DISTRICT 11 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: Williams Valley downs Fillies in A final

POTTSVILLE — Williams Valley moved on to the PIAA state playoffs for the second straight year with a District 11 2A Championship win over Marian Catholic at Martz Hall on Friday.

The Vikings (18-6, 8-6) used a high-flying, up tempo second half effort to steamroll Marian, 51-29, while Executive Education (17-6) stood tall defensively to defeat Schuylkill Haven in the District 11 3A championship, 39-33.

“We had the same feeling from last year and we wanted to win it again,” Williams Valley coach Shane Zellers said. “The girls showed up, scored enough points late and just kept adding on.”

It’s Williams Valley’s second straight District 11 2A championship after defeating Marian at the end of last season for the Vikings second consecutive state playoff appearance.

“This was my goal from the beginning of the season and I wanted to get my little brother a medal, he’s our manager and he means everything to me,” Kasper said. “I just knew coming into this we had to win and nobody else does this back to back.”

Williams Valley 51, Marian 29

Ireland Kasper hit four three-pointers in the same district championship game for the second year in a row to power Williams Valley to the PIAA state playoffs.

The Vikings picked up the pace after the first quarter and outscored Marian by 11 points across the second and third quarters, led by Kasper’s trio of three’s, for the 40-26 lead at the end of the third.

“Shane (Zellers) called plays that required me to shoot the ball so I had to get open and shoot the ball,” Kasper said. “We had been practicing our offense all week and we knew what we had to do.”

Schuylkill Haven’s Ava Terefencko (13) goes to the basket during the game against Executive Education at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Schuylkill Haven’s Braelynn Strenkoski (50) comes down with the rebound during the game against Executive Education at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Schuylkill Haven’s Mckenna Runkle (10) shoots for three during the game against Executive Education at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Schuylkill Haven’s Kylie Siket (3) goes up for two during the game against Executive Education at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Schuylkill Haven’s Audrey Hutchinson (2) during the game against Executive Education at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Williams Valley’s Ireland Kasper (42) encounters Marian’s Haley Minzola (11) during the game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Marian’s Addy Marek (41) during the game against Williams Valley at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Marian’s DeAnna Pugh (5) tries to intercept a pass by Williams Valley’s Ella Kobularik (10) during the game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Marian’s Addy Marek (41) reaches for a loose ball during the game against Williams Valley at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Williams Valley’s Presley Shomper (2) gets by Marian’s Gia DeCosmo (33) during the game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Williams Valley’s Ireland Kasper (42) shoots for three over Marian’s Katie Knock (22) during the game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Williams Valley’s Ella Kobularik (10) goes to the basket during the game against Marian at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Williams Valley’s Ireland Kasper (42) encounters Marian’s Haley Minzola (11) during the game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Marian’s Addy Marek (41) during the game against Williams Valley at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Marian’s DeAnna Pugh (5) tries to intercept a pass by Williams Valley’s Ella Kobularik (10) during the game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Marian’s Addy Marek (41) reaches for a loose ball during the game against Williams Valley at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

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Schuylkill Haven’s Ava Terefencko (13) goes to the basket during the game against Executive Education at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo

Williams Valley’s defense caused destruction all game and forced 13 turnovers, led by Ella Kobularik’s eight steals. The Vikings allowed Marian to just three points in the fourth quarter.

“It started on the defensive end, we got stops and we were able to run the floor and get some open looks out of that,” Zellers said. “They executed, stepped up, stuck to the gameplan and they were aggressive and tough.”

Kasper led Williams Valley with 17 points, Miller scored 12 points and Smeltz and Kobularik each scored eight points. Miller had a team-high eight rebounds for the Vikings.

Mallory Miller and Kasper opened the game with three-pointers for the initial 5-0 lead. Marian’s Katie Knock hit a three to bring the Fillies within a 7-6 deficit with three minutes left in the first quarter.

Miller got aggressive and drew a pair of free throws to give Williams Valley an 11-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.

“We were prepared and the girls wanted it and it’s what we’ve been looking forward to,” Zellers said. “We had a chance to do it and I’m so proud of them.”

Marian’s Brooke Hannis-Miskar hit a three to bring it within a 15-12 deficit before Kasper knocked down a pair of three’s for the 22-14 lead.

“It feels great knowing people who were better than us couldn’t make it this far,” Kasper said. “She’s (Kobularik) a beast and I wouldn’t be as open as I am without her.”

The Vikings led Marian 24-16 at halftime behind Kasper’s trio of first half three-pointers.

Quin Smeltz opened the second half for Williams Valley with a steal and full court layup for the 28-19 lead. Marian’s Addy Marek hit a three to bring the Fillies back within a 28-24 deficit a minute later.

