DUBOIS, Pa. – Without leading scorer Kayley Risser, who was home sick, DuBois Central Catholic needed someone to step up in its District 9 Class 1A quarterfinal game against Port Allegany.
And with the Lady Cardinals up just two at halftime, they got that someone in the third quarter.
Emma Elenesky scored 10 of her career-high 23 points in the third quarter to help DCC take control of the game on its way to a 70-49 victory.
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“I think we were really just looking to get a win and move on,” Ellensky said. “(Kayley) hasn’t been at practice all week, so we kind of planned for that too. I think we just looked for the win.”
After a back-and-forth first half, the Lady Cardinals (13-10) led by two, 27-25.
But behind Elensky, DCC outscored Port Allegany (17-7) 19-8 in the third quarter to take a 13-point lead, 46-33, into the fourth quarter.
“I think our press put a lot of pressure on them,” Elensky said. “I don’t think they can handle it that well.”
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While DCC maintained the double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter, the game was really put away on an eight-point possession for the Lady Cardinals with 3:28 to play.
DCC led 54-42 when it came up with a steal and Lexi Berta missed a layup. But Hope Jacob got the rebound and the putback and was fouled by Kayleigha Dowell. Dowell, who had been issued a warning earlier in the game, was then assessed a technical foul fouling her out of the contest.
Within a few moments, Port Allegany head coach Jamie Evens was also given a technical foul.
Jacob hit her free throw for an old-school 3-point play, and Lexi Berta then hit three of four free throws to make it a six-point possession.
DCC got the ball following the technical fouls, and Emma Elensky was fouled and hit both free throws with 3:20 to play.to push the lead to 20, 62-42.
Jacob added 18 points in the win while Berta had 11 and Ella Elensky chipped in with 10.
Mosses and Brynn Evens each had 14 points for Port Allegany with Dowell adding 11. Moses also added seven rebounds and three assists, Evens had seven boards, and Dowell had five rebounds and three blocked shots.
Third-seeded DCC will face second-seeded Ridgway at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at Brockway High School.
Sixth-seeded Port Allegany moves into the fifth-place consolation round where it will play a “semifinal” contest against eighth-seeded Otto-Eldred at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26, at Port Allegany.
(1) ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 50, (8) OTTO-ELDRED 22
ST. MARYS, Pa. – In a rematch of last season’s title game, top seed Elk County Catholic had no issues in a 50-22 win over No. 8 Otto-Eldred.
Leading 10-5 after the first quarter, the Crusaders (23-2) went on an 18-6 run in the second quarter to take a 28-11 halftime lead.
ECC got balanced scoring across the board, as Tori Newton led the way with 14 points, while Emily Mourer tallied 10, Syd Alexander nine and Lucy Klawuhn eight.
Kate Rhinehart had six points for Otto-Eldred (14-11), while Carrie Drummond and Ayla VanScoter tallied five each.
With the win, ECC advances to play No. 5 Clarion, a 40-37 winner over North Clarion, in the semifinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Brookville High School.
Otto-Eldred, meanwhile, will travel to Port Allegany in a consolation semifinal contest on Monday at 7 p.m.
(5) CLARION 40, (4) NORTH CLARION 37
FRILLS CORNERS, Pa. – No. 5 Clarion outscored No. 4 North Clarion 11-4 in the fourth quarter to rally for a 40-37 win in the District 9 Class 1A quarterfinals at North Clarion.
Taylor Alson had 13 points, including four in the fourth quarter to help Clarion (14-10) rally for the win.
With the win, Clarion avenged a pair of 9-point losses to the She-Wolves (16-8) during the regular season.
Marley Kline also had a bucket in the fourth quarter and finished with 10 points for Clarion, while Natalie Durish and Lacey Lauer netted six each.
The Lady Cats overcame a big night from North Clarion’s Lily Homan, who connected for a game-high 24 points. Homan hit three 3-pointers and was 9-of-9 from the charity stripe.
With the win, Clarion advances to play No. 1 seed Elk County Catholic, a 50-22 winner over No. 8 Otto-Eldred, in the semifinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Brookville High School.
North Clarion, meanwhile, will host Northern Potter in a fifth-place consolation semifinal game on Monday, Feb. 26.
(2) RIDGWAY 58, (7) NORTHERN POTTER 28
RIDGWAY, Pa. – Jenna Kasmierski scored 29 points to power No. 2 Ridgway to a 58-28 win over No. 10 Northern Potter in the District 9 Class 1A quarterfinals, 58-28, in Ridgway.
The Lady Elkers led 15-11 after the first quarter and went on a 16- 2 run in the second quarter to take a 31-13 halftime advantage.
Gabby Amacher was also in double figures for Ridgway (19-5) with 10 points.
Kasmierski also had nine rebounds, two blocks, and five steals, while Amacher had eight assists, five steals, and five rebounds, Kristen Ellenberger added four steals, Grace Bon chipped six rebounds and three steals, and Sophia Fullem added four rebounds.
Alanah Luce had seven points for Northern Potter (13-11), while Molly Cady and Kayden Brown had six each.
With the win, Ridgway advances to play No. 3 DuBois Central Catholic, a 70-49 winner over Northern Potter, in the semifinals on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Brockway High School.
NoPo, meanwhile, drops down to the consolation bracket, where they will travel to No. 4 North Clarion at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26.
