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MILLERSTOWN--Despite falling short of a District 3 Class A title, Greenwood's boys and girls basketball teams did combine to win five games and qualify for the state playoffs.
The boys team will kick things off tonight in Williamsport against District 4 runner-up St. John Neumann. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.
The Wildcats went 3-1 in District 3 play defeating West Shore Christian and Conestoga Christian before falling to Lancaster Country Day in the semifinals. The Wildcats rebounded by defeating Berks Christian in the third place game.
During that run, Luke Myers averaged 15 points per game while Aaron Morder averaged 15.25.
"They've been the key to our success all season long and hopefully that continues. We do a good job of setting them, and they execute and knock them down," Greenwood coach Troy Gantt said.
Even though Morder has the higher average, Myers is the only player to have double-digit performances in every playoff game. In fact, Myers was the only player to accomplish such in the team's loss to Lancaster Country Day. He scored 16 in that game.
Morder, however, did score 20 against West Shore Christian and 21 against Conestoga Christian.
The best offensive performance of the playoffs so far doesn't belong to either Myers or Morder, but instead, Aaron Bollinger who drained 33 points in the opening round.
The Wildcats have shown they are strong from the line -- going 24-for-30 against Conestoga Christian -- and from beyond the arc -- draining 10 against West Shore Christian.
"I think in the game's we've had success, we shot the ball well. We have to execute with the ball, make our way to the free-throw line and shoot with confidence," Gantt said. "… We had a chance to see (St. John Neumann) in the District championship game. They're very athletic, well coached and a solid team. We have to go in and play a solid game. … I really think we have to do a decent job on the boards. They're long and athletic and if we get pounded on the boards, it's going to a long night for us."
Greenwood's foe St. John Neumann is no stranger to the state tournament, appearing for the seventh time in eight years. It is led by sophomore David Hill (21.2 ppg), junior Malaki Parlante (11.6) and seniors Jaiden Cioffi (10.9) and Reid Parrish (9.6).
The girls on the other hand will get things going Saturday against District 1's fourth place finisher Chester Charter School for the Arts. The game is scheduled for 3 p.m. at East Pennsboro.
Chester Charter is a young program in general, having existed for only three years with two of them in the PIAA.
It has put together a terrific rebounding year, going 18-2 in the regular season after going 0-16 in the 2017-2018 campaign. It it now 18-5 after district play.
The playoff games aren't the toughest losses for the team, as it has to find ways to make up for the absences of Logan Handy and Ceyrah Williams, who are ineligible to play due to transferring after the PIAA deadline.
Handy averaged 23 ppg and has over 2,000 points scored in her career while Williams was the team's leading rebounder.
Greenwood is aware of such, but isn't shifting its focus any regardless who is or isn't on the court.
"That's something we haven't talked about, but they're aware. We're preparing for them like the way we've prepared for the last 25 games," Greenwood coach Jeff Deitz said. "As far as nerves go, this is the place we've expected to be. We've talked about getting here like we did the last two years. The girls have experience in this setting. Their mindset has been really good and I don't think they're nervous. They're confident and ready to play."
The Wildcats will be led in large by the offensive efforts of Kenedy Stroup. She is averaging 16.6 ppg in the Wildcats' first three playoff games -- wins over York Christian and Veritas Academy before falling to Lancaster Country Day in the District 3 Class A championship game.
Stroup isn't the only offensive weapon as Alli Walton has put together a pair of double-digit performances, scoring 14 on York Christian and a game-high 24 against Veritas Academy.
The Wildcats will rely on what's gotten them to this point.
"Our gameplan is our gameplan. We're going to approach this like we have all year, Deitz said. "We have an idea of what we have to do to win Saturday. Hopefully, that's what we need to move on."