PIAA Class 2A girls basketball final
Neshannock vs. Berlin Brothersvalley
Noon Thursday, Giant Center, Hershey
On the air: PCN; NFHS Network
PIAA titles: Neshannock 1 (2022); Berlin Brothersvalley 2 (2019, 2025)
Neshannock (26-3)
Coach: Luann Grybowski
Projected starting lineup
No., Name, Ht., Cl., Pos.
1, Jaidon Nogay, 5-7, sr., G
2, Sophia Bonner, 5-4, jr., G
5, Ainsley Allison, 5-10, jr., F
12, Nina Medure, 5-3, sr., G
32, Payton Newman, 5-9, sr., F
How they got here: WPIAL champion Neshannock defeated Burgettstown, 80-26; Penns Manor, 60-53; Kennedy Catholic, 61-56; and Bishop McCort, 61-57.
Notable: This will be the third PIAA championship game appearance for the Lancers. Neshannock won the 2022 championship over Southern Columbia and was the PIAA runner-up in 2021. … The Lancers reached the PIAA second round last season as the WPIAL runners-up. … Forward Payton Newman has been clutch in the postseason. After a double-double (24 points, 11 rebounds) in the WPIAL championship game, she has 66 points in the past three games of the PIAA playoffs, including 16 in the semifinals. … Freshman Lilly Cain had 15 points, and junior guard Sophia Bonner added 14 in Monday’s win, when six players were battling the flu. … Coach Luann Grybowski surpassed 800 career wins last week. She has won seven WPIAL titles and a PIAA championship while coaching at Shenango, Aliquippa, New Castle and Neshannock.
Berlin Brothersvalley (25-5)
Coach: Rachel Prosser
Projected starting lineup
No., Name, Ht., Yr., Pos.
1, Madison Will, 5-2, fr., G
10, Sam Walker, 5-5, so., G
11, Mercy Sechler, 5-10, sr., G
22, Coral Prosser, 5-8, jr., PG
30, Bryn Prosser, 5-9, so., G
How they got here: District 5 champion Berlin Brothersvalley beat United, 65-43; York Catholic, 63-51; Wyoming Seminary, 53-31; and Southern Columbia, 65-53.
Notable: Berlin Brothersvalley is the defending PIAA Class 2A champion after defeating Bishop McCort, 62-50, in last season’s championship game. It also won the 2019 title. … The Mountaineers are led by coach Rachel Prosser’s daughters, Coral and Bryn. Coral is a Division I prospect who had 35 points and 15 rebounds in last season’s state championship game. … She scored 26 points in Tuesday’s semifinal win. Senior Mercy Sechler added 19 points. … Coral Prosser was a first-team all-state selection last season. She averages 21 points and 10 rebounds. … Bryn Prosser averages 14 points and nine rebounds. … Berlin Brothersvalley won its fourth straight District 5 title this winter. … The Mountaineers have a quick turnaround after their semifinal game was postponed Monday and played Tuesday.