EXETER — Wyoming Area sophomore duo Sarah Holweg and Addison Orzel have been playing basketball for a long time. Most recently, the two helped the Warriors to one of their biggest wins in school history.
Wyoming Area, the third seed, took care of business in grand fashion with a 67-38 win over Valley View in the opening round of the PIAA District 2 Class 3A first round on Wednesday. Holweg and Orzel combined for 37 points. But it was Orzel’s post game that helped power the Warriors in their strong third quarter.
Down 24-23 at the half, Wyoming Area used a 17-4 edge in the third quarter to eventually regain control of the game. Orzel had 10 points in the frame. She finished the game with 15 rebounds.
“It was a great feeling,” Orzel said after the win. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my team. They supported me through it all.”
Holweg finished with a game-high 21 points to go with four rebounds and three assists. The win marks the first Wyoming Area district playoff in at least a decade. Lydia Edwards finished with 12 points.
“To have a home playoff game was one of our goals,” Wyoming Area coach Chad Lojewski said. “Having a second round district game, as far back as I looked, I can’t find one.”
Wyoming Area will be matched up with Dallas, who was a 45-26 winner over Lake-Lehman on Wednesday, on Friday at a site and time to be determined. Wyoming Area lost to Dallas, 61-56 earlier this season.
The Warriors, playing a full-court press the majority of the game, found themselves struggling to keep up with the Cougars in the first half. Valley View had virtually a four-point lead most of the first half, but once the third quarter started Wyoming Area turned up the heat.
The Warriors went on a 12-3 run to begin the quarter, starting with a 3-pointer from Holweg just 20 seconds into the half.
“We just got pumped at halftime,” Holweg said. “We played the second half like we were playing the last five games. We came out hungry.”
Wyoming Area would go on to outscore Valley View 17-4 in the third quarter. At the end of the quarter, it was all Orzel. The sophomore scored five points in less than a minute to lead the Warriors to a 50-33 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Orzel’s 16 points were a career high against what Lojewski called a “tough and physical Valley View team.”
“That is what we need out of her to compete for a district title,” Lojewski said. “It was a fantastic performance.”
PIAA DISTRICT 2 3A FIRST ROUND
Wyoming Area 67, Valley View 38
Valley View (38) — Hannah Yanoski 0 0-0 0, Alexis Gravinc 0 0-0 0, Tori Duffy 1 0-0 2, Camille Kotcho 0 0-0 0, Brittany Charles 2 0-2 4, Julie Maddage 0 0-0 0, Jen Ngyuen 2 1-2 6, Quinn Kelly 3 0-0 6, Cali Craig 1 0-0 2, Griffin Jones 8 2-4 18, Arianna Nardelli 0 0-0 0, Polina Lynova 0 0-0 0, Megan Zabielski 0 0-0 0 Caeley Gensiak 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 3-8 38.
Wyoming Area (67) — Jordan Kelly 0 2-2 2, Aleah Kranson 1 0-0 3, Rachel Solano 2 1-1 6, Sarah Holweg 9 0-2 21, Lydia Edwards 4 2-4 12, Jessica Sorick 0 0-2 0, Jessica Davis 0 0-0 0, Lauren Kelly 1 0-0 3, Addison Orzel 6 4-8 16, Brandi Sorokin 0 0-0 0, Nicole Wright 2 0-0 4, Jalen Rhodes 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 9-19 67.
Valley View`16`8`9`5`—`38
Wyoming Area`12`11`27`17`—`67
Three-point goals — VV 1 (Ngyuen); WA 8 (Holweg 3, Edwards 2, Solano 1, L. Kelly 1, Kranson 1).
