REINHART’S BRACKETOLOGY
Ah yes, the District 3-AAA girls’ basketball playoff bracket. And what a monster bracket this one is, with storylines aplenty. And plenty of landmines at every turn. There are eight state-ranked teams in the bracket, and you could literally throw darts or flip quarters to pick a winner here. This bracket is that deep, that solid and that talented. In a word, enjoy.
DISTRICT 3-AAA GIRLS' BASKETBALL PLAYOFF BRACKET
THE FAVORITE
Despite a 47-39 loss to 8-time reigning Class AA champ York Catholic in the York/Adams semifinals, Susquehannock absolutely, positively earned the No. 1 seed in this heavy-duty bracket. So we’ll go ahead and put the bull’s-eye on coach Dave Schreiner and his club. Warriors, who fell to Palmyra in last year's title game, await the winner of a preliminary game on Monday pitting No. 16 Donegal against No. 17 Northeastern. If the bracket stays chalk, Susquehannock — spearheaded by the terrific 1-2 duo of Shannon Druck and Katie Wagner — could get YAIAA foe West York, with the dynamic Kari Lankford leading the Bulldogs, in the quarterfinals.
I’m telling you: Everywhere you turn, there will be a terrific matchup somewhere in this bracket.
OTHER HIGH SEEDS
Defending champ Palmyra drew the No. 2 position, and the Cougars are antsy to make some noise after missing out on defending the Mid-Penn Keystone crown after falling to red-hot Hershey down the stretch.
Greencastle-Antrim, which opened the season 21-0 and won the Mid-Penn Colonial championship, fell to Cumberland Valley in the Mid-Penn semifinals but is No. 10 in the state and No. 3 here. The Blue Devils get Colonial rival Gettysburg — and midstate scoring champ Cami Boehner, a Bloomsburg recruit — in the first round on Feb. 19, and if we go chalk, No. 6 Lancaster Catholic and the Crusaders’ dizzying press schemes could be waiting in the quarterfinals.
And Fleetwood, which is set to take on Wilson for the Berks League championship on Friday, is the No. 4 seed. Coach Matt Kellett’s Tigers, spearheaded by Cyre Virgo, have won 16 of 17, and get No. 13 Elco in a first-rounder on Feb. 19.
FIVE MUST-SEE PLAYERS
1. Carly Richardson, Palmyra — The Bucknell recruit is the whole package. Scorer. Rebounder. Defender. Team leader. Her scoring average has dipped a smidge (10.5) this season, but she’s knocked down 30 3-pointers and hits the District 3 playoffs with 1,272 career points — and a ton of experience at the playoff level for coach Ron Berman and his Cougars, who want their title back. They’re certainly in great hands with Richardson leading the troops. Palmyra gets the No. 15 Hamburg vs. No. 18 Trinity winner in a first-round game on Feb. 19. Trinity is Palmyra's Mid-Penn Keystone rival.
2. Shannon Druck, Susquehannock — Powerful and graceful, the Warriors’ senior forward can crash and mix it up in the lane, and run the floor and make plays with her quick feet. Druck, a Holy Cross recruit, certainly won’t shy away from contact. And she’s got plenty of muscle to win any paint scrap. Druck averages 13 points a game for coach Dave Schneider’s outfit, which occupies the 1-line atop this dynamic bracket.
3. Danielle Atkinson, Lancaster Catholic — The Crusaders’ heart and soul has had a special senior season, averaging a team-best 14.3 points with 32 3-pointers. She joined the 1,000-point club earlier this season, and she’s hands-down one of the top open-court defenders not only in the L-L League, but also around District 3. Atkinson, who thrives in transition and has a quick release from the perimeter, helped coach Lamar Kauffman’s Crusaders win their fourth Section 4 title in a row and reach the L-L semifinals. Lancaster Catholic won this tourney two years ago and was bounced by Susquehannock in the quarters last year. No. 6 Crusaders open at home against No. 11 Susquenita on Feb. 19.
4. Jenay Faulkner, Greencastle-Antrim — Blue Devils’ standout freshman continues to amaze. G-A’s multi-purpose threat averages a team-best 13.2 points with 33 treys. And to punctuate just how solid — and legit — her frosh season has been, Faulkner dropped 20 points against Cumberland Valley in the Mid-Penn semifinals, including a clutch 3 and a crowd-pleasing, head-turning circus layup that helped coach Mike Rhine’s Blue Devils cut into the Eagles’ lead. Remember Faulkner's name; she’s got three more seasons to impress.
5. Megan Smith, West Perry — Amazing senior season for the Mustangs’ senior IUP recruit. A deft baseliner and wing threat who can beat you off the dribble and at the rim, Smith averages 19.7 points. And she’s been on an absolute tear, scoring at a 22.2 clip over the last five games heading into the District 3 playoffs for coach Scott Moyer’s Mustangs, who have won 11 games in a row heading into the postseason, and get Mid-Penn Capital rival No. 7 Middletown, a conference semifinalist, on Feb. 19. The Mustangs and the Blue Raiders split their season series; Middletown escaped 33-32 on Dec. 20 and West Perry won 52-38 on Jan. 24, snapping the Blue Raiders’ 11-game division winning streak.
EARLY-ROUND GAME TO WATCH
I really the like the 5-12 game, pitting No. 5 Berks Catholic against No. 12 Eastern York on Feb. 19. It’s a shame one of those teams is heading home after that intriguing first-rounder.
Berks Catholic won three games in a row down the stretch before falling to Wilson in the Berks quarterfinals, and coach Bob Birmingham’s Saints are led by the 1-2 scoring punch combo of Katrina Balatgek and Devon Merritt.
Eastern York, under coach Cheryl Land, won York/Adams Division III honors, and features super active Bloomsburg recruit Morgan Thomas and multi-purpose threat Leah Myers.
Eastern York gave Lancaster Catholic a heck of a tussle back on Feb. 1.
ODDS AND ENDS
The championship game is set for March 1 at 11:15 a.m. in the Giant Center. … The semifinals will also be played in the Giant Center on Feb. 26. … The top six finishers advance to the PIAA playoffs. … Lancaster Catholic coach Lamar Kauffman, in his 32nd season on the Crusaders’ bench, has 761 career victories. Lancaster Catholic has 15 District 3 championships — 12 in Class AAA.
REINHART’S PICKS
1. Susquehannock
2. Palmyra
3. Lancaster Catholic
4. Berks Catholic
5. West York
6. West Perry
