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Mar. 14—POTTSVILLE — Once the first quarter ended Saturday afternoon, Crestwood became a tick faster than Lampeter-Strasburg. And, at times, two or three ticks faster.
The end result was a second consecutive trip to the PIAA Class 5A girls basketball semifinals. Jackie Gallagher led the way with a double-double, but everyone contributed in turning a close game into a 59-35 rout in the quarterfinals at Martz Hall. Gallagher finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds — both game highs — as District 2 champion Crestwood (26-3) heads into a rematch of last season's semifinal on Tuesday at a time and site to be determined.
The Comets will play District 12 champion Archbishop Wood (15-12), which defeated District 11 champion Bethlehem Catholic 69-32 in its quarterfinal game. Crestwood needed three consecutive baskets by Gallagher to end the first quarter to take a 16-15 lead. The Comets were behind by six with just over two minutes left.
"We did come out a little flat in the first quarter which is unusual," Crestwood coach Mary Mushock-Namey said. "The past couple games we came out right from the start. When they had to kick it in gear, they did again.
"Defense wasn't as intense in the first quarter as it was the rest of the game. " District 3 fifth seed Lampeter-Strasburg (20-10) had seven field goals in the first quarter. The Pioneers had six more the rest of the game.