A total of 11 District 9 and 10 boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will look to punch their tickets to the PIAA quarterfinals on Wednesday.
A total of five boys’ teams and six girls’ teams are in action.
Here’s a look at each game.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15
BOYS
CLASS 2A
(9-2) Otto-Eldred (24-2) vs. (7-7) Serra Catholic (16-11) at DuBois H.S., 5:30 p.m..
How they got here: Otto-Eldred beat (7-3)Greensburg Central Catholic,66-54. Serra Catholic beat (6-1) United, 75-62
Who the winner gets: (10-1) Erie First Christian/(7-2) Northgate winner in the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 18.
Otto-Eldred Leaders: Landon Francis (14.8 ppg), Manning Splain (12.8 ppg), Shene Thomas (12.3 ppg), Austin Cousins (11.3 ppg)
Serra Catholic Leaders: Isiah Petty (17.4 ppg.), Owen Dombroski (14.8 ppg.), Joey Demoss (14.3 ppg.)
Notes: Otto-Eldred won its first PIAA playoff game in program history against GCC … In the first-round win, the Terrors went on an 18-1 run that began late in the third quarter to turn a 1-point deficit into a 59-44 advantage … Francis had 22 points and Thomas 15 to lead the way … Serra Catholic scores 68.7 points per game, but also allows 66.9 ppg … Petty had 19 points, Dombroski 17 and Demoss 15 in the win over United.
(10-2) Mercer vs. (7-4) Bishop Canevin at Hampton H.S., 7 p.m.>
How they got here: Mercer beat (6-3) Southern Huntingdon, 63-42. Bishop Canevin beat (9-1) Clarion-Limestone, 70-67
Who the winner gets: (7-1) Aliquippa/(6-2) West Branch winner in quarterfinals on Saturday, March 18.
Mercer Leaders: Jake Mattocks 16.2 ppg., Daemyin Mattocks 11.1 ppg., Bubba Palmer 6.5 ppg.
Bishop Canevin Leaders: Shea Champine (30.7 ppg, 17 GP)
Notes: Mercer earned its first state playoff win since 1988 with its victory over Southern Huntingdon… Jake Mattocks had 18 points, Cole Cunningham 15 and Daemyin Mattocks 13 for the Mustangs in the win over Southern Huntingdon … Champine led the defending PIAA champion Bishop Canevin with 33 points in the win over Clarion-Limestone
(10-1) Erie First Christian (15-10) vs. (7-2) Northgate (20-7) at Sharon H.S., 6 p.m.
How they got here: Erie First Christian beat (7-6) Clairton, 57-37. Northgate beat (5-2) McConnellsburg, 67-42.
Who the winner gets: (9-2) Otto-Eldred/(7-7) Serra Catholic winner in the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 18.
Erie First Christian Leaders: Jesse Jong (13.0 ppg)., Avery Collins 12.5 ppg., Anthony Collins 12.0 ppg.
Northgate Leaders: Stephen Goetz (31 points in the win over McConnellsburg), Josh Williams (22 points in the win over McConnllsburg.
Notes: Northgate made a surprise run to the WPIAL title game for the first time in 35 years before falling to Aliquippa … Northgate raced out to a 42-1 halftime lead en route to its first-round win … EFC raced out to an 11-point lead after the first quarter over Clairton en route to its first-round win … Avery Collins had 20 points in the first round win, Jong 15 and Anthony Collins 12
CLASS 3A
(7-2) OLSH (20-6) vs. (10-1) Franklin (22-4) at Westminster College, 7:30 p.m.
How they got here: OLSH beat (6-3) Westmont Hilltop 71-69 in overtime. Franklin beat (7-6) Shady Side Academy, 75-43.
Who the winner gets: (6-1) Penn Cambria/(7-3) Steel Valley winner in quarterfinals on Saturday, March 15.
OLSH Leaders: Rocco Coladonato (16 points in the win over Westmont Hilltop), Bryson Kirschner (16 points in the win over Westmont Hilltop), BJ Vaughn (14 points in the win over Westmont Hilltop), and Lucca Grisafi (10 points in the win over Westmont Hilltop)
Franklin Leaders: Damon Curry (28 points in the win over Shady Side), Cole Buckley (11 points in the win over Shady Side, Jonathon Leccia (8 points in the win over Shady Side, Jalen Wood
Notes: OLSH, the two-time defending PIAA state champion in Class 2A, has won 11-straight PIAA games … OLSH had its PIAA record 69-game win streak snapped earlier this season … Franklin is back in the second round after a one-year hiatus following last season’s loss to Ellwood City in the first round … Curry, a junior, eclipsed 1,000 career points in the Knights’ D10 semifinal win over Fairview.
