Freedom’s Lady Patriots emerged from their locker room and were greeted by applause, cheers, and fans yelling “quarterfinals” after defeating Central Bucks West, 60-47, in the second round of PIAA State Class 6A girls’ basketball playoffs on Wednesday at Pottsgrove High School in Pottstown.

“The last two years we couldn’t seem to get over the second game and tonight we did,” said Freedom senior Jennifer Kokolus. “We beat a really good team, so this game is going to give us a lot of confidence.”

Patriot guard Brenna Ortwein arguably stole the show in the first half, successfully stifling CBW’s best player Maddie Burke, who had five points all game, forcing turnovers, drawing fouls, and leading the offense with 11 points.

“I wasn’t going to let her get by me, and I was going to make her shoot and she was having an off shooting day which worked in our favor,” said Ortwein. “I got in her head a little bit, and she was in foul trouble for most of the game, so she came out in the second half gunning.”

Patriot guard Corrin Gill had scored at the buzzer that ended the first half after a three pointer by Kailey Turpening, and by that time, Freedom led 32-17.

Turpening hit two more threes in the third quarter, and while Burke, who ultimately fouled out, was all but shut down, Emily Spratt came through for the Bucks with 19 points.

“Number 23 (Burke) was really good but they also had other shooters so when we ran a box-and-one we had to know where they were since we weren’t actually guarding the other girls,” said Kokolus.

Perhaps it was only fitting that, with 33 seconds remaining in the game, Ortwein had a steal, scored on a layup, and was fouled, bringing the Pates’ bench to its feet.

“At that point, you know,” Ortwein said. “That feeling, that adrenaline, nothing’s going to stop you.”

Freedom coach Dean Reiman couldn’t have been prouder.

“I’ve got a great group of kids who want to do special things. Honestly, their practice yesterday was phenomenal. Our second-team practice yesterday was incredible, and that’s when I told them yesterday they served their role and they served it well,” said Reiman. “We didn’t want to play not to lose.”

As the Pates were looking toward their quarterfinal, which was to be played last Friday against Central York, the PIAA suspended the tournament last Thursday due to concerns about the coronavirus, leaving the rest of Freedom’s season in a holding pattern for the time being.