PIAA STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT 1st Round Girls

Lancaster Mennonite, Northeastern & Lebanon Catholic win
By Gorden Blain
HERSHEY -- Northeastern’s Lau sisters continued their torrid scoring pace and the Bobcats opened the PIAA State AAA tournament with a 64-50 win over Prep Charter Saturday afternoon at Hersheypark Arena.

Autumn and Amber, who averaged 31.8 points per game and 20.8 points per game respectively in four District 3 playoff games, combined for 48 points as Northeastern (22-7), the third-place team from District 3 dominated the Lady Huskies (17-8), the second-place team from District 12.

Northeastern raced out to a 20-5 lead after the first quarter and led 39-20 at halftime. At halftime, Autumn, who finished with 32 points, had 17 and Amber, who finished with 16, had 12.

The Lady Huskies learned what many teams have before them on their first game in Hersheypark Arena. PC made just six of 32 shots in the first half.

Prep Charter closed the gap to 56-44 midway through the fourth quarter but could not get closer.

Jessica King had 10 points for Northeastern. For Prep Charter, Raven Jones scored 16 points and Robyn Harcum had 10 points.

Northeastern advanced to the second round of the state tournament and will face the winner between Holy

Northeastern advanced to the second round of the state tournament and will face District 2 champion Holy Redeemer (22-3), which defeated Shamokin 52-29.

In the two state first round girls games at the Arena on Saturday, District 3 Class A runnerup Lebanon Catholic (15-13) rallied in the second half for a 57-46 win over Girard College (21-9), the second place team from District 1. In the second round of the tournament, the Beavers will play District 6 and defending PIAA state champion Bishop Guilfoyle (26-3) who defeated Northern Bedford 48-26.

District 3 AAA champion Lancaster Mennonite (28-4) defeated Coughlin (18-9), the third-place team from District 2, 34-32. Mennonite will play District 1 runnerup Mount St. Joseph (26-3) which defeated North Pocono 61-39.