POTTSVILLE — Once the first quarter ended Saturday afternoon, Crestwood became a tick faster than Lampeter-Strasburg.
And, at times, two or three ticks faster.
The end result was a second consecutive trip to the PIAA Class 5A girls basketball semifinals.
Jackie Gallagher led the way with a double-double, but everyone contributed in turning a close game into a 59-35 rout in the quarterfinals at Martz Hall.
Gallagher finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds — both game highs — as District 2 champion Crestwood (26-3) heads into a rematch of last season’s semifinal on Tuesday at a time and site to be determined. The Comets will play District 12 champion Archbishop Wood (15-12), which defeated District 11 champion Bethlehem Catholic 69-32 in its quarterfinal game.
Crestwood needed three consecutive baskets by Gallagher to end the first quarter to take a 16-15 lead. The Comets were behind by six with just over two minutes left.
“We did come out a little flat in the first quarter which is unusual,” Crestwood coach Mary Mushock-Namey said. “The past couple games we came out right from the start. When they had to kick it in gear, they did again.
“Defense wasn’t as intense in the first quarter as it was the rest of the game.”
District 3 fifth seed Lampeter-Strasburg (20-10) had seven field goals in the first quarter. The Pioneers had six more the rest of the game.
“I think it might have just been nerves for us,” said Crestwood senior guard Jordan Andrews, who scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and was a nuisance on defense. “We came out a little bit slow, but once we got into our rhythm we played our game. The confidence went up, we started playing together and sealed the deal.”
Crestwood’s defense was relentless in the second quarter, forcing nine turnovers and outscoring Lampeter-Strasburg 16-4. Andrews turned two steals into baskets as Lampeter-Strasburg went nearly six minutes without scoring.
Keira Dougherty went coast-to-coast with a defensive rebound to start a 10-0 run that put the Comets ahead by double digits for good. They went into halftime with a 32-19 lead.
Dougherty, who finished with 15 points, missed all of last season with an injury. She returned to finish sixth in scoring in Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 with a 15.3 average.
“It’s very special,” Dougherty said. “These girls helped me get through last year and be a better player this year. I’m so grateful for them. It feels amazing.”
Lampeter-Strasburg never put much of dent in the deficit the rest of the way. The Pioneers had trouble getting clean looks at the basket, occasionally forcing up shots that were way off the mark.
Lampeter-Strasburg also shot poorly from 3-point land. The Pioneers made their first 3-pointer and then missed 12 in a row before hitting their other with 2:18 left in the game.
DISTRICT 2 CLEAN SWEEP
All three District 2 teams playing at Martz Hall on Saturday won.
In the opener, the Old Forge boys defeated Delone Catholic 51-39 in a Class 2A quarterfinal game, although the victory was costly. Point guard Ryan DeMarco suffered a horrific leg injury and was transported to the hospital.
In the nightcap, the Scranton Prep girls held off Susquehanna Township 49-43 in a Class 4A quarterfinal game.
PIAA Class 5A Quarterfinals
Crestwood 59, Lampeter-Strasburg 35
CRESTWOOD (59) — Cameron Vieney 0 0-0 0, Charlie Hiller 3 1-3 7, Jackie Gallagher 9 3-4 23, Jordan Andrews 5 0-1 10, Keira Dougherty 7 0-0 15, Norah Sklarosky 0 0-0 0, Addison Korpusik 0 0-0 0, Lia Lapsansky 0 0-0 0, Lillie Nealon 1 0-0 2, Sydney Van Dusen 0 0-0 0, Isla Centak 1 0-0 2. Totals 26 4-8 59.
LAMPETER-STRASBURG (35) — Elaina Hostetter 4 2-4 11, Lucy Boyd 2 0-0 4, Carla Mann 2 0-0 4, Trinity Carter 2 0-0 5, Morgan Dombach 1 4-6 6, Jillian Groff 2 1-2 5, Addison Boyd 0 0-2 0, Makenna Black 0 0- 0, Olivia Shover 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 7-14 35.
Crestwood`16`16`13`14 — 59
Lampeter-Strasburg`15`4`10`6 — 35
Three-point goals: CRE 3 (Gallagher 2, Dougherty). LS 2 (Hostetter, Carter).
