Four area basketball teams will be playing for a district championship this weekend.

The Marian girls and Northwestern boys will each be in action tonight, looking to clinch a title. Both the Marian boys and Palmerton girls will try to earn gold medals on Saturday.

Three of those teams have already clinched berths in the state playoffs (the Marian boys need to win districts to make states).

Two other area squads will also try to punch their ticket to the PIAAs in consolation games. The Lehighton boys will look to keep their season alive when they play tonight, while the Northwestern girls hope to rebound from their semifinal loss when they hit the court on Saturday.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

District 11 Class 2A

No. 1 Marian (21-3) vs. No. 2 Williams Valley (21-3)

Friday, Feb. 28 at Blue Mountain, 8 p.m.

LEADING OFF

Marian defeated Shenandoah Valley 42-24 in the semifinals to advance to the championship game. Addy Fritz scored 15 points and Deanna Pugh added 11 in the win. Williams Valley dominated Lincoln Leadership for a 65-15 victory in the other semifinal matchup. Sage Smeltz scored 25 points in the win.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marian - Addy Fritz (14.2 ppg, 57 three-pointers), Addy Marek (10.5 ppg, 7.2 rebounds per game), Deanna Pugh (11.5 ppg, 34 three-pointers), Olivia Serfass (11.4 ppg, 6.2 rebounds per game)

Williams Valley - Sage Smeltz (25 pts in semis), Mallory Miller (18 pts and 4 three-pointers in semis), Ireland Kasper (11 pts and 3 three-pointers in semis).

BY THE NUMBERS

3 - Marian is going for its third district championship in the last four seasons. The Fillies won district titles in both 2022 and 2023.

6 - Marian’s standout junior Olivia Serfass has missed the team’s last six games due to an injury. Serfass, who has scored 205 points on the season, is expected to be back for this game.

7 - The Vikings were able to defeat Marian by seven, 41-34, back on Jan. 30. Serfass did not play in that game. Earlier in the season, the Fillies defeated the Vikings 28-23 on the road.

150 - The Fillies have been at their best when hitting the three. They average over six three-pointers per game, and have 150 three-point field goals on the season.

1,000 - The Vikings’ Sage Smeltz surpassed the 1,000-point mark in their last game in the win over Lincoln Leadership.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“Our No. 1 priority is going to be figuring out a way to stop Smeltz. That’s been one of the biggest challenges in the last two games against them. She’s coming off a big performance, and she’s playing her best basketball right now. We also have to limit their shooters’ looks. In a low-scoring game like our games have been, shots from beyond the arc really matter. On offense, we have to be patient and run our sets. We have to run the floor and try and stretch their defense. I think the first team to 40 will win.” - Marian head coach Damian Fritz.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

District 11 Class 4A

No. 3 Palmerton (21-6) vs.

No. 4 Allentown Central Catholic (14-10)

Saturday, Mar. 1 at Easton Middle School, 2 p.m.

LEADING OFF

After pulling off upsets in each of their semifinal matchups, the third-seeded Blue Bombers will face off against fourth-seeded Allentown Central Catholic in the girls class 4A championship game. Palmerton fought back against a physical North Schuylkill team, and tied the game on a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Hailey Barry to force overtime and eventually win 47-39 by virtue of an 11-0 run. The Vikettes outlasted Northwestern after a Natalie Connor three-pointer sent the game to overtime, only for Central Catholic to score 10 straight and win 51-41.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Palmerton - Courtney Connell (10.85 ppg), Mikayla Pengelly (9.62 ppg), Hailey Barry (9.23 ppg), Cate Morgan (7.46 ppg), Ella Baumgardt (6.75 ppg).

Allentown Central Catholic - Milly Wolf (13.5 ppg, 33 three-pointers), Morgan Seagreaves (11.04 ppg), Annika Spinosa (5.77 ppg), Skylar Taylor (4.22 ppg), Shamiya Roberts (3.73 ppg).

BY THE NUMBERS

2 - The number of seniors on each team, including Mikayla Pengelly and Ella Baumgardt for Palmerton, and Milly Wolf and Ryleigh van Beek for Central Catholic.

4 - The number of district championships that Palmerton has previously won, including its most recent in 2022 when it captured the 3A title.

24 - The number of district championships that Central Catholic has won since 1986, including the last two 4A titles, and a stretch of 11 straight 3A crowns from 2000 to 2010.

