Mar 11, 2026 By Jerin Steele 4 min read

ALTOONA – Trinity tried to follow the same blueprint it had last Saturday when it beat District 6 champion Hollidaysburg.

Strong defense and timely baskets.

The defensive part was there again as the Hillers held York Suburban well below their average of 51 points per game.

They just fell a couple of baskets short of securing another upset.

Brynn Barley made a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining to seal the game as District 3 champion York Suburban survived to secure a 35-30 win over the Hillers in the second round of the PIAA girls basketball playoffs Wednesday night.

“These playoff games are so tight that it comes down to your ability to make shots,” Trinity coach Bill Poletti said. “York is a very good defensive team that gives up around 27 points per game. They did a nice job and are very well coached, but it’s make or miss this time of year. There’s little margin for error when both teams are pretty evenly matched.

Vitt Emerich hit a three with 22 seconds remaining to cut the York Suburban lead to three points.

Trinity fouled Amaya Pope and she missed both free throws, but in the scramble for the rebound the ball went out of bounds and the official deemed it went off a Trinity player.

Trinity fouled Williams the second time and she made both free throws, which sealed the game.

York Suburban led 26-21 at the end of the third quarter, but extended that lead in the fourth. A Barley layup and a free throw from Natalie Homisak gave the Trojans a 31-22 lead.

Emerich made a three to trim the deficit to six with 3:43 remaining.

Kimari Behrens made a pair of free throws to cut it to four points and the Hillers forced a turnover on the ensuing inbounds play.

But they turned the ball over on the next possession. After that the Hillers didn’t record another basket until Emerich’s three.

York Suburban led Trinity 18-15 at halftime, but the Hillers went into the locker room with some momentum.

Trinity trailed 14-6 after one quarter, but got back into the game with a strong defensive display in the second quarter. The Hillers held York Suburban to one field goal, which was a runner by Jordyn Williams with 20 seconds remaining in the quarter. The only other points that the Trojans scored were on two free throws by Barley.

Barley picked up her third foul just before halftime.

Sutton Williamson sparked Trinity’s offense, scoring seven of their nine points in the second quarter, including a nice step back jumper and a runner in the lane.

Williamson was fouled on a shot with 0.3 seconds remaining in the half and made one of two free throws, which cut the deficit to 18-15 at the break.

“They slowed it down and we didn’t get as many transition looks as we’re used to,” York Suburban coach Jess Weaver said. “They face-guarded Brynn (Barley), our leading scorer, but we knew that coming in. We really respect what they do defensively. They’re one of the best defensive teams we saw on film all season. We talked about holding them offensively to 30 (points) or under and regardless of what the offensive end looked like we’d give ourselves a chance.”

Trinity graduates two senior starters Behrens and Bently Layhue.

“Those two have elevated our program back where it belongs with what they do on the court and off the court,” Poletti said. “The underclassmen in there are lucky to have such good role models as those two are.”

Trinity 6 9 6 9 – 30

York Suburban 14 4 8 10 – 35

Trinity: Vitt Emerich, 12 points; Sutton Williamson, 10

York Suburban: Jordyn Williams, 12 points; Brynn Barley, 10.