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EspañolPOTTSVILLE — Williams Valley secured its second consecutive trip to the PIAA state playoffs Friday, pulling away for a 51-29 victory over Marian Catholic in the District 11 Class 2A final at Martz Hall.
The Vikings (18-6) utilized an up-tempo second-half surge to steamroll the Fillies, while Executive Education (17-6) relied on a stout defensive performance to edge Schuylkill Haven, 39-33, in the District 11 Class 3A championship.
“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.”
The win marks the Vikings’ second straight district title over Marian, continuing a dominant post-season run that has become a program staple.
“This was my goal from the beginning of the season,” said Ireland Kasper, who wanted the win for more than just the trophy. “I wanted to get my little brother a medal. He’s our manager and he means everything to me. I just knew coming into this we had to win; nobody else does this back-to-back.”
Williams Valley 51, Marian 29
Kasper hit four three-pointers to power Williams Valley into 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. Kasper pumped in three three-pointers 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.”
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Schuylkill Haven’s Audrey Hutchinson (2) during the game against Executive Education at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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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
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Marian’s Addy Marek (41) during the game against Williams Valley at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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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
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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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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
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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
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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
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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
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Marian’s Addy Marek (41) during the game against Williams Valley at Martz Hall in Pottsville Friday February 27, 2026. Submitted Photo
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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
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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 forced 13 turnovers including eight steals by Ella Kobularik. The Vikings held Marian to three points in the final quarter to seal the win.
“It started on the defensive end. We got stops and 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 were aggressive and tough.”
Kasper led Williams Valley with 17 points while Miller scored 12 and Smeltz and Kobularik eight each. Miller also collected a team-high eight rebounds.
Mallory Miller and Kasper opened the game with three-pointers. Marian’s Katie Knock hit a three to bring the Fillies within a point with three minutes left in the first quarter.
Miller converted 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,” Zellers said. “It’s what we’ve been looking forward to. We had a chance to do it and I’m so proud of them.”
Marian’s Brooke Hannis-Miskar hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 15-12 before Kasper knocked down a pair of threes for a 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.”
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 converted 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 to push Williams Valley’s lead to 40-26 entering the fourth quarter.
Led by a pair of Smeltz layups, the Vikings went an 11-2 scoring run in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
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 fended off a Schuylkill Haven second-half comeback and walked away with a six-point district championship win.
“This was the goal all season long. We had a blank slate in our gym that said ‘girls basketball’ and there was nothing underneath it,” said first-year Executive Education coach Jose Medina, 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’s layup knotted the score at 26 at the end of the third quarter before McKenna Runkle hit a three-pointer and a field goal to bring the deficit within 35-33 with a minute remaining in the game.
Nia Bush and Savanna Henry converted three free throws to seal 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. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Mariah Hargrove led the Raptors with 15 points while 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. 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