SCHUYLKILL HAVEN -- Schuylkill Haven knew it meant something extra special to host a PIAA state playoff basketball game on Friday.
The Hurricanes (23-5) roared to a 50-19 win over Philadelphia Charter Academy (10-9) when they rolled to a 24-5 lead not long into the second quarter before ramping up the defensive intensity in the second half.
"It's always good when you can play on your home floor and the girls are used to the backdrop here," Schuylkill Haven coach Tony Sanders said. "It's always nice to play at home."
Schuylkill Haven advances to the second round of the PIAA 3A state playoffs for the second straight year to take on Pequea Valley on Tuesday, March 10 at a site and time to be announced.
"I thought senior day would be the last time playing here so it was exciting to play here tonight and it's nice to put up such a big win," Schuylkill Haven senior Audrey Hutchinson said.
Audrey Hutchinson, Schuylkill Haven's lone senior, led the offensive attack with 19 points, Mckenna Runkle and Ava Terefencko each scored 10 points and Kylie Siket added eight. Hutchinson led the Hurricanes on the glass with 15 rebounds. The Hurricanes forced 16 turnovers as Hutchinson led the way with six steals.
The Hurricanes raced out to a 12-2 lead midway through the first quarter before taking a commanding 19-5 lead at the end of the first.
"Our ball pressure was solid and we were able to force turnovers early," Sanders said. "I thought we ran some nice offensive sets tonight too."
Siket hit a three and Runkle went underneath for a layup and the 5-0 lead just over a minute into the game. Hutchinson then scooped up a steal and went full court for a layup and the 8-0 lead.
Another pair of layups from Hutchinson and Terefencko gave the Hurricanes a 12-2 lead before Runkle posted another layup for the 17-4 lead. Terefencko closed out the first quarter with a steal and full court layup for the 19-4 lead.
Schuylkill Haven stormed to a 5-0 scoring run to start the second quarter for the 24-5 lead. Siket hit a three and posted a layup and the Hurricanes took a 26-8 lead with three minutes left in the first half.
"That was big to get us going and gave us some momentum for the rest of the game," Sanders said. "Everyone else stepped up well tonight."
Hutchinson and Siket each scored five points in the second quarter and Schuylkill Haven took a 33-11 halftime lead.
The Hurricanes defense allowed just three points to Philadelphia Academy Charter in the third quarter as Hutchinson got rolling and scored 14 points in the quarter mostly off turnovers.
"During halftime we talked about picking up the defensive effort and we knew it was our game to play even though we were up so much," Hutchinson said. "We kept playing our style of basketball and that will really matter when we play our next game."
Hutchinson showed off her defense after halftime when she brought in a steal and went full court for the 42-13 lead with four minutes left in the third quarter.
"It was just us moving the ball and making sure we all got our hands on the ball," Hutchinson said. "Moving the ball and running our plays worked for us along with staying true to our defense."
Runkle forced a turnover which she passed off to Hutchinson for a layup and the 50-14 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Schuylkill Haven's starters were pulled from the game and recognized with an applause during the fourth quarter of the lopsided state playoff win. The Hurricanes allowed just five points in the fourth quarter to hold on for the 50-19 win.
Kaitlyn Asher led Philadelphia Academy Charter with nine points and Isabella Hernandez scored seven points.
Philadelphia Academy Charter 19 -- Asher 3 3-5 9, Hernandez 2 3-6 7, G. Gerace 1 1-2 3, Lopez 0 0-0 0, Whiten 0 0-0 0, M. Gerace 0 0-0 0. 6 7-13 19. Schuylkill Haven 50 -- Hutchinson 8 3-3 19, Runkle 4 2-5 10, Siket 3 0-0 8, Terefencko 5 0-0 10, Strenkoski 0 1-2 1, Wade 0 0-0 0, Bayer 0 0-0 0, Benedict 0 0-0 0, Houvig 0 0-0 0, Brand 0 0-0 0,Farrell 0 0-0 0,Kovaleski 0 0-0 0. 20 6-10 50.