Castellani Sparks Second-Half Surge as Valley View Advances in State Playoffs
By: Matt Flanagan | SportzWire | March 7, 2026 | Photo courtesy Sportzwire
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Valley View used a strong second-half performance to pull away Saturday afternoon, defeating Blue Mountain 49–28 in the opening round of the PIAA Class 4A girls basketball state playoffs.
The Lady Cougars battled through a tight start, holding a 5–8 deficit after the first quarter before settling in offensively in the second. Valley View outscored Blue Mountain 11–8 in the second quarter to narrow the gap before taking control after halftime.
Valley View broke the game open in the third quarter, erupting for 15 points while limiting Blue Mountain to just four, creating separation that carried into the fourth quarter as the Cougars cruised to the 21-point victory.
Cora Castellani delivered a standout performance for Valley View, leading the offensive charge and igniting the Cougars in the second half. Valley View connected on six three-pointers and finished with 20 field goals as a team, showcasing a balanced attack.
Blue Mountain struggled to generate consistent offense against the Cougars’ defensive pressure, finishing with 10 field goals on the afternoon.
With the victory, Valley View advances to the Round of 16 in the PIAA Class 4A state playoffs, where the Lady Cougars will face the winner of Susquenita and Neumann-Goretti on Wednesday at a site to be determined.
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter / X
YouTube
