Will there be a changing of the guard in the District 3-A girls’ basketball playoffs this season?
If Harrisburg Christian has its druthers, yes.
The Class A bracket has been dominated over the years by Lebanon Catholic and, more recently, Steel-High.
But the Beavers and the Rollers have both struggled this season.
Lebanon Catholic’s roster took a hit and coach Patti Hower has been playing with six players all season.
And Steel-High, the reigning champ, lost some top-notch players to graduation, including 3,000-point scorer Malia Tate-DeFreitas.
Enter Harrisburg Christian.
Coach Steve Bechtel’s Knights improved to 17-1 overall on Thursday after knocking off Class AAA Donegal, a tri-leader in the L-L League Section 3 race.
With the Feb. 6 deadline looming to collect power points, Harrisburg Christian sits atop the Class A ratings, and is thisclose to locking up the 1-seed.
A win Friday over West Shore Christian and the Knights will seal the deal on the CCAC West regular-season title, and then will try and defend its CCAC championship — with Lancaster Country Christian, the East champ, lurking.
The Knights are keyed by a six-pack of vet seniors:
Hannah Matsko, Hayley Bower, Sierra Dixon, Samantha Krasevic, Katie Bechtel and the glue, Creslyn Van Dyck.
Van Dyck, a standout soccer player who will likely end up on the pitch at the next level, is the catalyst.
After suffering a major knee injury a year ago, she’s slipped right back into her floor general duties for the Knights, running the point, scoring and dishing in transition and playing gritty D.
Despite lugging around a knee brace, Van Dyck is a jitterbug who can weave her way through traffic and seemingly run for days.
She torched Donegal for 23 points — including 11-for-12 at the foul line — in Harrisburg Christian’s 57-48 win over the Indians on Thursday.
WATCH VIDEO Q&A WITH CRESLYN VAN DYCK:
Dixon is a force in the lane and thrives on put-backs and using the glass. Bower and Krasevic are deft baseliners who can make plays going to the rim. Bechtel can drain the 3 from the wing. Matsko is a key sub. And they all play D.
Is it time for a CCAC team to cut down the nets at the Giant Center?
The last “non-big-conference” team to win the District 3-A championship: Millersburg, back in 1991. Since then, Lebanon Catholic, Steel-High and Reading Central Catholic (now Berks Catholic) completely dominated the bracket.
Harrisburg Christian is hoping to break that lengthy string.
And the Knights have the talent to do it.