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Fairview Girls Win Again in Dramatic Fashion; Prep Also Advances; Franklin Boys End OLSH’s PIAA Streak; EFC Moving on in 2A

Fairview's Hope Garrity. File photo by Andy Close.

WEXFORD, Pa. – Fairview continues to show the heart of a champion.

The Lady Tigers (21-6), behind 25 points from Hope Garrity, earned a 54-51 win over Penn Cambria in the second round to advance to the PIAA quarterfinals for the first time in program history.

“I am so proud of the girls,” said Fairview coach Aaron Garrity.

Garrity scored six points in the first half and took over in the second, scoring 19 of her 25 points after halftime.

Bre Heidt finished with nine points for Fairview, three of which came in overtime, while Garrity also had a bucket in the extra session and Addy Greene was 1-of-2 from the free throw line as Fairview outscored Penn Cambria 6-3.

                                      

Garrity had nine points in the third quarter and eight more in the fourth quarter, knocking down four 3s in the game in the process.

Sara Gennuso, the hero of Fairview’s first-round win over Beaver Area, finished with six points, as did Ella Garrity.

Emily Hite had a big game in the loss for Penn Cambria (13-13) and, like Garrity, did most of her damage after halftime, scoring 21 of her 23 points. Abby Crossman was also in double figures for Penn Cambria with 12 points.

Up next for Fairview is a quarterfinal date with Blackhawk, a 38-35 winner over Knoch, in the quarterfinals on Saturday at a site and time to be determined.

Blackhawk knocked off District 10 third-place finisher Warren, 51-32, in the first round.

                          

CLASS 5A

(10-1) CATHEDRAL PREP 51, (7-6) MARS 24

SHARON, Pa. – Cathedral Prep was smothering on defense, allowing just four first-half points in a 51-24 second-round win over Mars.

The Ramblers (23-1), led 28-4 at the break and coasted in the second half, leading 42-15 after the third quarter.

Lena Walz led Prep with 17 points, while Jayden McBride had 16 and Addie Biel 12 for the Ramblers.

The win comes a day after the Cathedral Prep boys team also beat Mars in the second round.

With the win, Prep moves to face WPIAL champion South Fayette, a 68-29 winner over Mechanicsburg, in the quarterfinals on Saturday at a site and time to be determined.

CLASS 4A

(7-1) NORTH CATHOLIC 51, (10-2) HARBOR CREEK 34

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – Alayna Rocco scored 15 points and Dacia Lewandowski had 14 as WPIAL champion North Catholic bounced D10 runner-up Harbor Creek, 51-34.

                                   

North Catholic (24-3) led 16-7 after the first quarter and 28-19 at halftime en route to the win.

Brooke Przybylski led Harbor Creek (20-7), which won its second-ever PIAA playoff game in their first-round victory over Quaker Valley, with 14 points, while Sammy Zank added 10.

With the win, North Catholic advances to play Wyomissing, a 40-33 winner over Neumann-Gorretti, in the quarterfinals on Saturday at a site and time to be determined.

BOYS

CLASS 3A

(10-2) FRANKLIN 57, (7-2) OLSH 45

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – Our Lady of Sacred Heart will not win a third consecutive state title – the Franklin Knights saw to that on Wednesday.

Franklin knocked off the two-time defending PIAA Class 2A champions, 57-45, vaulting into the state quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons in the process.

The Knights (23-4) delivered a knockout punch early, racing out to a 34-17 halftime lead and never looking back en route to their 18th straight win.

It was the second quarter in particular that was the difference for Franklin. Leading 13-11 after the first quarter, they went on a 21-6 run to take the 17-point halftime lead.

Jalen Wood spearheaded the offensive effort for the Knights, pouring in 17 points, while Damon Curry had 11 and Cole Buckley had 11 each, Jonathan Leccia eight, and Dreyden Payne six.

Rocco Spadafora and Bryson Kirschner led OLSH (20-7) with 14 points each, while Rocco Coladonato added 12.

Franklin, which hasn’t lost since last December, will meet District 6 champion Penn Cambria, a 66-57 winner over Steel Valley, in the quarterfinals on Saturday at a site and time to be determined.

CLASS 2A

(10-1) ERIE FIRST CHRISTIAN 67, (7-2) NORTHGATE 52

                                  

SHARON, Pa. – Anthony Collins scored 26 points as Erie First Christian advanced to the PIAA quarterfinals with a 67-52 win over WPIAL runner-up Northgate.

The Eagles led 54-47 at the midway point of the fourth quarter after being up by as many as 19 early in the second half. They closed the game on a 13-5 run.

Avery Collins and Jesse Jong were also in double figures for the Eagles with 14 and 11 points, respectively.

EFC (16-10), which led from start to finish after taking a 16-7 first-quarter lead, has now won four of their five playoff games by at least 15 points.

Josh Williams poured in 25 points for Northgate.

The Eagles will be facing fellow PIAA quarterfinal first-time Otto-Eldred on Saturday at a site and time to be determined.

(7-4) BISHOP CANEVIN 56, (10-2) MERCER 43

ALLISON PARK, Pa. – A historic season for Mercer came to an end at the hands of defending Class 1A champion Bishop Canevin, 56-43 in the Class 2A second round.

Canevin (22-6), led 39-34 going into the fourth quarter, outscoring the Mustangs (21-6) 17-9 in the fourth quarter.

Shea Champine was the catalyst for Canevin, scoring 27 points, 18 of which came in the second half. In the process, he surpassed the 1,000-point milestone.

Braden Balaski knocked down three 3s in the third quarter to keep Mercer within striking distance. Balaski finished with a team-high 14 points.

In his final game in a Mustangs uniform, 1,000-point scorer Jake Mattocks had eight points, as did Trevon Miller for a Mercer team that won its first PIAA playoff game since 1988 with their first-round win over Southern Huntingdon.

Jason Cross was also in double figures for Canevin, which advances to play Aliquippa on Saturday at a site and time to be determined.

 

 

                       

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