking, attentive, and unselfish bunch that will be ready to play Tuesday.”
The Tigers, who have won a school record 21 straight games since losing 33-30 to Palmerton on Dec. 6 and are seeking a third straight league crown, beat Northern Lehigh 45-23 in the quarterfinals. They defeated the Crusaders, 32-29, on Jan. 24. Notre Dame won the championship in 2020 for its fifth Colonial League title.
“Were excited to be back in the semifinals,” Tigers coach Chris Deutsch said. “We know this will be a tough game against Notre Dame. They are well-coached and play hard. We are excited to be playing a very good team.”
Pen Argyl is seeking its seventh league title game appearance and second championship since winning its first in 1981.
The Green Knights beat Bangor 48-31 in the quarterfinals behind 19 points each from Ellie Wallbillich and Jill Morro. With 1,071 career points, Morro, who leads the area is scoring this season at 20.6 ppg., is 60 points away from becoming Pen Argyl’s all-time leading girls scorer.
“We are excited to be going to play Palmerton,” Green Knights coach Todd Oessenick said. “They are really good and well-prepared and coached. Their team mounted a big comeback against us at our place because they are ultra competitive as well. I’m hopeful we can compete at their level for 32 minutes.”
Palmerton lost to Northwestern for the second straight season last year in the league title game. They beat Pen Argyl, 49-46, on Dec. 8. The Blue Bombers won three straight Colonial League titles from 1996- 98 and have also won seven Centennial League championships.