Miller got aggressive and drew a pair of free throws for the 32-24 lead before Kasper hit another three for the 36-26 lead with two minutes left in the third quarter.

Presley Shomper banked in a layup and Williams Valley took a 40-26 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Vikings went on an 11-2 scoring run in the fourth quarter, led by Smeltz pair of layups, for the 51-29 win.

Marek led Marian with 11 points while Deanna Pugh, Brooke Hannis-Miskar and Katie Knock each had six points.

MARIAN (29) — Bushati 0 0-0 0, Pugh 3 0-0 6, Minzola 0 0-0 0, Hannis-Miskar 2 0-0 6, Knock 2 0-0 6, Kwon 0 0-0 0, DeCosmo 0 0-0 0, Marek 2 5-6 11. 9 5-6 29.

WILLIAMS VALLEY (29) — Smeltz 4 0-2 8, Miller 3 6-7 12, Kowalchick 3 2-4 8, Kasper 6 1-2 17, Strenkosky 0 0-0 0, Shomper 2 2-2 6, Koppenhaver 0 0-0 0, Readinger 0 0-0 0. 18 11-17 51.

MAR (14-11) 8 8 10 3 — 29

WV (18-6) 11 13 16; 11 — 51

3-FG: Kasper 4, Hannis-Miskar 2, Knock 2, Decosmo 2

Executive Education 39, Schuylkill Haven 33

Executive Education had to fend off a Schuylkill Haven second half comeback when they walked away with a six-point district championship win at Martz Hall.

“This was the goal all season long and we had a blank slate in our gym that said ‘girls basketball’ and there was nothing underneath it,” first-year Executive Education coach Jose Medina said, who previously won a number of district championship titles at Bethlehem Catholic. “Now forever there will be something underneath there.”

Schuylkill Haven’s Audrey Hutchinson rolled in a layup to knot it at 26-26 at the end of the third quarter before Runkle hit a three and scored five points in the fourth quarter to bring the deficit within 35-33 with a minute left in the game.

Nia Bush and Savanna Henry got aggressive and got to the basket while combining for a trio of free throws in the fourth quarter for the six-point win.

“The iron five did a wonderful job so I’m super proud of them,” Medina said. “They bought in all season long, credit to them and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Mariah Hargrove led the Raptors with 15 points, Bush had 10 points and Henry scored eight. Hargrove and Bush each brought in 10 rebounds to lead the way on the boards.

Henry and Bush got to the basket fast to start the game for the 7-1 lead before Runkle posted a layup for the 7-4 deficit at the end of the first quarter.

Executive Education took a 13-8 lead after Bush’s second layup of the quarter. Siket hit a three to bring Schuylkill Haven within a 13-11 deficit before Hutchinson posted a layup for the 13-13 knotted score.

Bush hit a three and scored five points for the 18-13 lead before Ava Terefencko had a steal and went the length of the floor for the 18-17 deficit with a minute left in the first half.

“I can’t speak highly enough of these girls and everyone collectively I’m super proud of the team effort tonight,” Medina said. “Our girls just fought and they wanted it more.”

Executive Education led Schuylkill Haven 20-17 at halftime.

Terefencko rolled in a pair of layups and Hutchinson found the bucket to knot the score at 26-26 at the end of the third quarter.

Executive Education’s defense was the game-decider when they allowed just seven points to the Hurricanes in the fourth quarter. Kamila Rios got involved with a three and scored six points while Bush added three points for the 39-33 win.

Runkle led the Hurricanes with 12 points and Hutchinson scored 11 points and had 15 rebounds.

SH (22-5, 14-1);4;13;9;7;—33

EE (17-6);7;13;6;13;—39

Schuylkill Haven 33 — Hutchinson 4 3-6 11, Runkle 5 1-4 12, Siket 2 0-0 6, Terefencko 2 0-2 4, Benedict 0 0-0 0, Houvig 0 0-0 0, Strenkoski 0 0-0 0, Bayer 0 0-0 0, Brand 0 0-0 0, Farrell 0 0-0 0, Kovaleski 0 0-0 0, Wade 0 0-0 0. 13 4-12 33.

Executive Education 39 — Hunter-Ali 0 0-0 0, Hargrove 6 2-3 15, Rios 2 1-3 6, Bush 3 4-8 10, Rosa 0 0-0 0, Pleasant 0 0-0 0, Henry 2 4-8 8, Riddick 0 0-0 0, Henry 0 0-0 0, Martinez 0 0-0 0, Medina 0 0-0 0, Green 0 0-0 0. 13 11-22 39.

3-FG: Siket 2, Runkle, Hargrove, Rios

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