ST. MARYS, Pa. – Four District 9 Class 1A boys’ quarterfinal games are on tap for Friday, Feb. 24.
Games include eighth-seeded Smethport at top-seeded and defending champion Elk County Catholic, seventh-seeded Keystone at second-seeded DuBois Central Catholic (game to be broadcast on the YDL Sports Network), sixth-seeded Union at third-seeded Clarion, and fifth-seeded Cameron County at fourth-seeded Johnsonburg. All games are set for 7 p.m.
The winners will move into the semifinals March 1 at sites and times to be announced.
The losers’ seasons aren’t over as they move into a fifth-place consolation bracket, which will be reseeded, to contend for the fifth and final PIAA playoff spot awarded to District 9.
Here is a look at the games.
(8) Smethport (11-10) at (1) Elk County Catholic (22-2), 7 p.m.
Winner gets: Winner of Cameron County/Johnsonburg game
Smethport leading scorers: Preston Alfieri (14.4 ppg), Hayden Leet (10.3 ppg), Carson Dunn (9.1 ppg), Ryan Pelchy (4.8 ppg)
ECC leading scorers: Jordan Wasko (10.6 ppg – out for the season), Colby Nussbaum (8.0 ppg), Michael Jacobs (7.6 ppg), Wil Wortman (7.2 ppg), Lance O’Neill (5.0 ppg)
Notable: ECC suffered a major blow when junior Jordan Wasko, the team’s leading scorer, suffered a season-ending knee injury late in a loss to Brookville Feb. 7. But the Crusaders have handled the adversity well going 4-0 since the injury including winning the AML title on a last-second shot in overtime by Wil Worman Saturday over Ridgway … Wortman has been a big reason for the success averaging 13.3 ppg in the four games since Wasko went down. Prior to that, Wortman was averaging only 6.0 ppg … The Crusaders are the defending D9 1A champions and have won 24 D9 titles and one PIAA title (2006 in 1A) under 41st-year head coach Aaron Straub, who is the winningest coach in D9 history with a record of 935-243. When adding his two seasons as ECC’s girls’ coach, Straub has 962 wins as a head varsity basketball coach … Smethport has had a solid season under first-year head coach Tim Brosky. The Hubbers started 6-7 but have gone 5-3 down the stretch including wins in 3 of their last 4 with the only loss to D9 2A top seed Otto-Eldred … Hayden Leet is a player who has risen his game averaging 11.8 ppg in Smethport’s final six games after averaging 9.6 through the first 15. That has helped give the Hubbers a second double-digit scoring threat.
(7) Keystone (10-12) at (2) DuBois Central Catholic (15-7), 7 p.m.
Winner gets: Winner of Union/Clarion game
Keystone leading scorers: Cole Henry (12.0 ppg), Kyle Nellis (11.3 ppg), Drew Keth (10.3 ppg), Tyler Albright (7.6 ppg), Aiden Sell (5.8 ppg)
DCC leading scorers: Luke Swisher (16.5 ppg), Andrew Green (13.4 ppg), Marek Hoyt (6.6 ppg), Brendan Paisley (6.4 ppg)
Notable: Keystone’s starting five has only been on the court together twice since Feb. 3, a span of five games, because of illnesses and minor injuries. That is probably a big reason the Panthers went just 1-4 down the stretch. Prior to the illness/injury bug hitting, Keystone had won 8 of 10 after a 1-6 start that included them losing their first five games … Panthers’ head coach Greg Heath is the second-winningest coach in D9 history behind ECC’s Aaron Straub. Heath has 664 career wins in his 39th season and a 68.3% winning percentage … Keystone is one of just six teams in D9 with three players averaging in double digits … DCC was last year’s D9 1A runner-up but had to replace the D9and10Sports Player of the Year, Alec Srock. They have done so thanks to the play of Luke Swisher and Andrew Green. Swisher averaged 6.6 ppg a year ago but so his average jump 10 points a game this season, while Green went from 7.4 ppg to 13.4 ppg … The Cardinals are also limping into the playoffs a bit dropping 2 of their last 3 (albeit to some quality opponents in Otto-Eldred, the top seed in 2A, and Clearfield, the top seed in 4A, while going 3-3 over their final six regular-season contests. Prior to that, they had won five in a row between Jan. 9 and Jan. 23
(6) Union (12-11) at (3) Clarion (15-8), 7 p.m.
Winner gets: Winner of Keystone/DCC game
Union leading scorers: Payton Johnston (16.3 ppg), ZanderLaughlin (11.8 ppg), Skyler Roxbury (10.3 ppg), Dawsoon Camper (8.8 ppg), Trey Fleming (5.5 ppg)
Clarion leading scorers: Devon Lauer (16.3 ppg), Gabe Simko (12.1 ppg), Dawson Smail (10.8 ppg), Bryce Brinkley (7.4 ppg), Derek Smail (5.1 ppg)
Notable: This is the third meeting of the season between these KSAC Small School rivals. Clarion won the first two games taking a 70-57 victory at Union Dec. 9 and then squeaking out a 62-58 win at home Jan. 27 … Both teams are coming off KSAC semifinal losses, although Union’s was more heartbreaking as the Golden Knights blew a 3-point lead in the final minute to eventual champion Clarion-Limestone. Clarion lost big to Karns City … Clarion has struggled in the second half of the season. After starting the year 9-3, the Bobcats have only gone 6-5 in their final 11 contests … Union also started fast going 6-2 through Dec. 22 before losing 8 of the last 10 games after New Year’s Day. But the Golden Knights have gone 5-2 down the stretch with the lone losses coming to Clarion-Limestone, who is the second seed in 2A and in the 2A semifinals … Clarion and Union are two of six teams in D9 with three players averaging in double digits
(5) Cameron County (16-6) at (4) Johnsonburg (11-12), 7 p.m.
Winner gets: Winner of Smethport/ECC game
Cameron County leading scorers: Camdyn Allison (12.3 ppg), Ryan Shaffer (11.5 ppg), Josh Smith (10.8 ppg), Landon Farren (8.6 ppg), Maddox Baughman (6.2 ppg)
Johnsonburg leading scorers: Isaiah Jackson (13.0 ppg), Aaron Myers (7.9 ppg), Jake Lobaugh (7.6 ppg), Kole Asti (5.7 ppg), Luke Zimmerman (5.0 ppg)
Notable: This is the second meeting between these teams. Johnsonburg won 54-45 at Cameron County Jan. 30 in overtime as the Rams shutout the Red Raiders in the extra session after being tied at 45 at the end of regulation … Cameron County has gone 6-1 since that loss with the only defeat coming to 4A finalist St. Marys … In fact, none of the Red Raiders losses good be considered bad as they lost twice to 2A top seed Otto-Eldred, once to DCC, the second seed in 1A, once to Ridgway, a 2A semifinalist, as well as Johnsonburg at St. Marys … Cameron County is one of six teams in D9 with three players averaging in double digits. Josh Smith is a big reason for that averaging 13.7 ppg over his final 11 games after scoring 7.6 ppg through is first 10 games … Johnsonburg has had an up-and-down season … The Rams started 2-5 and then won 6 of 8 before dropping 5 of their final 8 games … Jburg’s losses are quality, though, including three to D9 1A top seed Elk County Catholic, four total (2 each) D9 2A semifinalists Clarion-Limestone and Ridgway, one to 1A second seed DCC, and one to D9 3A champion Brookville … The Rams don’t score much averaging just 43.5 ppg. But they are even on defense allowing one more point than they have scored this year.
