DUBOIS, Pa. – Building a 17-point lead after three quarters, Otto-Eldred held off a furious fourth-quarter rally from homestanding DuBois Central Catholic to become the first D9 boys’ team to 20 wins this season with a 52-41 win over the Cardinals.
The Terrors (20-1) led 36-19 going to the fourth quarter, but DCC scored more points in the final eight minutes (22) than it had through 24 minutes.
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Sophomore point guard Landon Francis, though, made sure Otto-Eldred stayed out in front scoring 10 of his game-high 14 points in the fourth quarter including going 8 of 8 from the free-throw line.
Francis was named the Allegheny Grille of Foxburg Player of the Game and talked about the win.
Francis was one of four Terror players to reach double digits.
Manning Splain had a big first half scoring 10 of his 12 points in the opening 16 minutes including helping to set the tone early with a pair of first-quarter 3-pointers.
Shene Thomas also scored 12 points, including five in the third quarter that helped the Terrors expand an 8-point halftime lead, 23-15, into the 17-point advantage.
Austin Cousins also had a strong third quarter netting six of his 11 points in the quarter, but Cousins hurt his ankle in the quarter and was forced from the rest of the game.
With Cousins out of the game in the fourth quarter, Otto-Eldred tried to slow the game down but didn’t seem comfortable doing so.
That allowed DCC to make its push.
Andrew Green and Luke Fragle led the charge in the quarter with six points each. Fragile came on a pair of 3-pointers.
That allowed Green, who was shadowed in the second half by Thomas, to score a team-high 11 points.
Luke Swisher added 10 points for the Cardinals, who dropped their second straight to fall to 14-7.
PORT ALLEGANY 58, AUSTIN 40
PORT ALLEGANY, Pa. – Blaine Moses had 11 points, 17 rebounds, and four blocked shots to help Port Allegany to a 58-40 home NTL win over Austin.
Drew Evens had a team-high 17 points for the Gators while adding five rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
Also for Port Allegany, Noah Archer chipped in seven points, six assists, and three steals with Jett Rudding contributing six points and three helpers.
Jacob Hooftallen had a double-double for Austin with 19 points and 10 rebounds with Dawson Hooftallen adding nine points, 13 rebounds, and two steals.
RIDGWAY 46, JOHNSONBURG 33
ST. MARYS, Pa. – Jack Benninger had 19 points as Ridgway finally beat Johnsonburg this year thanks to a 46-33 win at St. Marys High School.
The Elkers had lost twice to the Rams earlier in the season but led 18-10 at halftime Saturday.
Aaron Sorg added 12 points in the victory.
Isaiah Jackson paced Johnsonburg with eight points with Aaron Myers and Jake Lobaugh each adding seven points.
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS 55, A-C VALLEY 46
FOXBURG, Pa. – Leading by two after the third quarter, Cambridge Springs outscored A-C Valley 22-15 in the fourth to earn a 55-46 win.
Josh Reisenauer led a balanced effort for Cambridge Springs with 16 points, eight of which came in the fourth quarter.
The Blue Devils, who have won 12 of their last 13 games, also got 11 points each from Brady Campbell and Ethan Counasse, while Parker Schmidt added 10.
Jay Clover scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to lead A-C Valley, while Alex Preston added 12 and Ryan Cooper 11.
SHARPSVILLE 74, VENANGO CATHOLIC 43
OIL CITY, Pa. – Liam Campbell had 15 points (13 in the first quarter) and 10 rebounds as Sharpsville earned a 74-43 D9/10 crossover win over Venango Catholic.
The Blue Devils also got 14 points from Braden Scarvel and 10 points from Luke Staunch.
James Henry poured in a game-high 21 points for Venango Catholic, while Niko Blauser added 15.
GIRLS
OSWAYO VALLEY 35, CAMERON COUNTY 21
EMPORIUM, Pa. – Oswayo Valley secured a .500 regular season and with it its first District 9 playoff berth since 2011 with a 35-21 road NTL win over Cameron County.
With a school policy of needing to be at .500 or above to go to the open playoffs in District 9, the Green Wave used a balanced effort to ensure the spot.
Charlotte Austin-Keech scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds, Makenna Manning had eight points and nine rebounds, Layken Enty scored eight points, and Brooke George had three points, four rebounds, four blocks, and four steals.
It was quite the turnaround for Oswayo Valley, which was 7-13 a year ago after playing just three varsity games in 2021 due to the COVID-19 bubble and other factors.
Ava Hilfifiger had seven points and seven rebounds for Cameron County.
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 45, ST. MARYS 34
ST. MARYS, Pa. – Visiting Elk County Catholic outscored St. Marys 13-6 in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 45-34 win in D9 League action.
The Lady Crusaders led 32-28 going to the final eight minutes, but Emily Mourer took over in the fourth quarter scoring eight of her game-high 17 points in the quarter.
Mourer (on right) and Sami Straub, who added seven points, all in the first half, talked about the win.
Tori Newton also added 10 points for ECC.
Jayssa Snelick scored nine points for St. Marys, which hit two shots the entire second half – both in the fourth quarter.
Izzy Catalone added eight points and Olivia Eckels seven for the Lady Dutch.
