This season, Catasauqua’s girls’ basketball program has taken some major steps forward.

Recently, the Rough Riders qualified for the league playoffs for the first time in over 15 years, and they fell short in a 46-36 loss to Pen Argyl.

This weekend, Catty will venture into the District 11 playoffs for the first time since the 2007-08 season, and the fourth-seeded Roughies will meet fifth-seeded Executive Education Friday night (5 p.m.) at Whitehall in an opening-round Class 3A game.

Back in 2007-08, the Roughies beat Schuylkill Haven in an opening-round game before they lost to Pine Grove in the semifinals.

Head coach Mark Seremula likes his team’s chances in the opening quarterfinal round, as his team (14-8) beat Executive Education (13-9), 41-34, in the opening game of the season at the Tamaqua tournament. The winner will meet top-seeded Palmerton in the next round.

He is optimistic his team can learn from Pen Argyl defeat in which they shot 1-for-17 from the three-point line and 11-for-23 from the foul line.

“We beat them in our first game, but both teams have changed since then,” he said. “If we make 25 percent of our three-pointers and shoot 75 percent from the foul line against them (Pen Argyl), we score 20 extra points.

“We just didn’t shoot well, and we couldn’t score.”

Due to a recent rash of injuries that hit his club, Seremula didn’t schedule a scrimmage before the district game. He stated that senior Heaven Jenkins is lost for the season due to an injury. Aside from Jenkins, the Roughies will be healthy.

“We had a couple of injuries, and I choose not to have one (scrimmage),” added Seremula. “But we’ll be ready to go.”

Seremula believes the key for his team will be balanced scoring. Hailey Jenkins has been averaging close to 15 points per game for the Roughies.

“We’re looking to have our scoring spread out,” he said. “I like our rotation, and we just can’t have one or two girls in double figures. That’s good, but we need more of them involved.”

Senior center Sophia Becker is anxious for her team to get off to a fast start. In their first meeting, they overcame a 16-point deficit.

“I am absolutely ready for the game,” beamed Becker. “We got down, but we were able to come all the way back to win the game. The goal for this time is to start off strong. We have to make sure we are executing right from the start.

“Now that we are at districts, there is no more starting slow. We have a job that needs to get done. I think beating Executive is definitely achievable with the talent and heart we have on this team.”

Seremula is confident his team can meet Palmerton in the next round, and they can give the Blue Bombers a tussle. Palmerton won 46-36 in their first seasonal meeting, and they won 35-30 in the second one.

“We were right there with them in the second game,” said Seremula. “We have a very good chance of getting to a championship game, but we know we have to take care of business first. The girls are pretty confident.”