Rick O'Brien: Girls' hoops quarterfinals have local look

For the second time in three seasons, we could be looking at a PIAA Class AAAA state championship game between area teams in girls' basketball.

That chance, of course, increased this year with the addition of the Philadelphia Catholic League.

In 2006-07, Council Rock North, District 1's No. 3 seed, reached Penn State out of the East bracket. Cheltenham, the district's fifth-place qualifier, advanced to the final from the West bracket. The Panthers beat the Indians, 68-54, for the crown.

On Tuesday, five Class AAAA teams, four from District 1 and one from District 12, earned berths in tonight's quarterfinal round. Two of them, Cheltenham and Downingtown West, are in the West bracket. The Whippets surprised Maryland recruit Alyssa Thomas and the defending state champion, Central Dauphin, with a 42-39 victory Tuesday.

Here is a look at this weekend's quarterfinal games, three tonight in Class AAAA, and a Class AAA clash tomorrow between the Catholic League champion, Archbishop Carroll, and the defending state champion, Mount St. Joseph:

Class AAAA

Lower Merion (26-3) vs. Cardinal O'Hara (25-2), tonight at 6:30 at Spring-Ford. Without leading scorer Molly Hanlon (broken ankle), the Aces are in the quarterfinals for the first time in the program's history. The Lions, one of the Catholic League's new PIAA members, are sparked by center Steph Holzer.

Lower Merion could have a chance to upset O'Hara because of an ankle injury that has slowed the Vanderbilt-bound Holzer. Walking on crutches, Holzer is pretty much a spectator in practices and plays only in games.

For the Aces, senior center Amy Woods, with help from junior forward Kiki Worku, will try to keep Holzer from dominating inside.

Pick: Even with Holzer nowhere near 100 percent, the Lions win. O'Hara, 48-37.

Downingtown East (27-2) vs. Hazleton (24-2), tonight at 6:30 at Reading High's Geigle Complex. The Cougars thrived from three-point range, making eight of 12 attempts in the first half, in their second-round matchup with West Chester Henderson and cruised, 63-37.

In summer-league action, East coach Bob Schnure and Hazleton boss Joe Gavio go way back. Hazleton has three double-digit scoring threats: Maddy Ludwig, Alyssa Flanagan and Christine Sereta.

Pick: Hazleton has had a nice run in winning a seventh consecutive Wyoming Valley Conference Division I championship and District 2 title. It ends here, though. East, 55-41.

Downingtown West (20-9) vs. Cheltenham (27-2), tonight at 8 at Spring-Ford. The Panthers have been bolstered by the return of senior guard and forward Dayna McCrewell, who was suspended for the District 1 semifinals and final because of a school-related matter.

And how about the Whippets? They were written off, understandably, after being whipped by Downingtown East, 49-13, in the district semifinals.

In addition to McCrewell, who notched 14 rebounds and eight points in a second-round win against Northampton, Cheltenham is fueled by four quick-footed guards: Shayla Felder, Tiffany Johnson, Monet Constant and Liz Taliaferro.

West is sparked by three seniors: guard Jessica Beswick (who had 26 of the team's 42 points against Central Dauphin), center Isabel Scott, and guard Amanda Donia.

Pick: The Panthers' overall speed and guard play will give turnover-prone West problems. Cheltenham, 47-40.

Class AAA

Mount St. Joseph (28-1) vs. Archbishop Carroll (27-1), tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Villanova. Based on the individual matchups, this could be the best game of the weekend.

Elle Hagedorn, the Mount's catalyst, knows well the tendencies and skills of five of Carroll's top six players. The Harvard recruit played AAU ball for the Delaware County-based Comets with the Shields sisters, Kerri and Erin; Kaitlin Cole; Hollie Mershon; and MaryKate McCann.

Hagedorn, a top-notch rebounder, needs to have a solid offensive outing against the defensive-minded Patriots. She struggled Wednesday against Bangor, hitting only four of 12 shots from the field en route to eight points.

The Patriots have done a much better job this season of freeing Kerri Shields for scoring opportunities. Like Kerri Shields, bound for Boston College, Erin Shields and Hollie Mershon are three-point threats.

Inside, keep an eye on the battle between Cole and the Mount's Steph Smith

Pick: It's hard to go against a John Miller-coached team. But we see the Patriots breaking open a close game and winning by 12. Carroll, 47-35.