A trip to the district championship game is on the line tonight for three area basketball teams.

The Lehighton and Northwestern boys meet in a Class 4A semifinal contest, with the winner advancing to the championship round. The victor automatically receives a berth in the state playoffs, while the loser will still be alive for a PIAA playoff spot needing to win in the consolation round to continue its season.

The Fillies take on Shenandoah Valley for a spot in the title game. A victory would also punch their ticket to the state playoffs.

BOYS BASKETBALL

District 11 Class 4A

No. 1 Northwestern (23-2) vs. No. 4 Lehighton (17-7)

Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Catasauqua, 7:30 p.m.

LEADING OFF

By virtue of winning the Colonial League championship, the Tigers earned a bye into the semifinals. Lehighton was impressive in its quarterfinal round win over No. 5 seed Wilson, defeating the Warriors 50-26. Joe Roth and Cole Dietz each scored 18 apiece for the Indians.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Northwestern - Gavin Nelson (19.6 ppg), Eli Zimmerman (12.0 ppg), Shane Marth (11.3 ppg, 6.9 rebounds per game), Mason Bollinger (8.2 ppg); Lehighton - Joe Roth (18.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg), Cole Dietz (16.3 ppg, 79 three-pointers), Blake Roberts (10.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Brayden Johnson (6.8 ppg, 5.9 assists per game).

BY THE NUMBERS

15 - Northwestern has won an impressive 15 consecutive games. The Tigers last loss came all the way back on Jan. 4.

23 - The Tigers 23 wins are the most for the program since the 1997-98 season where Northwestern tallied a record of 24-4 and won the District 11 2A championship.

26 - The first game between Lehighton and Northwestern was a tight one with the Tigers eventually pulling away for the nine-point victory. However, their last meeting that occurred back on Jan. 24 was all Northwestern, as it defeated the Indians by 26 points.

31 - The combined number of victories for the Indians over the past two seasons. Lehighton’s 31 wins over the past two seasons match the previous four seasons combined.

203 - The number of career three-pointers for Lehighton sharpshooter Cole Dietz, who had four three-pointers against Wilson in the quarterfinal round and is already the program’s career three-point record holder.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“Pace of the game is going to be big in this game. You have to try and slow them down and make the game get played at a slower pace. They’re averaging about 70 points per game. So, slowing them down and not letting them get out in transition is the key. That means you have to take care of the basketball and come up with good possessions. We also have to keep their guards from getting into the paint. They’re very good at finding the little creases. I think an X-factor could be our point guard, Brayden Johnson. He didn’t play in the previous two games that we played them. With the way they like to create pressure on the defensive end, he will be a huge help for us.” - Lehighton head coach Trevor Miller.

“In the last game we played, we were able to control the game from a defensive standpoint right from the jump. I think again, it’s going to come down to defense for us again. We’re always looking to create offense with our defense. We know we’re going to see teams try and slow the game up on us. So, we have to be even better on the defensive end. I think our defense can help us to not allow teams to force us into a slower game. That was the key for us in the Colonial League championship game where we were able to kind of force the issue to get leak outs and play our style. Offensively, there are going to be times where we need to be patient as well. We expect to see some of the 3-2 zone that they played against Wilson, so we need to be able to work the ball and take good shots.” - Northwestern head coach Pat Wanamaker.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

District 11 Class 2A

No. 1 Marian (20-3) vs. No. 4 Shenandoah Valley (8-12)

Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Martz Hall, 6 p.m.

LEADING OFF

Two Schuylkill League teams represent the Nos. 1 and 4 seeds in Class 2A girls as Marian takes on Shenandoah Valley for the third time this season. The Blue Devils look to avenge themselves after losing both of their previous matchups to the Fillies this season, while Marian resumes action hoping that districts will be a better ending than the Schuylkill League playoffs when it dropped a 41-39 semifinal decision to Schuylkill Haven.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marian - Addy Fritz (14.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Deanna Pugh (11.6 ppg, 4.1 spg); Addy Marek (10.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.0 apg)

Shenandoah Valley - Brianna Tufts (Jr. G), Gianna Donovan (Fr. G), Aubrey Monaghan (So. PG), Morgan Labosky (Sr. C), Brittany Tufts (Fr. G).

BY THE NUMBERS

1 - The number of district championships that Shenandoah has won since 1986, which came in 2015 when it captured the 1A title.

3 - The number of seniors on the two teams combined. Carley Hasara and Olivia Thomas are the Fillies’ only two seniors, while Morgan Labosky is the Devils’ only upperclassman.

4 - The number of games that Marian’s Olivia Serfass has missed due to injury. Serfass, who last played on Jan. 23, averages over 11 ppg, almost 6 rpg. and 3.5 spg, making her a huge loss for the Fillies. They are hopeful that Serfass will be available for Friday’s championship game if they make it there.

11 - The number of district championships that Marian has won, with the most recent coming in 2023.

326 - The number of points that Addy Fritz has on the season for the Fillies.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“The girls are excited to get back out on the floor and play. Winning a district championship is one of our goals that we want to achieve. The girls have had a really good week of practice and are ready to win our third in four years. We will not overlook anyone. Shenandoah Valley (is) coached very well and we have to respect them. Anything can happen in postseason play.” - Marian coach Damian Fritz.

“Olivia Serfass was a huge loss at the end of the season. She does a lot for our team. (She) takes the pressure off our guards, handles the ball, and takes pressure off our bigs to post and allow them to play athletically. I believe she will be back for Friday. She has been cleared to play and we are taking it day by day.” - Fritz’s update on Olivia Serfass and her condition.

BOYS BASKETBALL

District 11 Class 1A

No. 3 Nativity (14-10) vs.

No. 4 Weatherly (14-11)

Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Minersville, 7 p.m.

LEADING OFF

The winner of the game will advance to the PIAA play-in game against a District 6 team. Weatherly fell to Bethlehem Christian, 86-52, in the semifinals after defeating Notre Dame-ES in the quarters. Ian McKeegan had a team-high 16 points, and Niko Saldukas and Corbin Wagner each had 10 for the Wreckers against BC. Lincoln Leadership edged Nativity, 65-60, in its semifinal contest. Noah Dolbin had 22 points for the Hilltoppers.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Weatherly - Ian McKeegan (18.20 ppg), Niko Saldukas (14.52 ppg), Corbin Wagner (10.88 ppg), John Dornish (5.25 ppg), Chance Stauffer (4.68).

Nativity - Noah Dolbin (13.3 ppg), Trey Keating (25.4), Layne Pasker (105. ppg), Jake Bowman (8.4 ppg), Sammy Walborn (7.6 ppg).

BY THE NUMBERS

2 - The teams met twice during the season with Nativity winning both, 81-69 and 74-50.

4 - Nearly four years ago on March 25, 2021, Nativity won a Class A state championship.

7 - Weatherly drilled seven three-pointers against Bethlehem Christian to account for 21 of their 52 points.

8 - The teams have played eight common opponents during the season.

58 - Weatherly is averaging 58.72 points a game, while allowing 58.44.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“They are a well-coached and disciplined team. Always impressed with how they work together on the court. The guys are happy to still be playing basketball at this stage of the year. We will prepare for them like any other team we have played this year. We’ll show up and be ready to go.” - Weatherly head coach Luke Medico.