MOON TWP — For the second consecutive playoff game, the Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic girls basketball team found itself in a tussle after three quarters.

The Trojanettes were tied with Central Valley after three quarters last Thursday before rallying for the win in the fourth.

The same scenario played out Monday against Beaver at Moon High School.

This time, the Trojanettes were down 37-33 after three quarters.

But North Catholic responded to the challenge, outscoring Beaver 26-12 in the final eight minutes for a 59-49 victory.

“It makes me very nervous,” said North Catholic coach Molly Rottmann. “I would like to see it for the whole game. I think sometimes we get a little bit crazy. We have two seniors, but it’s a young team overall.”

The win puts the Trojanettes in the WPIAL 4A championship game against Blackhawk at 7 p.m. Friday at the Petersen Event Center.

North Catholic (22-2) was also playing without a big piece of its puzzle.

Dani Short, a 6-foot sophomore forward, was out due to illness.

That shifted 6-2 senior Kylie Huffman into more of a role on the inside and she responded with 19 points.

“I knew with our other big girl out I needed to be an inside presence,” Huffman said. “I just went inside and did what I could.”

Sam Breen, a 6-1 senior forward, scored 27 points — 20 in the second half.

“We were missing a starter today and we still won. That says a lot about us,” said Breen. “Everyone can play. Everyone can rebound. Everyone can shoot. Everyone can score.”

The Trojanettes were hurt by Beaver’s 3-point shooting.

The Bobcats hit 11 3-pointers — six coming from Sydney Barney.

Beaver (17-6) hit six 3-pointers in the third quarter to help it on a 13-0 run to close out the period and take the four-point lead.

“We’re the team you want to beat,” Rottmann said. “We’re the No. 1 seed and we’ve been No. 1 all year. People are going to bring their best game. I thought they did a nice job, but I thought our kids really bounced back in the fourth and played the way they were capable of.”

Last season, North Catholic lost the WPIAL title game to Vincentian Academy, but went on to win the Class A state title.

This year, the Trojanettes are focused on winning the WPIAL.

The path there hasn’t been an easy one — which just might be a good thing.

“I think it just shows we’re ready for anything,” Huffman said. “And we’re ready for the challenge.”

BEAVER 49

Isabella Posset 3-13 6-7 13, Sabrina Diaiacomo 2-7 0-0 5, Sydney Barney 6-16 0-0 18, Olivia Neeley 2-3 0-1 4, Paige Ziggas 3-8 0-0 9, Clio Begnal 0-1 0-0 0, Kristi Buckenheimer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-48 6-8 49.

C.W. NORTH CATHOLIC 59

Ashley Robins 0-0 2-2 2, Cassie Foster 1-4 0-0 3, Kylie Huffman 9-15 1-1 19, Tess Myers 3-11 0-0 6, Sam Breen 8-15 11-15 27, Emma Pospisil 1-2 0-0 0. Totals: 22-47 14-18 59.

Beaver 10 8 19 12 — 49

CWNC14 8 11 26 — 59

3-point goals: Beaver 11 (Posset, Diaiacomo, Barney 6, Ziggas 3); CWNC 1 (Foster)

Friday: CWNC vs. Blackhawk in WPIAL 4A championship game, 7 p.m., at the Petersen Events Center