District 10 championship game berths are at stake on Tuesday in District boys’ hoops, as well as a Class 6A subregional with Erie hosting Allderdice.
Top seeds Warren (4A) and Franklin (3A) survived overtime scares (in the Dragons’ case, three overtimes) against their eight-seeded counterparts, Slippery Rock and Mercyhurst Prep in the quarterfinals, while top seed Mercer rolled past West Middlesex in Class 2A.
The two Class 4A semifinal games are elimination games, as 4A only takes two teams to the PIAA championships, while the losers in Class 3A and 2A will still be alive in a third-place game, with those classifications taking three teams to states.
Here’s a look at each game.
CLASS 4A
(1) WARREN (16-7) vs. (4) HICKORY (14-8) – PW Edinboro, 8 p.m.
Warren survived not one but two buzzer-beaters courtesy of Slippery Rock’s Dylan Gordon in their 3-OT thriller in the quarterfinals.
The Dragons are facing a Hickory team that has been their kryptonite in the postseason, knocking them off in each of the last three seasons.
Five Warren starters came into the postseason averaging double figures, and that was once again the case against Slippery Rock, as Brady Berdine (21), Tommy Nyquist (19), Owen Becker (17), Parks Ordiway (15), and Braylon Barnes (14) all hit those marks.
Berdine scored 13 of his points early in the game, while Nyquist was brilliant down the stretch, scoring 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and overtimes.
Hickory, meanwhile, rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to eliminate No. 5 General McLane, 61-54.
Aidan Enoch was clutch down the stretch for the Hornets, scoring eight of his game-high 18 points in the third quarter. Tyson Djakovich, meanwhile, had 15 points, and Landon Bean had 10.
The two teams did not meet in the regular season.
(2) GROVE CITY (14-9) vs. (3) HARBOR CREEK (12-11) – PW Edinboro, 6:30 p.m.
Harbor Creek was perhaps the most impressive team in the quarterfinals, jumping out to a 17-3 lead after the first quarter en route to a 68-53 win over Sharon.
No. 2 seed Grove City got pushed by No. 7 Corry, trailing 24-21 at halftime before going on a 22-7 run in the third quarter to take control.
Sophomore Nathan Greer scored 14 of his 22 points in the third-quarter spurt, while Gavin Lutz scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter to help put the game on ice.
Nick Krahe was at it again for Harbor Creek in their playoff opener. The West Virginia football signee had another double-double with 23 points and 10 boards.
Freshman JT DelSandro had quite the playoff debut for the Huskies, scoring 24 points, while Braylen Wilson and Brady Rzodkiewicz had eight apiece.
The two teams did not meet during the regular season.
CLASS 3A
(1) FRANKLIN (19-4) vs. (4) FAIRVIEW (16-7) at Slippery Rock University, 7:30 p.m.
Two defending District 10 champions meet in the Class 3A semifinals, as the Knights, fresh off an overtime win over No. 8 Mercyhurst Prep take on the Tigers, who beat No. 5 Greenville, 59-46.
Franklin looked as if it was in control against the Lakers, leading by 21 in the third quarter before a Mercyhurst Prep rally forced overtime.
Damon Curry led the way for Franklin, scoring 18 points, including a key 3 in overtime, as well as a free throw with six seconds to go that helped send the game to OT.
Curry, a junior, sits at 999 career points.
Cole Buckley scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the first quarter for Franklin, while Jalen Wood also had 17 points for the Knights, who have won 14 in a row.
Fairview, the Class 4A champion a year ago, got 21 points from Jeremy Frazao in the win over Greenville, including 11 in the third quarter to help extend a three-point halftime lead.
John Seyboldt also had 16 points for the Tigers and Archie Murphey had 12.
It was Fairview that actually handed Franklin its last loss, 53-51 on Murphey’s buzzer-beater at the Franklin Holiday Tournament.
(3) OIL CITY (18-5) vs. (7) SENECA (12-11) at Slippery Rock University, 6 p.m.
Perhaps no team was more impressive in the quarterfinals than Oil City, as the defending Class 4A runners-up raced out to a 24-8 lead and never looked back in a 68-37 win over North East.
Seneca, meanwhile, avenged two regular season losses to upset No. 2 Girard, 42-38.
The Oilers got a combined 53 points from Cam VanWormer, Jake Hornbeck, and Ethen Knox in the win over Oil City, with VanWormer going for 21 and Hornbeck and Knox 16 each.
Oil City’s only losses this season are to teams that are still alive in the postseason – Franklin (twice), Warren, Grove City, and Brookville.
