The District 11 basketball playoffs get underway tonight, and three area teams will be in action.

The Northern Lehigh girls and Pleasant Valley boys will both be playing in opening round games, while the Weatherly boys take on Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg in a quarterfinal contest.

Below are previews of all three games:

GIRLS BASKETBALL

District 11 Class 3A

No. 11 Lehigh Valley Academy (11-9) vs.

No. 6 Northern Lehigh (15-8)

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m. at Northern Lehigh

LEADING OFF

Since Chris Heery took over the Northern Lehigh girls basketball program four years ago, the Bulldogs have qualified each season for the District 11 playoffs. Last season, Nolehi knocked off the top seed (Marian) in the semifinals, but fell short of its first-ever title with a loss to No. 2 seed Minersville. The Bulldogs’ first step this postseason is to get by a program — Lehigh Valley Academy — who have qualified for its first postseason appearance in the program’s short history. With no real playoff history on its side, and not knowing much about the LVA program, Heery has his Bulldogs entering with this mindset – “To us, it has more to do with playing our game and seeing if they can stop us.” The Bulldogs are also glad to be able to host a district playoff game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Northern Lehigh - Katelynn Barthold (21.00 points per game, 11 three-pointers); Tegan Simms (20.39 ppg, team-leading 68 threes); Dekota Barthold (5.70 ppg, 10 threes); Kylee Snyder (3.45 ppg); Ariana Williams (3.26 ppg).

Lehigh Valley Academy (11-9) - Yamaira Prestol (Sr.), Litizia Buzzi (Jr.), Jayleigh Gillmeyer (Jr.), Anndy Little (Fr.).

BY THE NUMBERS

1 - It’s the first appearance ever in the District 11 Class 3A playoffs for the Lehigh Valley Academy girls basketball program.

3 - The number of common opponents both programs have played this season. Those three teams include Notre Dame-ES, Palmerton and Salisbury. Both teams were a combined 5-3 against the Spartans, Bombers and Falcons this season. The Jaguars’ lone loss came against Palmerton, while two of the Bulldogs’ losses came in the home-and-away series with the Bombers.

58 - The Bulldogs are a perfect 7-0 at home on the season when they score 58-or-more points in their gymnasium. The Bulldogs were 7-3 overall at home this season with losses — in which they scored well below 58 — to Palmerton (45-31), Notre Dame-GP (50-32) and Northwestern (79-53).

63.7 - The Times News coverage area’s leading free throw shooting percent, which is owned by Northern Lehigh. The Bulldogs are 130-for-204 at the charity stripe this season. Simms leads the TN area with a .763 percentage (29-for-38), while teammate Katelynn Barthold is sixth in the area with a .693 percentage (52-for-75).

75 - The win percentage the Bulldogs have posted this season against non-conference opponents. The Bulldogs’ lone loss among four non-Colonial League opponents this season was against Whitehall in the opening round of the Lady Indians Holiday Classic. The victories came against ES South (tourney consolation game), at Kutztown and home against Notre Dame-ES.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“They’re hungry. They really want to prove themselves (this postseason) and get back to where we were last year. The last thing I want to do is overlook any team, especially Lehigh Valley Academy. They’re not a team that we have had any experience playing. We don’t know much about them. Other than that, all we can do is read what everybody else can. We’re going to approach the game knowing we’re going to try to run against them. We’re going to try and press against them. To us though, it has more to do with us playing our game and seeing if they can stop us. I have talked to some other coaches that have played against them. We’re hoping that the back court will be in our favor, and we’re hoping to get a lot of points in transition. That’s the main strategy going into this game for us.” - Northern Lehigh head coach Chris Heery.

BOYS BASKETBALL

District 11 Class 6A

No. 10 Pleasant Valley (11-11) vs. No. 7 William Allen (13-9)

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m., at Allen

LEADING OFF

After missing the district playoffs last season, both teams have qualified this season. Allen was just 2-20 a year ago, but have improved by 11 games. Pleasant Valley went from 8-14 last season to 11-11. Both teams compete in the Eastern Pennsylvania conference, with PV competing in the Monroe Division and the Canaries in the Lehigh Division. Allen was 8-8 in conference games, while the Bears were 6-10. The winner of Tuesday’s opening round contest will meet second-seeded Pocono Mountain West in the quarterfinals. West was set to be the top seed but was upset by Northampton in the EPC title game, dropping the Panthers to No. 2 in 6A.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Pleasant Valley - Zach Prator (19.27 ppg), Jerael “JJ” Moore (10.32 ppg), Sebastian Sacci (9.05 ppg), Jacob Loch (6.05 ppg, 31 three-pointers).

