DISTRICT 1-6A GIRLS BASKETBALL: Central Bucks East faces tough, familiar foe in Perk Valley

Central Bucks East knows what it’s up against in the District 1-6A semifinals and knows it will be a challenge.

The fourth-seeded Patriots will visit No. 1 Perk Valley Wednesday night at 6 p.m.

It will be the third straight season that the teams meet in the District 1 playoffs. Perk Valley won 49-42 in 2023 and 54-25 in 2024. The Vikings went on to win the district title in both seasons.

“Two years ago we saw them in the second round,” CB East coach Liz Potash said. “Last year we saw them in the third round (quarterfinals). Now you’re seeing them in the fourth round. That’s a credit to these guys. When you’re able to push them until further – they’re a really good team. We have so much respect for them, but we’re looking forward to it. What a great challenge. I’ll take that any day to be in the final four and take on a really tough opponent.”

Perk Valley (23-3) is an experienced group. The Vikings top six players are all seniors.

Forward Grace Galbavy, a 6-foot-1 Wake Forest commit, became the all-time leading scorer in Pioneer Athletic Conference girls basketball history during the team’s 60-36 win over No. 9 Conestoga in the quarterfinals last week. She has 1,763 career points. She scored 17 points against CB East in 2023 and 16 points in 2024.

Forward Quinn Boettinger (6-foot-3 Navy commit) and guards Bella Bacani (Jefferson) and Lena Stein (West Chester) are all set to play basketball at the next level. Grace Miley and Julia Smith add more experience for the back-to-back-to-back PAC champions. Boettinger averaged 11.5 points in the two district playoff games against East while Bacani averaged 10.5 and Stein seven.

Perk Valley has dominated every District 1 team in its path this season. Its 24-point win over Conestoga in the quarterfinals was its closest game against a District 1 opponent. The team, rightfully, has its sight set on a state championship. Its last three state playoff runs ended against the eventual champion – Plymouth Whitemarsh in 2022, Archbishop Carroll in 2023 and Cardinal O’Hara in 2024.

“We know Perk is a really good team,” CB East wing Jess Lockwood said. “I feel like their whole team is returners. They’re all super-tall, super-aggressive and they’re just really good. If we just stay locked in and do what we know how to do and stay together – I think if we don’t win, it’s going to be a good game or at least a close game.”

“We have to bring them our best game,” CB East point guard Haley Moran said. “They’re not going to quit. Any team going forward we know we’re going to have to give our best game. We’re ready.”

While this is familiar territory for Perk Valley, it’s new for CB East (22-5). The Patriots are in the district semifinals for the first time under Potash, who’s in her 12th season leading the program.

“We’ve never been (to the semifinals) with me here,” Potash said. “We’ve gotten to (the quarterfinals) many times, but we’ve never been able to get past. That’s not on me – that’s on these guys. The work that they have done and you’re not just talking about in-season – offseason – the work they put in in the summer. I’m proud of them and so happy for them.”

“Knowing that we lost some big key (players) from last year and we were able to do all this,” Lockwood said, “really shows all of the hard work we put in this year.”

“We have a lot of starters coming back from last year,” Moran added. “I feel like we were ready this year to keep going on in districts. We’ve been (to the quarterfinals) before, so we knew what it was going to take to get farther. We just executed and we’re in the final four. We’re really excited.”

After earning a first-round bye, East defeated No. 13 Spring-Ford, 68-55, in the second round and No. 5 Downingtown East, 46-24, in the quarterfinals. Against Downingtown East, Moran led the way with 17 points while Lockwood added 15 points and 12 rebounds and Natalie Berndt had eight points.

The Suburban One League Colonial Division champion Patriots used eight players against Downingtown East and only two were seniors – starters Savannah Hayes and Sydney Ralph. Juniors Lockwood and Berndt and sophomore Moran filled out the starting lineup. Off the bench came junior Emma Penecale and sophomores Delaney Long and Cece Hayes.

While Savannah Hayes only scored two points, her defense against Downingtown East’s 6-foot junior Charlotte Aldridge was crucial in the win. Hayes, standing 5-foot-10, held Aldridge to just two points.

The winner between CB East and Perk Valley will face the winner of No. 3 Upper Dublin and No. 2 Garnet Valley in the championship game Friday at St. Joseph’s University at 6 p.m.