H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL: Hurricanes bounced by Holy Redeemer in PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals
· Yahoo Sports
LEHIGHTON — Holy Redeemer coach John Jezorwski knew it was the heartbeat and DNA of his team which powered them past Schuylkill Haven to the PIAA Class 3A semifinals on Friday night.
“The DNA and the heart of this team is super special,” Jezorwski said. “This is the furthest we’ve gotten in the last 10 years before I started coaching here eight years ago.”
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Schuylkill Haven (24-6) had trouble slowing down a potent Holy Redeemer (21-8) offense when they suffered a 51-36 loss in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals on Friday at Lehighton Area Elementary Center.
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Schuylkill Haven’s Mckenna Runkle (10) goes in for two against Holy Redeemer’s Gillian Parsons (34) during the state quarter-final matchup against Holy Redeemer at Lehighton Friday evening March 13, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Schuylkill Haven’s Mckenna Runkle (10) during the state quarter-final matchup against Holy Redeemer at Lehighton Friday evening March 13, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Schuylkill Haven’s Ava Terefencko (13) goes up for two during the state quarter-final matchup against Holy Redeemer at Lehighton Friday evening March 13, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Schuylkill Haven’s Mckenna Runkle (10) is boxed in by Holy Redeemer’s Tessa Cegelka (2) during the state quarter-final matchup against Holy Redeemer at Lehighton Friday evening March 13, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Schuylkill Haven’s Audrey Hutchinson (2) during the state quarter-final matchup against Holy Redeemer at Lehighton Friday evening March 13, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Schuylkill Haven’s Kylie Siket (3) shoots for three during the state quarter-final matchup against Holy Redeemer at Lehighton Friday evening March 13, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Schuylkill Haven’s Audrey Hutchinson (2) en route to the basket during the state quarter-final matchup against Holy Redeemer at Lehighton Friday evening March 13, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Schuylkill Haven’s Mckenna Runkle (10) goes up for three during the state quarter-final matchup against Holy Redeemer at Lehighton Friday evening March 13, 2026. Submitted Photo
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Schuylkill Haven’s Mckenna Runkle (10) goes in for two against Holy Redeemer’s Gillian Parsons (34) during the state quarter-final matchup against Holy Redeemer at Lehighton Friday evening March 13, 2026. Submitted Photo
The Hurricanes kept up with Holy Redeemer most of the first half before the Royals ran away with a 16-1 scoring run around the halftime break to take a double-figure lead and never look back
“Every girl on this team is important and it’s not just the three best girls, it’s one through 16 for us,” Jezorwski said. “It’s practices and the hard work, they all do the right things together.”
Holy Redeemer will face off against Hughesville in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals on Monday at a site and time to be announced.
McKenzie Chimock led Holy Redeemer with 27 points and knocked down a trio of three-pointers in the first half to give the Royals the tight halftime lead. Gillian Parsons led the Royals around the basket with 10 rebounds.
Schuylkill Haven’s Audrey Hutchinson and Mckenna Runkle were pulled from the game in the fourth quarter and recognized by the Hurricanes faithful in the stands.
“It was a really good season so to win the division and be Schuylkill League champions back to back they have something to hang their hat on,” Schuylkill Haven coach Tony Sanders said. “They don’t understand it now but down the road they’ll realize what they achieved.”
Runkle helped bring the Hurricanes within a one-point deficit when she turned into a rebounding machine and posted a layup for the 21-20 deficit with time running out in the first half.
“We wanted to force someone else to beat us against their leadership and they’re a very well coached team,” Jezorwski said. “They’re a good team and it’s just an honor to beat them.”
Chimock gave Holy Redeemer an initial 4-2 lead on a two-point jumper four minutes into the game. Ava Terefencko connected on a three to put Schuylkill Haven ahead 7-4 before Hutchinson posted a layup for the 9-6 lead.
The Royals then went on a 7-0 scoring run, highlighted by Chimock’s first three-pointer of the game and five points, for the 13-9 lead. Terefencko hit a three to bring the Hurricanes within a 13-12 deficit but Chimock hit her second three-pointer for the 16-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
“We try to play up-tempo and the leadership of this team is amazing,” Jezorwski said. “Every girl on this team is important and it’s one through 16 for us, we do the right things and the DNA is just special.”
The Hurricanes threatened to start the second quarter as Runkle hit a pair of two’s as well as a free throw for the 18-17 deficit. Chimock then hit another three to put Holy Redeemer ahead 21-17.
Runkle went underneath for a layup and the 21-20 deficit before G. Parsons banked in a layup for the 27-20 halftime lead.
Chimock led Holy Redeemer on a 10-1 scoring run in the third quarter when she hit a two-point jumper and a free throw for the 30-20 lead. Kira Millard and Bella Boylan banked in layups and Chimock connected on a layup for the 37-21 lead.
“McKenzie is a special player and she leaves everything on the floor,” Jezorwski said. “It’s everyone out there and every girl gives their heart, sweat and tears when they’re on the floor.”
Hutchinson closed the third quarter strong for Schuylkill Haven when she had a steal and converted a pair of layups for the 37-26 deficit heading to the fourth quarter.
Runkle hit a three and scored six points in the fourth quarter but the closest the Hurricanes got was a 43-31 deficit.
Holy Redeemer’s Bella Boylan, G. Parsons and Millard each scored four points in the fourth quarter for the 51-36 win to advance to Monday’s PIAA Class 3A semifinals.
Hutchinson and Runkle each led Schuylkill Haven with 13 points and Runkle brought in a team-high 11 rebounds.
SH (24-6)12;8;6;10;—36
HR (21-8);16;9;10;14;—51
Schuylkill Haven 36 — Hutchinson 5 3-7 13, Siket 0 1-2 1, Runkle 5 2-4 13, Terefencko 2 3-4 9, Strenkoski 0 0-0 0, Wade 0 0-0 0, Farrell 0 0-0 0, Houvig 0 0-0 0, Benedict 0 0-0 0, Brand 0 0-0 0, Kovaleski 0 0-0 0, Bayer 0 0-0 0. 12 9-17 36.
Holy Redeemer 51 — Bilbow 1 0-0 2, Quinn 0 0-0 0, Cegelka 0 0-0 0, Makarczyk 0 0-0 0, Boylan 4 0-0 8, Tezorski 1 0-0 2, Sweet 0 0-0 0, Chimock 9 6-8 27, Millard 3 0-0 6, Wasley 0 0-0 0, Glaser 0 0-0 0, Dutko 0 0-0 0, Parsons 2 2-4 6, Curley 0 0-0 0, Domashinski 0 0-0 0. 20 8-12 51.
3-FG: Chimock 3, Terefencko 2, Runkle