The Pequea Valley Braves are heading to the PIAA Class 3A state playoffs!

The Braves played host to the Upper Dauphin Trojans on Tuesday, February 22 in a District Three Class-AAA playoff match, cruising to a 43-30 victory and punching their ticket not only to the district semis but also a state playoff berth. The top four teams from the district advance to the Class-AAA PIAA's.

The Braves came into the district playoffs as the third seed and thus played host to sixth-seeded Upper Dauphin. In the opening period, the Braves (13-11) jumped out to a 9-5 lead and maintained momentum into intermission.

Leading 24-13 at the half, the Braves outscored the Trojans 19-17 in the second half.

Leading all scorers on the night was sophomore Shania Stoltzfus. She led Pequea's balanced attack with 12 points, which included a pair of three-point baskets. Breanne Beiler added eight points while Morgan Graham chipped in with five.

Rebecca Cox and Sarah Arment each had a pair of baskets for their four points of the night while Carly Anderson drilled a three-point bucket for her scoring contribution. Deena Stoltzfus also scored three.

Kara Rupp led the Trojans with eight points. Gracie Griffiths poured in seven points.

The playoff brackets had second-seeded Trinity awaiting the winner of the Pequea Valley-Upper Dauphin game while top-seeded Brandywine Heights (17-5) found its semifinals round opponent would be York Catholic - a 58-39 winner over Susquenita.

WRESTLING

The District Three Class 2A Section 2 wrestling tournament was held on Saturday, February 19 at Central Dauphin East. Pequea wrestlers Liam McGinley and Zach Hollenbaugh were impressive in their bouts with McGinley taking fifth and Hollenbaugh seventh in their respective weight classes.

McGinley bounced back with two first-period pins after an opening-round setback to Marcus Colson of Camp Hill - a 7-1 decision in Colson's favor.

McGinley, who wrestled at the 120-pound weight class, bounced back to pin Sam Miller of Middletown in 1:51 and registered a pin in 39 seconds, taking down Luke Jordan of Berks Catholic.

Eventual fourth-place finisher Owen Breidegan of Northern Lebanon topped McGinley 10-3, sending the Pequea senior to the fifth-place match where he won on a fall. He pinned Tillman Artell of Bishop McDevitt 2:44 into that match.

Hollenbaugh competed in the 189-pound class, opening his day with a quick pin, needing 44 seconds to down Bryce Butler of Wyomissing.

Just as quickly as he had pinned, Hollenbaugh was the victim of a pin in the next round. Ehan Yoh of Schuylkill Valley had a first-period fall, sending the PV junior into the consolations.

Hollenbaugh notched another pin, registering one against Dominic Singh of Middletown. What followed was a hard-fought, close decision where Northern Lebanon sophomore Tanner Feagley escaped with a 6-4 decision.

Remaining resilient, Hollenbaugh won the seventh-place match with a tough 9-6 score, defeating Nick Ball of Eastern Lebanon County.