Old Forge turned to an old reliable source and a newcomer to lead the Lady Devils back to Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
The frontcourt combination of four-year starter Olivia Ciullo and recent addition to the starting lineup Talia Piragas produced 37 points in a 51-40 victory at Elk Lake in the District 2 Class 2A semifinals.
Ciullo, a returning all-stater, scored 23 points.
Piragas, a freshman in her fifth start in place of injured teammate Angelina Rios, chipped in 14.
Their efforts helped make the defending champions the only lower-seeded team to beat a higher-seeded opponent on the road in eight girls semifinals played Monday.
Old Forge outscored Elk Lake each of the first three quarters to build a 41-25 lead.
Piragas had six points in the first quarter, which ended with the Lady Devils in front, 13-10.
Ciullo had 16 points in the middle two quarters.
Krista Jones led Elk Lake with 16 points. Lily Decker added 12.
Elsewhere Monday:
Holy Cross 71, Lackawanna Trail 45
Kaci Kranson scored 26 points and Abbey Lentowski added 20 as top-seeded Holy Cross earned a rematch with Old Forge in the Friday 3 p.m. Class 2A final.
Lentowski had eight points to help the Lady Crusaders to a 23-9 lead after one quarter.
Kranson had 16 by halftime for a 38-21 lead.
Amaralis Thiel led Lackawanna Trail with 16 points.
Scranton Prep 51, Lake-Lehman 30
Cecelia Collins had 17 points and 8 rebounds as the Scranton Prep senior class moved within one game of adding a fourth straight District 2 Class 4A championship to its four straight Lackawanna League Division 1 titles and unbeaten league seasons.
Rachael Rose, who sat out the second half of the quarterfinal game with an injury, returned to provide 12 points. Maria Belardi had 11.
Claire Dougherty led Lake-Lehman, the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 champions, with 15 points.
Berwick 46, Nanticoke 27
Katie Starr scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead host Berwick into the Class 4A final.
The Lady Bulldogs recovered from a four-point halftime deficit.
Renny Murphy also scored 13 points.
Starr had nine points and Murphy eight in the second half.
Gabby Starr added 10 points and 7 rebounds in the win while Rachel Whitenight had 7 assists.
Riley Baird hit two 3-pointers while scoring 8 of her 10 points during a second quarter in which Nanticoke outscored Berwick 17-6 to take a 21-17 halftime lead.
Dallas 46, North Pocono 43
Bella Hill scored 16 points to lead host Dallas into the Class 5A final against Abington Heights.
The Mountaineers are making a second straight trip to Mohegan Sun Arena after losing in Class 4A last year.
Victoria Spaciano scored 12 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Mountaineers.
Alicia Goldenzeil scored 13 points and Carena Colo added 10 for North Pocono.
Dallas will play Abington Heights Saturday at 5:30.
Hazleton Area 51, Scranton 48
Julia Mrochko scored 15 points and District 2-4 Class 6A Subregional top-seed Hazleton Area survived an upset-bid by Scranton, which had a shot at the tying 3-pointer in the closing seconds.
Brooke Boretski had 8 of her 11 points when Hazleton Area took a 22-14 lead after one quarter.
Finley Bittenbender hit three of her four 3-pointers during the second half to finish with 20 points for Scranton.
Lanee Olson added 11 points in the loss.
Wilkes-Barre Area 42, Williamsport 37
Wilkes-Barre Area recovered after District 4’s Williamsport erased a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime in the Class 6A game.
Vanessa Luna had 12 of her 13 points after halftime for the Wolfpack.
Shelby Ardo Boyko added 11 points.
Enya Green Pratt led Williamsport with 12 points.
The Millionaires held the Wolfpack to one field goal during a 13-3 fourth quarter.
MORE: Abington Heights-Crestwood game story. https://www.nepabasketball.com/2020-21/articles/AHCrestwoodGPlayoff.