(7-4) Neshannock (19-7) vs. (9-1) Brookville (23-2) at PennWest Clarion, 7:30 p.m.
How they got here: Neshannock beat (10-2) Oil City, 61-59. Brookville beat (7-5) Seton La Salle, 46-43
Who the winner gets: (7-1) Deer Lakes/(4-3) Loyalsock Township winner in quarterfinals on Saturday, March 18.
Neshannock Leaders: Jack Giles (33 points in the win over Oil City), Luciano DeLillo (10 points in the win over Oil City), Nate Rynd, Anthony Bonner
Brookville Leaders: Clayton Cook (14.3 ppg), Jack Pete (10.7 ppg), Noah Peterson (8.5 ppg), Connor Marshall (7.6 ppg), Kellan Haines (6.3 ppg)
Notes: Both teams won their first-round games in dramatic fashion … Cook’s 27-footer as time expired in overtime lifted Brookville to its win over Seton-La Salle … Neshannock rallied from 12 points down in the second half, as Oil City’s Cam VanWormer’s heave from nearly halfcourt at the buzzer went off the back of the iron … Brookville has won 20 straight games, with its only two losses coming to Warren in the Raiders’ tip-off tournament and Elk County Catholic on Dec. 16.
GIRLS
CLASS 1A
CLASS 1A GIRLS
(9-1) Otto-Eldred 24-2) vs. (6-2) Bishop Guilfoyle (15-11) at DuBois High School, 7 p.m.
How they got here: Bishop Guilfoyle beat Bishop Canevin, 56-43, in the opening round while Otto-Eldred beat Monessen, 57-30.
Who the winner gets: (5-1) Berlin Brothersvalley/(7-2) Aquinas Academy winner Saturday, March 18.
Otto-Eldred Leaders: Katie Sheeler (22.3 ppg), Anna Merry (10.6 ppg), Brooke Close (5.9 ppg), Bri Heller (5.2 ppg).
Bishop Guilfoyle Leaders: Sarah Geishauser (had 22 points in the PIAA win after scoring eight in the D6 title game), Alana Lightner (12 points in PIAA, 4 in D6 title game), Lauren Himes (12 points in PIAA title game, 3 points in D6 title game), Bella Adams (2 points in PIAA win, 8 points in D6 title game)
Notes: Bishop Guilfoyle has won six straight PIAA playoff games (2-0 in 2020 before COVID shut down the postseason, 3-0 in 2021 while winning the Class 1A title, and 1-0 this year) … The Marauders are a young team that starts three freshmen, including two – Lightner and Himes – who reached double digits in the win over Bishop Canevin … BG shot 51.3% in the opening-round win going 20 of 39 … BG is one of the blue bloods of PA girls high school basketball with 13 PIAA championship game appearances split between Class 1A and Class 2A and seven titles (1989 – 2A, 1991 – 2A, 1993 – 1A, 2007 – 1A, 2009 – 1A, 2010 – 1A, and 2021 – 1A) … Otto-Eldred went to the quarterfinals last year, the first time the Lady Terrors had ever won a PIAA playoff game (they now have three including two last year and one this year) … Sheeler is D9’s leading scorer and the all-time leading scorer at Otto-Eldred with 1,659 career points. She has a shot at 600 points this season needing 21 .. Sheeler is averaging 26.8 ppg in four postseason games and has scored at least 30 points in three of them.
(9-2) Elk County Catholic (24-4) vs. (7-1) Union (New Castle) at PennWest Clarion’s Tippin Gym, 6 p.m.
How they got here: ECC beat Northern Bedford, 50-27, and Union topped Clarion, 47-9.
Who the winner gets: (9-3) DuBois Central Catholic/(6-1) Williamsburg winner Saturday, March 18.
ECC Leaders: Lucy Klawuhn (10.5 ppg), Tori Newton (8.9 ppg), Syd Alexander (8.8 ppg), Emily Mouer (7.3 ppg), Sami Straub (5.8 ppg)
Union Leaders: Kelly Cleaver (17.3 ppg; had 24 points, 10 rebounds in a WPIAL semifinal win over St. Joseph; 14 points in the WPIAL championship win and 13 vs. Clarion); Kylie Fruehstorfer (14.9 ppg, Scored 20 points in the WPIAL championship game victory and 22 in the win over Clarion).
Notes: This is a rematch of a second-round game from last year won by Union 38-35. The Scotties led by 18 at halftime but had to survive a 30-foot shot by ECC’s Lucy Klawuhn that hit the front of the rim at the horn. ECC played an iron woman five in the game and got 12 points from Klawuhn, who hit four 3-pointers. Tori Newton had 12 rebounds and seven points. Kylie Fruehstorfer had nine for Union, which lost to Portage in the quarterfinals … ECC is looking for its first trip to the quarterfinals since 1989 … All four of ECC’s losses came to D9 champions – twice to Otto-Eldred (1A) and twice to Punxsutawney (Class 4A … Union is trying to join its boys’ team in the quarterfinals. The Scottie boys beat Cameron County Tuesday night.