2014 - The year when these two teams last played each other in which the Vikettes defeated the Bombers 43-31 on Feb. 22 of that year.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“We’re not familiar with (ACC). We have a couple of busy days here. We’ve got to get on the film work and figure out what (ACC is) all about. We have some time and we’ll be prepared. We’re looking forward to that matchup. It’s kind of interesting. We were thinking of picking (ACC) up in the regular season and it just didn’t work out for numerous reasons. It’s just a crazy, crazy coincidence in that regard ... We’ve been working on mental toughness all year long. All the girls are team players. They don’t care who’s scoring. They just want to win. They’re very selfless. I could not be more proud of every one of those girls.” - Palmerton head coach Jeremy Coleman.

BOYS BASKETBALL

District 11 Class 4A

No. 1 Northwestern (24-2) vs.

No. 2 Allentown Central Catholic (21-4)

Friday, Feb. 28 at Easton Middle School, 8 p.m.

LEADING OFF

After a long layoff thanks to a bye in the quarterfinal round, Northwestern didn’t take long to shake off the rust. Its defense frustrated Lehighton in the semifinal game, which resulted in a 52-36 win for the Tigers. Central Catholic needed some last-second heroics from Jahrel Vigo to sneak past a pesky Saucon Valley team in the semis to set up the matchup that many hoped to see in the finals.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Northwestern - Gavin Nelson (19.3 ppg), Eli Zimmerman (12.3 ppg), Shane Marth (11.4 ppg, 7.0 rebounds per game), Mason Bollinger (8.1 ppg)

Central Catholic - Jahrel Vigo (21.1 ppg), Lucas Mushrush (16.2 ppg), Yariel Gonzalez (15.4 ppg).

BY THE NUMBERS

2 - The number of league MVPs playing in this game. Vigo was the EPC’s Most Valuable Player, while Nelson was selected as the best in the Colonial League.

3 - The number of times the Vikings have beaten Northwestern in a district playoff game. The last one came in 2023, so the Northwestern players remember that game and want some revenge.

5.1 - The difference in points scored per game by the two teams. The Tigers average 69.5 points per game, while the Vikings are at 64.4 points this season.

33 - The number of three-pointers made by team leader Cannon Fitch this season. Fitch comes off the bench, and is the go-to-guy for long range shooting. He nailed five from beyond the arc on his way to 21 points against Northern Lehigh during the regular season.

1998 - The last time that Northwestern Lehigh played in a District 11 final.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“This is the game that I think everybody wanted to see all season long. Both teams like to get out and run a little, and both teams can put a lot of points on the board. Our defense will be a key because our offense often feeds off of the defense, and we get a lot of points in transition. We were able to get a number of steals and turnovers against Lehighton, and were able to turn them into points at the other end, and that’s what we have to do against Central. We won’t be intimidated by them, and we’ll come out looking to represent the Colonial League and our school well. It should be a tough battle, but our guys know how to compete in the postseason, and will come in confident and ready to go.” - Northwestern head coach Pat Wanamaker.

BOYS BASKETBALL

District 11 Class 2A

No. 1 Tri-Valley (17-7) vs. No. 2 Marian (12-11)

Saturday, March 1 at Martz Hall, 5:30 p.m.

LEADING OFF

Marian stopped Schuylkill Haven, 63-50, in a semifinal game behind Rocco Griguoli’s 15 points and 20 rebounds, while Tri-Valley tripped Moravian Academy in another semifinal, 45-30, paced by Gavin Klock’s 22 points.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marian – Griguoli (10.74 ppg), Jacob De La Cruz (9.52 ppg), Justin De La Cruz (8.19 ppg), Dominic Catrone (7.81 ppg), Greg Tirpak (6.74 ppg).

Tri-Valley - Klock, Blake Schwartz, Owen Miller, Noah Porter, Braeden Doyle.

BY THE NUMBERS

0 - Tri-Valley has never won a district championship.

2 - Twins Jacob and Justin De La Cruz nearly have identical three-point totals. Jacob has 35 and Justin has 33.

3 - This will be the third meeting between the two teams. Ironically, Marian won a 45-44 tight game at Tri-Valley, and suffered a 75-59 blowout at home.

4 - Tri-Valley is in the district final for third time in four years.

5 - Marian has won five district titles, the last one being in the 2016-17 season when it went 21-7.

11 - Marian has 11 straight double-digit win seasons dating back to the 2014-15 campaign when it went 11-12.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“They’re a good team. They are strong, physical, and run the floor well. We have to be able to contain them. We’re blessed to be able to play nine or 10 kids, and we have all the confidence in the world to put them out there. We feel we can adjust and make changes. We don’t have a lot of separation, as we are a very young team. They are continuing to jell and work together. Hopefully, it pays off for us.” - Marian head coach Scott Murphy.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

District 11 Class 4A

No. 1 Northwestern (23-4) vs.

