Four of Bishop Guilfoyle’s five starters scored in double figures, and BG forced 25 turnovers to improve to 19-2 with a game at Huntingdon remaining before the end of the regular season.

But the two losses Bishop Guilfoyle has — to WPIAL powers Greensburg Central Catholic (3A) and Oakland Catholic (4A) — may have played a role in the disparity between December’s meeting with the Lady Tigers and Monday’s.

“That game was early in the season, and both teams are getting into a rhythm,” Bishop Guilfoyle coach Kristi Kaack said. “They were missing Kate Steiner (Monday), and she plays with a lot of heart on the defensive end. They are also dealing with some injuries, so it’s probably a combination of things. But I think the two games we lost over the last two weeks were really helpful tonight. We saw some really good competition, learned some things and worked on ourselves. I think that showed tonight.”

The Lady Marauders lost to Greensburg by six and to Oakland Catholic by three in overtime. Both of those teams will be favorites to win WPIAL titles and make long runs in their respective classes in the PIAA tournament.

Amberlyn Petrecca (24) fights for a rebound against Clare Padamonsky (2).

“It’s a whole different environment over there,” Yeskey said. “In the WPIAL, it’s really tough and a different energy. I think that will help us. It takes us out of our comfort zone.”

In addition to those games, Bishop Guilfoyle played — and defeated — Thomas Jefferson (20-2 overall, 12-0 in WPIAL 5A) and Neshannock (18-3 overall, 10-0 in WPIAL 2A) earlier this season.

“I’m a big Duke fan, and I love Cooper Flagg,” Kaack said. “He said something that resonated with me. He said if you are the best player in the gym, go find another gym. I want this team to be pushed and to see really good competition. I want them to see some kids that are going to play at the Division I level and see what a next-level player looks like. I think it’s important for these girls to have those opportunities. We tried to get some really big schools that have done some things in the past that could challenge our kids and make them better.”

After Hollidaysburg took a 6-4 lead on an Alana Lightner putback early in the first quarter, Bishop Guilfoyle scored the next 12 points and never looked back.

During that run, BG senior Stella Yeskey scored on two deep jump shots and a hook shot.

“The growth in her over this last year has been really fun to watch,” Kaack said. “We, the coaches, always have known what she can do and what her abilities are, but I think she just started to believe in that this year. Her level of confidence she’s playing with has grown, and her conditioning and strength has improved.”

At 6 feet, 2 inches, Yeskey provides size many Class 1A schools don’t have, and she’s developed the skill to back up her height and demonstrated guard skills on Monday.

“I have become more confident and realized I have it in me and that I can do a lot of things,” Yeskey said. “I just had to unlock that part of myself.”

Morgan Ruggery, Anberlyn Petrecca and Mary Haigh each scored 12 points, and Layona Williams added 11 points for the Lady Marauders, who will enter the District 6 Class 1A quarterfinals as the top seed. Those playoffs will begin next Monday with top seeds BG, Bishop Carroll Catholic, Saint Joseph’s Academy and Williamsburg all expected to make long playoff runs.

“The four top teams in single-A, I just think every game you play is going to be a fight,” Kaack said. “You’re going to have to play your best game. We wanted to make sure we saw some competition that is going to get us ready for those games at the end of the year. Playing Hollidaysburg twice was great this year, because they are another team that’s going to push us to rise to where we want to be.”

The Lady Tigers got 17 points from Alana Lightner on her senior night. Fellow senior Makenna Weimert added 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Hollidaysburg, which ended its regular season at 17-4, will enter the District 4-6 Class 5A playoffs as the top seed but lost consecutive games for the first time this season.

“Mentally, we just have to refocus,” Jubeck said. “We’ll get back in the gym and work on some things. We’ll be better off for this by the end of the week.”

The Lady Tigers will have a bye in the first round of the playoffs after Central Mountain and Bellefonte both elected not to enter.

“This is a good opportunity for us,” Jubeck said. “We’re a little beat up and bruised. We have some kids with sicknesses. This is a good chance for us to get a couple days off and get our kids healthy.”

With Steiner out of the lineup Monday, Allie Hayer got extended playing time against great competition.

“(Hayer) has really come along and done really well as our sixth man,” Jubeck said. “She does the scrappy things that are hard to teach. Today she had to guard one of BG’s best players, and I think she took that as an opportunity. She’s got a lot of potential and will continue to get better for us.”

Jubeck believes Bishop Guilfoyle will win a third straight state championship in March.

“BG is a good team all around. There’s a reason they are No. 1 in the state in single-A,” Jubeck said. “They are going to be a tough out with whoever they play, and I would expect them to run the table from here out.”

Thanks to the tough schedule the Lady Marauders have played, the group on the court Monday looked even better than the team that hoisted the championship trophy last year and lost just one senior.

“We have had a lot of improvements,” Yeskey said. “I feel like we’re playing together and if someone is having a good night we emphasize that. We have so many gifted girls, and we all get to share in the glory. That’s really special.”

BISHOP GUILFOYLE (61): Ruggery 6 0-0 12, Petrecca 5 1-1 12, Yeskey 4 0-0 8, Haigh 5 1-2 12, Williams 3 4-4 11, Adams 2 0-0 6, Homan 0 0-0 0, Steward 0 0-0 0, Hite 0 0-0 0, Geishauser 0 0-0 0. Totals — 25 6-7 61.

HOLLIDAYSBURG (39): Padamonsky 3 0-1 6, Hayer 0 0-0 0, Sidney 1 0-0 3, Weimert 6 0-2 13, Lightner 8 1-6 17, Gearhart 0 0-0 0, Basenback 0 0-0 0. Totals — 18 1-9 39.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Bishop Guilfoyle 23 10 17 11 — 61

Hollidaysburg 10 4 14 11 — 39

3-point goals: Bishop Guilfoyle 5 (Adams 2, Williams, Haigh, Petrecca); Hollidaysburg 2 (Sidney, Weimert).

Records: Bishop Guilfoyle (19-2); Hollidaysburg (17-4).

Officials: Todd Parker, Brad Martz, Jordan Forster.

JV: Bishop Guilfoyle, 41-33. High scorers–Taryn Leighty, H, 13; Morgan Geishauser, BG, 14.