(9-3) DuBois Central Catholic (15-12) vs. (6-1) Williamsburg (27-1)
How they got here: DCC beat (10-1) Jamestown, 64-21. Williamsburg beat (7-4) St. Joseph, 8-40
Who the winner gets: (7-1) Union-New Castle/(9-2) Elk County Catholic winner in quarterfinals on Saturday, March 18.
DCC Leaders: Kayley Risser (12.0 ppg), Faith Jacob (7.9 ppg), Lexi Berta (7.0 ppg)
Williamsburg Leaders: Ayla Hileman (20.0 ppg.), Jayla Woodruf (13.4 ppg.), Kendel Norris (9.4 ppg.).
Notes: DCC’s win over Jamestown was its first PIAA victory since 1999 … Marina Hanes had a career-high 16 points in the win over Jamestown, while Faith Jacob had 15 … Williamsburg has rattled off 27-straight wins since a season-opening loss to Penns Manor … Woodruff had 31 points and Hileman 27 in the win over St. Joseph … Williamsburg lost to Northumberland Christian, 62-54 in the PIAA semifinals last season. Northumberland went on to beat Kennedy Catholic for the state title.
CLASS 4A
(6-1) Penn Cambria (13-12) vs. (10-1) Fairview (20-6) at North Allegheny H.S., 6 p.m.
How they got here: Penn Cambria beat (7-4) Highlands, 50-42. Fairview beat (7-6) Beaver Area, 26-23
Who the winner gets: (7-5) Knoch/(7-2) Blackhawk winner in quarterfinals on Saturday, March 18.
Penn Cambria Leaders: Abby Crossman (15.6 ppg.), Emily Hite (11.7 ppg.)
Fairview Leaders: Hope Garrity (15.0 ppg.), Bre Hedit (11.3 ppg.), Sara Gennuso (7.9 ppg.)
Notes: Fairview picked up its first-ever PIAA playoff win in dramatic fashion, with Sara Gennuso getting fouled shooting a 3 as time expired and knocking down all three free-throws … Fairview held Beaver scoreless in the fourth quarter … Crossman scored 24 points and Hite 14 in Penn Cambria’s first-round win over Highlands … Penn Cambria has won 11 of its last 17 games after a 2-6 start to the season … Penn Cambria jumped out to an 18-3 lead en route to the win
(10-2) Harbor Creek (20-6) vs. (7-1) North Catholic at Westminster College, 6 p.m.
How they got here: Harbor Creek beat (7-3) Quaker Valley, 43-40. North Catholic beat (10-4) Conneaut, 70-44
Who the winner gets: (3-1) Wyomissing/(12-3) Neumann-Goretti in the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 18.
Harbor Creek Leaders: Brooke Przybylski 12.8 ppg., Sammie Zank 11.8 ppg.
North Catholic Leaders: Alyanna Rocco 16.0 ppg., Ava Walker, Anna Waskiewicz, Dacia Lewandowski
Notes: Harbor Creek won its second-ever PIAA playoff game in dramatic fashion, as Georgia Weber hit a 3 at the buzzer … Przybylski had 20 points in the win … North Catholic was led by its Division I recruits Dacie Lewandowski (Akron) and Alayna Rocco (Harvard) , who scored 22 and 21 points respectively in the win over CASH … North Catholic handed Cathedral Prep its only loss of the season, 59-57.
CLASS 5A
(10-1) Cathedral Prep (22-1) vs. (7-6) Mars (18-8) at Sharon H.S., 7:30 p.m.
How they got here: Cathedral Prep beat (7-5) Trinity Area, 48-30. Mars beat (3-2) York Suburban, 49-40.
Who the winner gets:(3-3) Mechanicsburg/(7-1) South Fayette in quarterfinals on Saturday, March 18.
Cathedral Prep Leaders: Jayden McBride (17.1 ppg.), Addie Biel (12.5 ppg.), Lena Walz (12.2 ppg.)
Mars Leaders: Vito Vargo (13 points in the win over York Suburban), Alex McBolde (13 points in the win over York Suburban
Notes: Mars has played a District 10 team this season, beating Mercyhurst Prep, 50-35 back on Dec. 30 … Walz and McBride had 16 points each in the win over Trinity, while Biel added 10 … the Cathedral Prep boys’ team beat Mars on Tuesday, 66-54
