OIL CITY, Pa. – The scoreboard lost power for a few moments at the start of the third quarter, and that seemed to be the only thing that kept the Knights’ offense in check.
Franklin cruised to a 92-43 win over Seneca in their District 10 Class 3A quarterfinal. The Knights raced out to a 13-3 lead to start the game and were only momentarily slowed by the scoreboard issue.
The Knights knocked down 16 3-pointers in the contest, seven from Demarco Payne who finished with a game-high 26 points. Payne hit four of his threes in the first quarter, while Jalen Wood hit a pair and Damon Curry knocked down another to help the Knights to a 29-9 advantage through the first eight minutes.
Franklin scored 29 more points in the second to take a 58-15 lead into the half.
Curry finished with 17 points, Wood had 16 points, and Cole Buckley had 15 in the win.
Braden Kibbe scored 12 of his team-high 14 points for Seneca in the second half, hitting a pair of 3-pointers in each of the third and fourth quarters. Lucas Rupp added 10 points for the Bobcats, while Mike Peterson finished with nine points.
Franklin will take on Mercyhurst Prep, a 74-58 winner over North East, in the semifinals on Tuesday at a time and location to be announced.
(2) GIRARD 74, (7) GREENVILLE 35
ERIE, Pa. – No. 2 Girard raced out to a commanding 29-6 lead after the first quarter and never looked back in a 74-35 quarterfinal win over Greenville.
Nate Edwards was the catalyst at the start for Girard (21-2), scoring 11 of his 17 points in the opening eight minutes.
The Yellow Jackets were led by Kenny Godoy, who netted a game-high 24 points, while Geremia Dell’omo added 10.
A total of nine different Girard players scored in the win.
Noah Cano had 13 points and Mason Vannoy 10 for Greenville, which finishes the season with a record of 9-14.
Girard advances to play No. 6 Fairview, a 40-33 winner over No. 3 Oil City, in the semifinals on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.
(6) FAIRVIEW 40, (3) OIL CITY 33
MEADVILLE, Pa. – No. 6 Fairview allowed just 18 points through the first three quarters on its way to a 40-33 win over No. 3 Oil City.
Fairview (9-14) trailed 10-8 after the first quarter and allowed a combined eight points in the second and third quarter to take a 25-18 lead. They led 17-14 at halftime.
Will Harmston scored 14 points to lead Fairview, including nine in the second half, while added eight and Patrick Stafford seven.
Sayyid Donald led Oil City (16-7) with 13 points, while Ethen Knox added nine.
(4) MERCYHURST PREP 74, (5) NORTH EAST 58
ERIE, Pa. – No. 4 Mercyhurst Prep outscored North East 27-10 in the second quarter on its way 74-58 win over No. 5 North East.
Leading 13-12 at the end of the first quarter, the second quarter surge allowed the Lakers to take a 40-24 halftime lead.
The run continued in the third quarter, as the Lakers (16-7) led 66-42 after three.
Craig Bruckner had 19 points for Mercyhurst Prep, while Derek Bly tallied 14.
Wille Shunk had 14 points for North East (14-9).
