DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Aiden McKee of Warrior Run pulls in a rebound against Shamokin at Shikellamy earlier this season. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Warrior Run (21-7) vs. West Catholic (11-14) at Martz Hall, 6 p.m.

Warrior Run road to Sweet 16: In District 4, beat Towanda, 55-19 and North Penn-Mansfield, 58-50; lost to Troy, 44-41; In states, beat Minersville, 49-48

Warrior Run notes: Warrior Run is making its first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999 and has its most wins that season. The Defenders have made a fabulous turnaround the last three seasons. After going 1-21 in 2022, they have made 11, two and seven win improvements, totaling five playoff victories. Warrior Run rallied from a 12-point third quarter deficit to beat Minersville and also overcame a halftime deficit against North Penn-Mansfield. Forward Aiden McKee was named the HAC-III MVP Monday and senior guard Cooper Wilkins joined him on the first team. Landon Polcyn was a second team selection and ignited the comeback against Minersville when he scored seven points and made two steals in a 24-second third quarter span. James Keifer scored 18 points in that win and was named a Defensive all-star. Griffen Harrington has two 20-point games this season and Jake Bruckhart, Gavin Gorton, Ethan Balzer and Carter McCormick have played well off the bench.

West Catholic road to states: In District 12, lost to Devon Prep, 63-55; beat Audenried, 65-46; In states, beat Antietam, 79-35

West Catholic notes: Don’t look at the record when sizing up West Catholic. It is highly deceiving because the Burrs play a brutal schedule which includes mostly bigger school teams, including six from outside the state. West Catholic captured the 2023 state championship before losing in the second round last year with a fairly young team. Most of those starters are back and forward Kingston Wheatley and guard Jayvon Byrd both were third team all-Catholic League selections. Senior guard Saaid Lee also is having a strong season and West Catholic features both good height and depth.

Winner plays: Overbrook or Riverside