Big Games from Moses, Homan Lift Port Allegany, North Clarion into D9 1A Fifth-Place Game

PORT ALLEGANY, Pa. – A monster game from Ella Moses helped Port Allegany get one step closer to qualifying for the PIAA playoffs for the first time since finishing third in District 9 in 2014 with a 45-36 win over Otto-Eldred in the District 9 Class 1A girls’ fifth-place consolation semifinals Monday night.

Also see: DCC’s Green scores 1,000th point as Cardinals beat Northern Potter in D9 boys 5th place consy semifinals

Moses had a game-high 22 points to go with a game-best 17 rebounds. She also added four steals and three assists.

Seven of those tallies came in a pivotal fourth quarter when she helped the Lady Gators (18-7) expand a four-point lead, 33-29, going into the quarter into the nine-point victory. Six of the points in the frame came on a pair of 3-pointers.

Kayleigha Dowell also reached double digits for Port Allegany with 11 points while adding four steals, and Brynn Evens contributed four points and seven rebounds.

                                      

Otto-Eldred (14-12), last year’s D9 champions, 15 points on five 3-pointers from Kate Rhinehart while Addie Bell added eight points and Rykel Haskins seven.

Port Allegany, which beat Otto-Eldred three times this season, will face North Clarion in the fifth-place consolation game on Thursday, Feb. 29, at a time and place to be announced. The winner moves into the PIAA playoffs while the loser’s season is over.

NORTH CLARION 53, NORTHERN POTTER 25

FRILLS CORNERS, Pa. – Using a 30-4 second-half run, North Clarion kept its season alive with a 53-25 win over visiting Northern Potter in the District 9 Class 1A girls’ fifth-place consolation semifinals Monday night.

The fourth-seeded She-Wolves (17-8) led 23-19 midway through the third quarter before ending the frame on a 16-2 run. They then outscored the 10th-seeded Lady Panthers (13-12) 14-4 in the fourth quarter including scoring 14 of the first 16 points of the final eight minutes.

                          

Lily Homan had a game-high 22 points for North Clarion with Brooke Steinman scoring 18, including 11 in the second half, and Ainsley Hartley chipped in with nine points.

Emma Haynes paced Northern Potter with seven points.

North Clarion will face Port Allegany in the fifth-place game on Thursday, Feb. 29, at a site and time to be announced. The winner will advance to the PIAA playoffs while the loser’s season will be over.