SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Utilizing a ball-hawking pressure defense and an opportunistic offense Tuesday night, Marian steamrolled past Weatherly, 66-13, in a District 11 Class 1A semifinal game.

The decisive victory lifts the Fillies into the 1A finals, where they will face Nativity Friday evening at Martz Hall.

The outcome of the contest played at Blue Mountain High School was determined early in the first period as Marian jumped out to a commanding 21-4 lead.

Following a jump shot by Weatherly’s Taylor Davidovich, the Fillies’ full-court pressure defense caused a dozen turnovers that led to a 14-2 run.

Frankie Martinelli scored 10 of her game-high 29 points in the first period.

Marian’s lead ballooned to 40-9 at the half. Martinelli added another 12 points to her total in the second period on an assortment of jumpers, three-pointers, and driving layups.

“We executed on both offense and defense tonight,” said Marian head coach Damian Fritz, “and we did what we had to do to win the game.”

The third period proved to be no better for Weatherly, as the Fillies (19-5) got into three-point range and connected on five treys. Martinelli dropped in two, while Carly Minchhoff, Kerrigan Digris and Sophia Lombardo also connected from downtown.

The Wreckers (6-17) never managed to score two consecutive baskets, and the mercy clock kicked into gear early in the third.

Marian showed great patience moving the ball around Weatherly’s zone until they could score down the lane or kick out a pass for a trifecta.

Fritz commended his team’s performance, and signaled out two of his players who had outstanding games.

“Frankie had a great night,” said Fritz. “Her shooting from three-point range was exceptional, and she had seven steals and five assists, too.

“In the first half, Ashley Pleban did a great job getting us into our offensive sets, and from there we were plug and play.”

Minchhoff was second behind Martinelli with 16 points, while Digris chipped in with nine. Emma Kane paced Weatherly with six points.

THE OPPONENT ... Marian, the No. 1 seed, will try to dethrone last year’s district champs - Nativity - in an All-Schuylkill League Division 3 final. The same two teams met in last year’s final, with the Golden Girls posting a 43-28 win. The Fillies defeated Nativity twice during the regular season by scores of 44-35 and 56-34. The Golden Girls defeated Lincoln Leadership, 49-14, in the first game of last Tuesday night’s doubleheader at Blue Mountain to advance.

LOCKDOWN ... Marian’s defense allowed only four shots from the field in the first period, and also held the Wreckers to no offensive rebounds.

LONG RANGE ... The Fillies drilled 11 three-pointers, with six coming from Martinelli.

CLOSING IN ON A TITLE? ... If Marian can defeat Nativity on Friday, it will earn its first district title since 2014. Tuesday night’s victory also clinched a berth in the PIAA state playoffs.

WEATHERLY

Kane 3-0-1-6, Davidovich 1-1-2-3, Houser 1-0-0-2, Gaydoscik 1-0-0-2, Pugh 0-0-0-0, Paisley 0-0-0-0, Diaz 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 6-1-3-13.

MARIAN

Martinelli 10-3-4-29, Minchhoff 3-8-8-16, Digris 3-1-3-9, Lombardo 2-0-0-5, Pleban 2-0-2-4, Corrado 1-1-2-3, Pleban 0-0-0-0, Pikitus 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 21-8-13-66.

Weatherly 4 5 2 2 - 13

Marian 21 19 22 4 - 66

Three-pointers: Marian - Martinelli 6, Minchhoff 2, Digris 2, Lombardo 1; Weatherly - None.