H.S GIRLS BASKETBALL: Elite Eight finish may just be the beginning for Schuylkill Haven
· Yahoo Sports
The Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes’ 2025-26 season came to an end on Friday evening in Lehighton. The Hurricanes in the Class 3A quarterfinals fell short of a trip to the semifinals with a 51-36 loss to Holy Redeemer.
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The loss puts the bookend on a historic season for the Hurricanes, who won their second-straight Schuylkill League title and found themselves one round further in the state playoffs, establishing themselves among the Elite Eight in Class 3A.
“It was a really good season,” Schuylkill Haven coach Tony Sanders said. “To win a division and then be Schuylkill League champs back-to-back, they have something to hang their hat on.”
The sting of Friday’s loss won’t fade quickly. A season-ending loss, no matter how far the journey, is never easy to digest.
“They don’t understand now,” Sanders said about his team’s emotions after the game and his team’s understanding of what they accomplished. “But down the road, time heals.”
The silver lining for the Hurricanes is that the majority of this year’s squad will be returning next winter. The only player departing the program is senior guard Audrey Hutchinson.
Hutchinson will not be easy to replace for the Hurricanes. Her veteran presence, grit, and competitive drive were a driving force for Schuylkill Haven all season long. The senior finished her career with a 13-point performance.
“There’s not another competitor like her that I’ve seen in this league the last two years,” Sanders said about Hutchinson. “She’s done so much for us throughout her career. She can lead the team in scoring, she can lead the team in steals and rebounds, she’s going to be sorely missed next year.”
While Hutchinson moves on, the Hurricanes will return the remainder of their core, including three rising seniors. Schuylkill League co-MVP McKenna Runkle is expected to return alongside key starters Kylie Siket and Ava Terefencko.
Also returning is center and rising junior Braelynn Strenkoski, a defensive anchor and strong rebounder. They’ll also look for soon-to-be sophomore Aubrie Wade to emerge as a key piece after the freshman was the Hurricanes’ top rotation player off the bench this season.
“We told them you have to stick together,” Sanders said of his postgame message. “We’ll work hard here in the offseason and get ready for next year.”
The wait won’t be long until the Hurricanes are back in the gym, preparing for next season. Sanders expects the itch to get back in the gym will hit sooner rather than later.
‘We’ll be back out of here probably late spring,” he said. “We’ll get back in the gym and get working.”
The back-to-back Schuylkill League champions will enter the 2026-27 Schuylkill League season as one of the favorites to win the league again — and possibly more.