“Revenge Tour 2022”

That could be the theme for the Jim Thorpe girls’ basketball team this post-season

The Olympians’ “Revenge Tour” started with Schuylkill League Division 1 foe North Schuylkill. The Spartans defeated Thorpe in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 Schuylkill League championship games, but the Olympians went 4-for-4 against North Schuylkill this season, defeating them twice during the regular season, again in the Schuylkill League title game, and then most recently in the District 11 4A semifinals.

Jim Thorpe’s 21-point rout of the Spartans on Wednesday night, set up the opportunity to cross another item off its revenge list.

That chance comes this afternoon when the Olympians will play in their fourth straight District 11 championship game.

Not only will Jim Thorpe get a chance to avenge loses in the previous three title games, but it will get a chance to do so against an Allentown Central Catholic team that handed it the most recent loss in that string, a 41-36 decision in the Class 4A championship last season at the PPL Center in Allentown.

The two teams will meet in a rematch today at 4:30 p.m. at Martz Hall in Pottsville.

“I think the experience of our seniors will give us a good chance,” said Jim Thorpe coach Nadia Gauronsky. “I think that will help us speed up the game a bit because we know they would like to slow the game down.

“I also think the summer we have had, playing against strong competition in tournaments, coupled with a very challenging non-league schedule this season certainly makes us battle-tested. We have played six teams that will qualify for the states in their respective classification. We’re hoping all of that has sharpened our sword to slay the dragon.”

The No. 3 seeded Vikettes (20-5) are appearing in the district playoffs for the 50th consecutive year this season. They have won 23 District 11 titles and seven PIAA state championships. Head coach Mike Kopp, who is retiring at the end of this season, has 1,023 career wins – 950 of them with the Central Catholic program.

The Vikettes defeated Lehighton in the semifinals 36-21 to advance to the championship game. Hanna Hoeing and Abbey Kofroth led the way with eight points apiece, with Madi Szoke adding six points. Central Catholic’s leading scorer and rebounder on the season, Julia Roth (12.6 ppg.) was injured in the first quarter of the game and will not be available for the remainder of the postseason. That means players like Hoeing, Korfroth, Szoke and the Vikettes’ second leading scorer Molly Driscoll (8.4 ppg) will all need to significantly step up on the offensive end. Driscoll leads the team with 26 three-pointers.

Central Catholic, which has historically been a defensive-minded program under Kopp, is giving up just 26.56 points per game this season and is averaging 44.6 points per game on the offensive end.

“We won’t have Julia, so that of course will be a challenge for us. We’re just going to go into the game and play hard and try to compete,” said Kopp. “They present a lot of concerns to any team. (Leila) Hurley is a great shooter and (Skyler) Serafoss can handle the ball with the best of them and really runs the show. We also don’t have anyone who matches up height-wise with (Olivia) Smelas, who is not only a good scorer, but an excellent passer.

“They’re just a really good team. Like I said, we’re going to look to come in and play hard and compete.”

Searfoss and Hurley led Thorpe with 18 points apiece in its 64-43 victory over North Schuylkill on Tuesday. Smelas scored 13 and Snisky added 10. The four seniors - Searfoss (14.6 ppg.), Smelas (11.7 ppg., 10.8 rpg)., Hurley (11.3 ppg.) and Snisky (10.0 ppg.) all average double figures with junior Mackenzie Yuhas helping out with seven points per game. Hurley leads the team in three-pointers, with 43, hitting four against the Spartans. The Olympians (24-1) are averaging close to 60 points per game.

Both Jim Thorpe and Central Catholic have already clinched 4A state playoffs berths, with the winner playing the No. 5 seed out of District 12 and the loser playing the No. 2 seed out of District 4.