TONIGHT

GIRLS

PIAA CLASS 6A SECOND ROUND

Teams: 6-1 Altoona Lady Lions (21-4) vs. 1-2 Pennsbury Falcons (22-7)

Site, time: Mechanicsburg Area High School, Mechanicsburg, 5 p.m.

The coaches: Altoona — Chris Fleegle. Pennsbury — Frank Sciolla

Playoff path: Altoona — defeated Williamsport, 57-10, in the District 4-6 semifinals; def. State College in District 4-6 championship, 51-35; def. Norwin, 59-54 in overtime, in PIAA first round. Pennsbury — def. Neshaminy, 23-16, in first round of District 1 playoffs; def. Central Bucks East, 44-35, in quarterfinals; def. Downingtown West, 43-19, in semifinals; lost to Upper Dublin, 46-18, in District 1 championship; def. Mechanicsburg, 35-27, in PIAA first round

Probable starting lineups: Altoona — PG Zaelinh Nguyen-Moore, sr.; G Raylin Eyer, jr.; G Samantha Harpster, sr.; F Kendall Cogan, sr.; F Brionna Hudson, so. Pennsbury — G Sammie Haws, jr.; G Alyssa Thomas, so.; G Joley Hohman, jr.; G Keira Socha, so.; F Grace Schaufler, so.

Key reserves: Altoona — G Achiera Cuspert, sr.; G-F Alannah Heyward, so. Pennsbury — G Shea Quenzer, jr.; F Bella Stewart, so.; C Bridget McGonigle, sr.

Who they get: The winner plays either District 3 champion Wilson West Lawn or District 12 third-place finisher Cardinal O’Hara in the PIAA quarterfinals on Friday.

Notable: Altoona has won four PIAA championships but won just its second PIAA Class 6A tournament game since the PIAA went to six classifications in 2017 in its victory over Norwin. The Lady Lions also defeated Norwin last year. … Altoona lost to District 1 runner-up Garnet Valley in this spot last year after falling in a big hole early and losing Lanie Wilt to injury. … Pennsbury was the No. 7 seed in the District 1 playoffs, which featured 24 teams. The Falcons upset the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds on their way to the District 1 final where they lost to top-seeded Upper Dublin. … Pennsbury coach Frank Sciolla won his 500th career game in January of 2024. … Pennsbury is back in the PIAA tournament after failing to qualify last season. The Falcons made it as the ninth team out of District 1 in 2024 and fell to Hazleton Area, 63-48, in the first round. … The teams have a common opponent in District 1 champion Upper Dublin. Altoona played Upper Dublin in December when Brionna Hudson was out with injury and lost, 75-32. Pennsbury lost in the regular season, 50-37, and 46-18 in the District 1 final.

PIAA CLASS 3A SECOND ROUND

Teams: 9-1 Karns City Lady Gremlins (25-2) vs. 6-1 Central Cambria Lady Devils (21-6)

Site, time: Plum High School, Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.

The coaches: Karns City — Steve Andreassi. Central Cambria — Brittany Bracken

Playoff path: Karns City — def. Moniteau, 43-23, in District 9 semifinals; def. Cranberry, 43-19, in District 9 championship; def. Seton LaSalle, 37-24, in PIAA first round. Central Cambria — def. Philipsburg-Osceola, 54-10, in the District 6 quarterfinals; def. Penns Valley, 52-37, in the semifinals; def. Cambria Heights, 55-45, in District 6 championship; def. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 54-27, in PIAA first round

Probable starting lineups: Karns City — G Naomi Venesky, sr.; G-F Hanna Dailey, sr.; G-F Hannah Summerville, jr.; G Alivia Farren, so.; G Taylor Ritzert, fr. Central Cambria — PG Alaina Long, sr.; G Paige Alexander, so.; F Katie George, jr.; F Rowyn Ruddek, jr.; F Gianna Grimaldi, so.

Key reserves: Karns City — F Maddy Mahood, so.; G-F Audrey Heginbotham, fr. Central Cambria — F Camryn Matlin, jr.; G Makenzie Hite, so.; G Delaney Snyder, fr.

Who they get: The winner plays either WPIAL champion Shady Side Academy or WPIAL third-place finisher Beaver Falls in the PIAA quarterfinals on Friday.

Notable: A year ago, Karns City won its first PIAA tournament game since 2017 with a win over Ellwood City in the first round before it lost to Central Cambria, 56-40, in the second round. … In 2024, Karns City lost to WPIAL sixth-place finisher Seton LaSalle by 20 points in the first round. KC avenged that loss this season with a 37-24 first-round win. … The Lady Gremlins also lost in the first round in 2023 to Shady Side Academy, 54-19. … In 2017, Karns City defeated Seneca out of District 10, 61-49, before losing to Neshannock in the second round. … A year ago, Central Cambria won its first PIAA playoff game since 2019 with its victory over Keystone Oaks. The Lady Red Devils made it all the way to the PIAA semifinals in 2019 and made it to the PIAA quarterfinals a year ago. … In 2018, Central Cambria lost to Bishop Canevin, 62-57, in the first round. … The Lady Devils Devils have won 20 or more games for consecutive seasons after not reaching that mark since 2019. … Karns City has two losses — one to West Shamokin of the Heritage Conference, which finished 8-14 and lost in the first round of the District 6 playoffs. … Venesky has more than 1,000 career points and was the KSAC girls basketball MVP this season.

— Compiled by Michael Boytim