The Marian girls basketball team enters the second round of the PIAA tournament where the Fillies, runners up from District 11, will face the second-place team from District 2, Elk Lake.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

PIAA 2A Second Round

Marian (22-4) vs. Elk Lake (23-3)

Tuesday, March 11 at Berwick High School, 7 p.m.

LEADING OFF

Marian is coming off an impressive 76-11 win over MaST II Charter in the first round of the 2A state tournament. Elk lake was able to edge Muncy 42-35 in its first-round matchup.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marian - Addy Fritz (14.5 points per game, 64 three-pointers, 5.1 rebounds per game), Deanna Pugh (11.5 ppg, 34 three-pointers, 3.8 steals per game), Olivia Serfass (11.2 ppg, 6.0 rebounds per game, 3.3 steals per game), Addy Marek (10.2 ppg, 32 three-pointers, 7.1 rebounds per game); Elk Lake - Katie McGlynn (14 points in win over Muncy), Kylie Shingler (nine points against Muncy), Leah Traver (nine points against Muncy), Madi Casselbury (eight points against Muncy).

BY THE NUMBERS

76 – Marian scored an exceptional 76 points in its 2A first round match-up. The Fillies’ highest point total in a quarter in the game was 28 points, as they put four players in double figures and cashed in from beyond the arc seven times in the contest.

27 – The Marian defense has been solid this season, as the Fillies are giving up an average of just 27.3 points per game and forcing around 15 turnovers per game.

18 – Marek, Serfass and Fritz combine for just over 18 rebounds per game. That trio will need to be even better this week against talented Elk Lake post player McGlynn.

14 – Elk Lake was 14-0 in Lackawanna League Division 3 play, and won the division title. The Lady Warriors defeated Forest City and Holy Cross to get to the District 2 2A finals, where they were upset by Mountain View 34-17.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“They’re 23-3, and they’re a very good basketball team that is well coached. Their point guard is a tough player. She is the key to their defensive sets, and she sees the floor extremely well and does a good job getting them into their offense. The key for us, though, will be keeping McGlynn off the boards. That’s something we’ve struggled with at times this season, is keeping good rebounders in check, so it’s going to take everybody to do that. They’re an aggressive man-to-man team that is going to play on the line and up the line and pressure you. We have been doing a better job of handling pressure, and it’s something we’ve been working hard on in practice. I think it’s going to be a really good game and a good matchup.” - Marian head coach Damian Fritz.

Compiled by Brad Hurley