WEXFORD, Pa. – For the second consecutive season, Fairview is in the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals.
The District 10 champion Tigers (22-5) trailed Laurel Highlands (WPIAL No. 4) 26-25 going to the fourth quarter, but closed the game on a 20-10 run over the final eight minutes to move on.
Paige Garrity came up huge for Fairview in the first quarter, scoring nine of her 12 points. She went 5-of-5 from the line and knocked down a pair of shots.
Ella Pizzo had five points and Bre Heidt four for the Tigers in the fourth to help put the game away.
Fairview trailed 19-13 at halftime but rallied to get within one going to the fourth quarter.
Heidt did most of her damage in the second half, scoring 12 of her 18 points, including eight in the third quarter.
Garrity finished with 12 points, Pizzo seven and Jilly Agnello six.
Miya Harris tried to keep Laurel Highlands within striking distance, scoring eight points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Aierra Jenkins and Ayrianna Sumpter added seven points each for Laurel Highlands.
The win sets up a showdown of last season’s quarterfinal matchup with Blackhawk. Fairview took Blackhawk to the brink last year before falling 40-34.
That game will be on Saturday at a site and time to be determined.
WILLIAMSBURG 54, ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 30
MORRISDALE, Pa. – Elk County Catholic season came to a disappointing ending with a 54-30 loss to District 6 runner-up Williamsburg in the second round of the PIAA Class 1A girls’ playoffs at West Branch High School.
The D9 champion Lady Crusaders (26-3) were hoping to add another state gold to their trophy case but instead were held to their lowest point total in 46 games by the Blue Pirates (26-3).
Williamsburg showed its dominance early taking a 14-4 lead at the end of the first quarter thanks to five points each from Ayla Hileman and LeeAnna Royer.
The Blue Pirates’ lead grew to 15 by halftime, 25-10, and any thought of an ECC comeback was washed away in the third quarter when the Lady Crusaders were outscored 14-3.
Freshman Levada Gorsuch was the driving force in the third quarter for Williamsburg with eight points.
Hileman ended up leading the Blue Pirates with 16 points, Royer added 15 points, and Gorsuch had 14 tallies.
ECC, which scored more points in the fourth quarter – 17 – than the rest of the game when it had 13 – got 10 points from Sydney Alexander with Sami Straub adding six tallies and Lucy Klawuhn and Tori Newton scoring five each.
Williamsburg will face District 5 champion Berlin Brothersvalley in the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 16, at a time and site to be announced.
BISHOP GUILFOYLE 47, DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC 21
CLARION, Pa. – District 6 champion Bishop Guilfoyle jumped all over District 9 third-place finisher DuBois Central Catholic from the get-go on its way to a 47-21 win in the second round of the PIAA Class 1A girls’ playoffs at PennWest Clarion’s Tippin Gym.
The Mauraders (26-3) led 16-4 after eight minutes and 26-8 at halftime.
Maurie Guerry scored eight of her team-high 13 points in the opening quarter for BG, while Morgan Ruggery added six of her 10 tallies.
Stella Yeskey and Alana Lightner each added eight points in the win.
Kayley Risser scored a team-best 10 points for DCC (15-12), including five in the fourth quarter when she hit a 3-pointer and two free throws. Lexi Berta chipped in with five points.
BG will face defending PIAA champion Union (New Castle) in the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 16, at a site and time to be announced.
BLACKHAWK 63, ST. MARYS 33
KNOX, Pa. – WPIAL runner-up Blackhawk was too much for St. Marys at Keystone High School dropping the Lady Dutch, 63-33, in the second round of the PIAA Class 4A girls’ playoffs.
Blackhawk (24-3) led 30-7 at halftime.
Alena Fusetti led a trio of Blackhawk players in double digits with 17 points while Aubrea Hupp added 15 and Andrea Kirger 12.
Jayssa Snelick paced St. Marys (22-6) with 17 points.
Blackhawk will face District 10 champion Fairview in the second round on Saturday, March 16, at a site and time to be announced.
NORTH CATHOLIC 59, WARREN 32
EDINBORO, Pa. – Alayna Rocco scored eight of her 19 points in the first quarter to help the Trojanettes build a 16-5 lead as North Catholic topped Warren, 59-32, in the second round of the PIAA Class 4A girls’ playoffs.
The Trojanettes (19-7) opened the game with a 14-2 run. Sammie Ruhlman’s 3-pointer ended the run, but turnovers and Rocco’s hot shooting kept the Dragons (21-6) from going on a run of their own.
Warren played even with North Catholic through most of the second quarter, but Rocco knocked down a triple with 1:49 to play to put the Trojanettes up 26-12 at the half.
Rocco cooled after the break, scoring six points in the second half, but Lauren Mihm picked up where Rocco left off. Mihm scored all 16 of her points in the second half. Lauren Reitz was also in double figures for North Catholic with 12 points.
Alana Stuart led the Dragons with 14 points, while Ruhlman finished with 10 points.
North Catholic will meet District 3 champion Wyomissing, a 62-52 winner over Neumann Goretti, in the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 16, at a time and location to be announced.
