REDEEMER RISING: Royals Continue Cinderella Run, Punch Ticket to 3A State Championship
By: Matt Flanagan | SportzWire | March 17, 2026 | Photo courtesy Jake Speicher
HAZLETON — Right now, there may not be a hotter team in Pennsylvania than Holy Redeemer.l
On a stage where seasons end and pressure rises, the Royals delivered once again Monday night, taking down Hughesville 39-27 in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals and officially punching their ticket to the state championship game. And the way they’re doing it? It’s the definition of a team peaking at exactly the right time.
Holy Redeemer didn’t just win — they controlled the game. After weathering an early push from Hughesville, the Royals locked in defensively and never looked back. Holding Hughesville to just 27 total points, Redeemer’s defensive intensity has become the identity of this postseason run — disciplined, relentless, and suffocating.
Offensively, it was another balanced effort, led by Mackenzie Chimock’s 14 points, while Gillian Parsons added nine and Isabella Boylan chipped in eight to pace the Royals. It wasn’t flashy — just efficient, connected basketball with contributions across the board.
And that’s what makes this run so special.
This is a true Cinderella story.
Not the team everyone circled back in December. Not the favorite. But right now? None of that matters. The Royals have found their rhythm, their confidence, and their identity — and they’re rolling.
Game after game, they’ve gotten better.
Game after game, they’ve answered every challenge.
And now, they’re one win away from a state title.
The Royals will head to the GIANT Center in Hershey with a chance to finish what has become one of the most impressive runs in District 2 this season. Standing in their way will be Greensburg Central Catholic, another battle-tested squad coming out of the western side of the bracket.
But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Holy Redeemer during this run — they’re not backing down from anything.
They’re playing their best basketball when it matters most.
And now, the Cinderella story has one final chapter left to write.
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