No. 2 North Schuylkill (18-7)

Saturday, March 1 at Pleasant Valley, 1 p.m.

LEADING OFF

The Tigers have been a little inconsistent in the postseason, and came out sluggish in their semifinal loss to Allentown Central Catholic. A second-half turnaround led to overtime, but again, the sluggishness hit and the Vikettes went on a 10-0 run in OT to beat the Tigers. North Schuylkill also went to overtime, but fell to Palmerton 47-39 in the other semifinal game to set up a rematch of last year’s consolation game that saw Northwestern’s season come to an end.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Northwestern - Cara Thomas (18.9 ppg), Natalie Conner (16.9 ppg), Brook Balliet (6.8 ppg)

North Schuylkill - Maya Conti, Hannah Kane, Gianna Capone.

BY THE NUMBERS

3 - The number of Northwestern players with more than 20 three-pointers this season. Freshman Natalie Conner leads the team with 50, followed by Balliet with 23 and Thomas with 21. Junior Emma Freeman stands at 19.

3 - Years in a row that the Tigers and Spartans have met in the district playoffs. Northwestern has lost the two previous meetings.

4 - The number of seniors on the Northwestern roster. Brook Balliet, Paige Bissell, Olivia Rinehart and Cara Thomas are all hoping to keep playing in the PIAA tournament and not see their season end against the Spartans — as it did last season.

5 - The number of three-pointers that North Schuylkill hit in its semifinal loss to Palmerton. Conti had three of them, and the Tigers will have to keep her covered even when she’s in a long-range situation.

415 - Points scored this season by freshman Natalie Conner. The young player has matured quickly, and hasn’t shown any fear in the postseason.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“We missed a lot of shots that we normally don’t miss (against Central Catholic), and we did some other things like turn the ball over a lot that we don’t normally do. You can’t do those things in the playoffs and expect to advance, because every team you play is going to take advantage of those things. We have to respond now because we don’t have any other chances left this season, so I look for them to come out ready to play and extend this season a little longer.” - Northwestern head coach Chris Deutsch.

BOYS BASKETBALL

District 11 Class 4A

No. 3 Saucon Valley (20-6)

vs. No. 4 Lehighton (17-8)

Friday, Feb. 28 at Pleasant Valley, 6 p.m.

LEADING OFF

Lehighton was downed by No. 1 seed Northwestern in the semifinals by a score of 52-36. The Indians were without standout shooter Cole Dietz in the game. Saucon Valley nearly pulled an upset over a stacked Allentown Central Catholic squad, losing 44-42.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

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)

Saucon Valley - Jack Robertson (15.6 ppg, 7.8 rebounds per game, 39 three-pointers), Adam Clark (15.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg).

BY THE NUMBERS

8 - Saucon Valley was able to defeat Lehighton by eight points, 62-54, back on Jan. 15. Robertson scored a game-high 23 points in that one. Roth led the way with 12 for Lehighton.

38 - It’s been 38 seasons since the last time the Indians qualified for the state tournament. The Tribe won a district title in 1987. They have a chance to get to the state bracket with a win over the Panthers.

1,000 - This matchup will feature two 1,000-point scorers in Robertson and Roth facing off against each other. Dietz is also closing in on the 1,000-point mark.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“Their point guard, Jack Robertson, he is one of the best true point guards that I have seen. We need to really focus on keeping him out of the lane where he can score and distribute. And then it also comes down to keeping their two big guys in Clark and Grim off the boards. Offensively, we need to be able to score the ball more efficiently than we did in our last game. Having Dietz back will help that, but we also need other guys to step up in the scoring department other than our usual guys in Roth, Dietz and Roberts. We absolutely have to limit our turnovers as well, which killed us against Northwestern in the semifinals.” - Lehighton head coach Trevor Miller.

“Lehighton is a very good team, and when they’ve been healthy they’re a very dangerous team and capable of beating anyone. Communication is going to be key on the defensive end. They have shooting ability and athleticism at a lot of different positions. We will need to be locked in mentally to limit their open shots. On offense, we just need to really focus on the little things — setting good screens, being patient and sharing the ball, so we get quality looks. At this time of the year, you’re playing good teams. We’re expecting a competitive game where both teams will play hard.” - Saucon Valley head coach Brett Snyder.