Logan Kibbe, meanwhile, scored 19 points for Seneca in the win over Girard, with Lucas Rupp scoring 14, as the duo combined for 33 of the Bobcats’ 42 points.
It was defensively where the Bobcats got it done, limiting the normally high-powered Jackets’ offense.
Seneca is no stranger to playoff success, either, as the Bobcats advanced to the 3A final a year ago before falling to Franklin.
CLASS 2A
(1) MERCER (19-4) vs. (4) EISENHOWER (14-9) at Meadville H.S., 6 p.m.
Mercer had no problem with West Middlesex in the quarterfinals, racing to a 68-33 win, their third win over the Big Reds this season.
Eisenhower, meanwhile, also beat Saegertown for the third time this season, 71-65.
Mercer and West Middlesex actually were tied after the first quarter, but it was all Mustangs after that, as they went on an 18-5 second-quarter run and didn’t look back in notching the program’s first playoff win since 2003.
Dae Mattocks had 14 points and Cole Cunningham nine in the win.
Eisenhower, meanwhile, got a monster effort from Wyatt Lookenhouse in its win. The Knights’ senior poured in 37 points, 15 of which came in the first quarter.
Johnny Palmieri, meanwhile, finished with 18 points – all on 3s.
The two teams did not meet during the regular season.
(2) CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS (18-5) vs. (3) ERIE FIRST CHRISTIAN (12-10) at Meadville H.S., 7:30 p.m.
The No. 2 seed Blue Devils got off to a slow start in the quarterfinals, trailing 19-16 at halftime to No. 7 Lakeview before a second-half blitz keyed by a 25-6 third quarter propelled them to the win.
Josh Reisenauer and Ethan Counasse led the way with 20 and 17 points, respectively, with the duo repeatedly turning defense into offense.
Parker Schmidt added seven points for the Blue Devils, who are looking to make a return trip to the PIAA playoffs.
Unlike Cambridge, Erie First Christian got off to a quick start against Sharpsville, jumping out to an 18-5 lead en route to the win.
EFC’s record may look pedestrian, but the Eagles played in the ultra-competitive Region 4 against the likes of 3A teams, Fairview, Girard, Seneca, North East, and Mercyhurst Prep.
Avery Collins scored nine of his game-high 16 points in that first quarter run for EFC, while Jesse Jong added 15 points.
The two teams did not meet during the regular season.
CLASS 1A SEMIFINALS
(1) FARRELL (18-4) vs. (4) ROCKY GROVE (11-12) at Westminster College, 7:30 p.m.
Rocky Grove played in the 4/5 game to get to this point, earning a dramatic 51-48 win over Cochranton in overtime, led by D’Andre Whitman’s 19 points.
The two teams met twice during the regular season, both big wins for the Region 1 champion Steelers by scores of 76-36 and 66-38.
Farrell, which enters the postseason on an eight-game winning streak, features a very balanced scoring attack, led by Nasir O’Kane at 12.7 ppg. and Lamont Samuels at 12.3 ppg.
Whitman, meanwhile leads Rocky Grove with 12.3 ppg., while Quinn Ritchey checks in at 10.3 ppg.
(2) KENNEDY CATHOLIC (12-9) vs. (3) JAMESTOWN (13-9) at Westminster College, 6 p.m.
These two teams met twice during the regular season, both close wins by Kennedy Catholic, 55-49 and 66-60.
Cam Keyser has been one of the best players in District 10 all season, averaging 24.0 ppg.
Thorsten Hart meanwhile leads a balanced Kennedy attack at 10.8 ppg.
The winner will play the Farrel/Rocky Grove winner on Friday.
CLASS 6A SUBREGIONAL
(8-1) ALLDERDICE (21-3) vs. (10-1) ERIE (15-8) at Hagerty Family Events Center, 6 p.m.
The Royals avenged an overtime loss to McDowell in last season’s D10 title game, this time getting a bucket from Adrien Tate with 11 seconds to go to earn a 47-45 victory.
Erie actually led by nine at the half before McDowell came storming back, but the Royals were able to get the win, thanks also in large part to Jay Smith, who had 16 points, while McCullum and Layveon Gore had eight each.
Up next for the Royals is an Allderice team that is coming off a 66-45 win over Obama Academy.
Logan Golle is one of four Dragons averaging in double figures at 14.4 points per game, while Ethan Anish checks in at 13.4, Major Rainey at 11.9, and Sam Kelly at 11.7.
The two teams met back on Dec. 16, a 73-63 win for Erie.
The winner will meet State College on Friday.
