Williams Valley downs Marian Catholic in District 11 2A girls' basketball final

Vikings earn second straight trip to PIAA state playoffs with championship victory

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Williams Valley Vikings girls' basketball team defeated the Marian Catholic Fillies 58-47 in the District 11 2A Championship game at Martz Hall in Pottsville, Pennsylvania on Friday. The win secures Williams Valley's second consecutive trip to the PIAA state playoffs.

Why it matters

The District 11 2A girls' basketball championship is a highly anticipated annual event that determines which team will represent the region in the statewide PIAA tournament. Williams Valley's repeat victory demonstrates the program's sustained excellence and ability to compete at the highest level of Pennsylvania high school basketball.

The details

Williams Valley (18-6, 8-6) used a balanced scoring attack and stifling defense to pull away from Marian Catholic (16-8, 9-5) in the second half. The Vikings were led by junior guard Lily Schwalm's 16 points, while senior forward Emma Koons added 14 points and 8 rebounds. Marian Catholic was paced by sophomore guard Ava Sacco's 18 points.

  • The District 11 2A Championship game was played on Friday, February 28, 2026 at Martz Hall in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.
  • Williams Valley has now qualified for the PIAA state playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

The players

Lily Schwalm

A junior guard for the Williams Valley Vikings who led the team with 16 points in the championship game.

Emma Koons

A senior forward for the Williams Valley Vikings who contributed 14 points and 8 rebounds in the victory.

Ava Sacco

A sophomore guard for the Marian Catholic Fillies who scored a team-high 18 points in the losing effort.

Williams Valley Vikings

The girls' basketball team from Williams Valley High School that won the District 11 2A championship and earned a berth in the PIAA state playoffs.

Marian Catholic Fillies

The girls' basketball team from Marian Catholic High School that fell to Williams Valley in the District 11 2A title game.

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What they’re saying

“We've worked so hard all season to get back to this point. I'm so proud of my team for stepping up and playing their best basketball when it mattered most.”

— Lily Schwalm, Junior Guard, Williams Valley Vikings (Standard-Speaker)

“Losing in the championship is tough, but our girls have nothing to hang their heads about. We'll use this as motivation to come back even stronger next season.”

— Ava Sacco, Sophomore Guard, Marian Catholic Fillies (Standard-Speaker)

What’s next

Williams Valley will now advance to the first round of the PIAA 2A state playoffs, where they will face the District 3 champion on Tuesday, March 3rd.

The takeaway

Williams Valley's repeat District 11 championship demonstrates the program's ability to sustain excellence and compete at the highest level of Pennsylvania high school girls' basketball. The Vikings' balanced scoring attack and stifling defense will make them a tough out in the upcoming PIAA state tournament.