Tues. Pa. girls’ roundup: Villa Joseph Marie surprises Nazareth

That old adage about it being hard to beat a team three times in a season turned out to be painfully true for Nazareth Academy's basketball team in its District 1 Class AAA semifinal on Tuesday.

At Wissahickon, sixth-seeded Villa Joseph Marie used a stronger second quarter to stun second-seeded Nazareth Academy, 44-39, its first win in three meetings against the Pandas (17-8).

Nazareth Academy had won the first two meetings by double digits, registering a 49-37 win on Dec. 21 and following that up with a 48-34 win on Jan. 25.

The Jems (14-11), who did not even qualify for the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies league playoffs, now find themselves in the district final thanks to Mary Newell's 14 points and Lexi Stershic's 12 points.

They outscored the Pandas, 12-0, over the second quarter to take a 14-12 lead.

The good defensive stretch continued for the Jems in the second half as a 9-3 third-quarter run made it a 23-15 lead going into the final quarter.

It was the second straight upset win in the playoffs for the Jems, who took out a No. 3 seed, Springfield (Delaware County), 48-45, in the quarterfinals. They opened their playoff run with a 70-33 win over Phoenixville, the No. 11 seed.

What made the win all the more remarkable was the fact that the Jems did it despite a poor shooting night from the free throw line. They made just 13 of 30. The Pandas made four of their eight attempts from the line.

Nazareth Academy got eight points apiece from Jessica Sylvester and Lindsay Fleuhr.

The win earns Villa Joseph Marie a championship date on Saturday (6 p.m.) against Villa Maria at Villanova University.

Top-seeded Villa Maria was a 47-28 semifinal winner over No. 4 St. Basil. The Hurricanes (20-7) placed three players in double figures, led by Brooke Angelos, who poured in 18 points. Lisa Mirarchi and Kellie O'Rourke each added 12 points.

District 1 Class AAAA. In a consolation-round game, host Council Rock South topped Avon Grove, 56-41, behind 6-foot-3 center Alex Wheatley's 24 points and 14 rebounds. Wheatley, only a junior, broke the school district career rebound and now has 896, topping 1979 grad Rick Kamin of the Council Rock North boys' program (888).

Council Rock South advances to a state-qualifying game against either North Penn or Downingtown West on Friday night. The Maidens and Whippets play Wednesday night.