Palmerton in first title game since 1998
DISTRICT 11 3A GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Matchup: No. 1 Notre Dame Crusaders vs. No. 3 Palmerton Blue Bombers.
When/Where: 6 p.m., Friday at Catasauqua High School.
What’s next: First round PIAA tournament March 8: Winner plays District 12, No. 5 and loser plays District 4 No. 2.
PALMERTON (11-12)
All-time District 11 record: 26-34 in 33rd appearance. All-time championship games since 1970: 10-6 (7-3
league; 3-3 district).
Head-to-head: 5-15 against Notre Dame since 2005. Crusaders have won five straight games against Palmerton by margins of 24, 37, 46, 36 and 16 points.
Coach: Dan Beck (first season).
Projected starters: 5-10 Jr. F Kayla Cincilla (9.8 ppg), 5-11 Sr. F Baylee Guedes (8.5 ppg), 5-8 Fr. G Brianna Moore (15.3 ppg, 27 3s), 5-6 Jr. G Casi Papay, 5-5 Fr. G Raegan Nemeth. About the Blue Bombers: First postseason championship game of any kind since 1998. …Moore, an outstanding athlete who has a tremendously bright future on the soccer pitch, isn’t a bad basketball player either with her unique athletic skills. She is currently the highestscoring freshman in the Lehigh Valley. …Cincilla, who tied her career high with 18 points in the semifinals, is back in the fold after missing 10 games in the middle of the season. …Have mixed starting lineups lately, with juniors Hollis Guedes and Emily Recker also on the court at tipoff. …Beat Northern Lehigh 54-49 in last game of regular season to legitimately qualify for district play with a 9-8 league record.
Did You Know?: With its 54-47 semifinal victory over North Schuylkill, Palmerton qualified for its first state tournament since reaching the PIAA semifinals for the only time in school history in 1997, when it played in the third highest class out of four.
NOTRE DAME (22-3)
All-time District 11 record: 46-40 in 43rd appearance. All-time championship games since 1970: 12-17 (5-13
league; 7-4 district).
Coach: Josh Kopp (249-136, 15 seasons; D-11 playoffs 10-15, 1-2 finals in 15th appearance).
Projected starters: 5-10 Sr. F Mary Kate Altmire (6.2 ppg), 6-0 Jr. C Cassie Murphy (18.0 ppg, 953 career points), 5-5 So. G Grace Medei (5.0 ppg), 5-2 Sr. G Abby Wachter, 5-11 Fr. G Antonia Bates (9.0 ppg).
About the Crusaders: Murphy, one of the area’s biggest breakout stars this season, is a matchup nightmare for most opponents with her low post game. …Beat an 8-15 Pen Argyl team for third time this season (by 44, 39 and 34 points) in semifinals to qualify for their 17th PIAA tournament and third in a row. …Went undefeated in Colonial League regular season but lost title game to Southern Lehigh 44-43 on a basket with nine seconds left in overtime after holding 12-point first-half lead.
Did you know?: Notre Dame has qualified, with a winning overall or league mark, for 30 consecutive district tournaments. It’s has won seven titles but just one, in 2013, since winning its fourth straight in 1995. Tom Mugavero’s prediction: Notre Dame beat Palmerton 54-30 on Jan. 10 behind 23 points from Murphy, who should feast on the Blue Bombers defense once again. The Crusaders held Moore to a pedestrian eight points in that game. …NOTRE DAME 55-30