William Allen - Keith Jackson (16.95 ppg), Tiheed Wise (10.82 ppg), Xayvon Wimberly (10.57 ppg, 36 three-pointers), Manny Polanco (9.67 ppg, .833 FT percentage).

BY THE NUMBERS

2 - The number of teams with winning records that Pleasant Valley defeated this season. The Bears edged both Catasauqua and Bangor.

4 - PV’s longest winning streak this season. The Bears won four straight, which included the Slatington Rotary Tournament championship, from Dec. 26 through Jan. 7.

8 - Pleasant Valley played eight games this season decided by 10 points or less. The Bears went 5-3 in those games.

8 - The number of common opponents that Allen and Pleasant Valley faced this season. The Canaries were 6-4 against common opponents, while the Bears were 4-7.

19 - It’s been 19 years since Pleasant Valley has won a district playoff game. Its last victory in districts was in the opening round in 2006 when it defeated Emmaus 59-52. PV has suffered six straight D-11 losses since that victory.

22 - PV’s Prator reached double-digit scoring in all 22 of his team’s games this season. His low was 10 against Pocono Mountain West, while his high was 28 against East Stroudsburg South.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“All the hard work that we’ve done over the past how many years have paid off, and it’s good for the kids to see that the hard work pays off and shows results. (The seniors especially) deserve it. They’re great kids. And Zach Prator is as good as it gets as a player and a person combined ... They are a very up-tempo team. They like to push the ball, they like to pressure, they play a full court, they try to wear you down. I think the biggest key to success... is to control the ball, not turn it over, and make sure we get many possessions. We want to try to turn the game into a halfcourt game, and make sure we control the tempo, and that we’re not giving them extra possessions off of turnovers. We’ve been working on a lot of different stuff to try and put us in situations to achieve that.” - Pleasant Valley head coach Bob Hahn

District 11 Class 1A

No. 4 Weatherly (13-10) vs.

No 5 Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (11-11)

Tuesday, Feb. 18 at Lehighton, 7 p.m.

LEADING OFF

Weatherly completely reversed its path from last year’s 2-21 slate that saw them lose their final 11 regular-season games. However, they made the district playoffs as the sixth and final seed due to their power ranking, and lost in the opening round to MMI Prep, 63-45. This season, the Wreckers worked to a 13-10 overall record, improving their mark by 11 games. Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg returns as the defending Class 1A champion, as they defeated MMI Prep, 55-46, in the final. The Spartans then lost to Lancaster Country Day in the opening round of states. The winner meets top-seeded Bethlehem Christian Friday at Lehighton for a 7 p.m. tip.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Notre Dame ES - Preston Protheroe (22.8 ppg, broke 1,000 career points this year), Marc Jackett (13.7 ppg), Kristoff Barrett (10.0 ppg) Roderick Delapaz (6.5 ppg), and Peyton Carter (5.0 ppg).

Weatherly - Ian McKeegan (18.43 ppg), Niko Saldukas (14.35 ppg), Corbin Wagner (10.78 ppg), John Donish (5.18 ppg), and Chance Stauffer (4.87 ppg).

BY THE NUMBERS

2 - Weatherly and Notre Dame-ES each played common opponents Lincoln Leadership Academy and Bethlehem Christian. The Wreckers lost to both teams once, while the Spartans split with Lincoln Leadership (1-1) and lost to Bethlehem Christian.

3 - NDES won three of its final regular-season games to qualify for the district playoffs. They also had a three-peat as district champs from 2004-07.

4 - The Spartans lost four starters from last year’s district champion team.

5 - The Wreckers won five of their final eight regular-season contests to seal their playoff position.

19 - It has been 19 years since Weatherly last won a district playoff game. The Wreckers defeated Pius X, 62-60, in the 2006 Class A semifinals.

26 - Wagner led Weatherly with 26 three-pointers this season.

50 - Protheroe broke the school record of most points in a game with 50 this season.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“Notre Dame is a perennial powerhouse in the district. They play good basketball and are well coached. We’ll be well-prepared. We’re not going in just to play, but we’re going in to win. The guys have made an amazing improvement from last year, and they have dedicated themselves. They are still hungry.”- Weatherly coach Luke Medico.

“Weatherly is a tough team. They have a very good guard who pushes the ball at times. They will be looking to score and create opportunities. They do a great job of running the floor and getting to the basket. We have been playing well, and we understand what’s at hand.” - Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg coach Matt Gallagher.