RIMERSBURG, Pa. – Union’s 49-year wait is over.
Also see: Redbank Valley girls cruise to win
After not winning a PIAA postseason game since the 1974 semifinals, Union broke the near half-century drought in impressive fashion racing past visiting Turkeyfoot Valley, making its first-ever appearance in the PIAA postseason, 64-28, in the opening round of the PIAA Class 1A boys’ tournament.
The D9 runner-up Golden Knights (15-12) got a combined 42 points from Payton Johnston and Zander Laughlin in knocking off the District 5 third-place finishing Rams (17-10).
Johnston scored a game-high 22 points with Laughlin adding 20.
Behind 12 points from Laughlin, Union built a 24-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, and then Laughlin added eight more points and Johnston, who had six in the first quarter, chipped in six more to expand the lead to 28, 46-18, at halftime.
Johnston then scored 10 more points in the fourth quarter to get the game to the Mercy Rule, 58-24, by the end of the quarter.
Union faces a tall task in the second round when it meets WPIAL champion Imani Christian, a 78-43 winner over Clarion, Tuesday, March 14, at a site and time to be announced.
NOTES: Union’s last PIAA playoff win was in the old Class C in 1974 when it beat Union City, 73-59, to advance to the PIAA title game which it lost, 63-48, to Holy Ghost Prep. That loss started a nine-game PIAA losing streak for the Golden Knights who were making just their third trip to the PIAA playoffs since 1995.
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 67, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ACADEMY 47
ST. MARYS, Pa.- Using a balanced scoring effort, District 9 champion Elk County Catholic slowly pulled away from The Neighborhood Academy for a 67-47 win, in the PIAA Class 1A first round.
The Crusaders (26-2), who won their 49th PIAA playoff game all-time, had four players reach double digits and a fifth score nine points.
Michael Jacobs, Adam Straubm, and Wil Wortman each netted 14 points to lead the way with Lance O’Neill adding 12 points and Colby Nussbaum nine.
Behind six points from Straub, ECC led 17-9 at the end of the first quarter and then expanded the lead to 28-17 by halftime.
It was still an 11-point advantage, 44-33, going to the fourth quarter, and the Crusaders hit 11 of 13 free throws in the final eight minutes to salt the game away.
The Neighborhood Academy (20-6), the fifth-place team out of the WPIAL, got a game-high 17 points from Courtney Wallace, including 15 in the second half, while Shamar Simpson added 14 points and John Wilkins 10.
ECC will face WPIAL third-place finisher Carlynton in the second round Tuesday, March 14, at a time and place to be determined.
HARMONY 70, DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC 58
WESTOVER, Pa. – Turning around a 10-point loss in December to DuBois Central Catholic, District 6 runner-up Harmony ousted the D9 third-place Cardinals, 70-58, in the PIAA Class 1A first round at Harmony High School.
Cohlton Fry scored 10 of his team-high 23 points in the second quarter to help the Owls (23-3) build a 34-29 halftime lead.
Harmony then hit four third-quarter 3-pointers, including a pair from Steen Perusso, his only points of the game, to increase the lead to 11, 56-45, going to the fourth quarter.
Andrew Green tried to keep DCC within shouting distance hitting seven 3-pointers and scoring 27 points but it wasn’t enough to offset DCC’s leading scorer, Luke Swisher, scoring just five points. Swisher, who had 28 points in a 68-58 Cardinals win back in December, didn’t score after halftime.
Marek Hoyt added 17 points in the losing cause for DCC (17-9).
Harmony will take on District 10 champion Farrell in the second round Tuesday, March 14, at a site and time to be announced.
IMANI CHRISTIAN 78, CLARION 43
WEXFORD, Pa. – Allowing 58 first-half points, Clarion was not match for WPIAL champion Imani Christian dropping a 78-43 decision in the opening round of the PIAA Class 1A playoffs.
The heavily favored Saints (19-6) scored 28 first-quarter points to build a 28-18 lead at the end of eight minutes and then outscored the Bobcats (17-10) 30-5 in the second quarter to take a 58-23 halftime lead.
Avery Wesley and Dame Givner each scored 16 points to pace Imani Christian with 6-foot-9 junior Virgil Hall adding 14 points and RJ Sledge 13 points. Markus Williama and Alier Malik, the Saints’ 6-foot-11 sophomore, each chipped in with eight tallies.
Devin Lauer led Clarion with 17 points with Gabe Simko adding 10.
Imani Christian will face D9 runner-up Union in the second round Tuesday, March 14, at a time and place to be announced.
LAUREL HIGHLANDS 82, CLEARFIELD 59
HYDE, Pa. – Laurel Highlands’ dynamic duo of Keondre DeShields and Rodney Gallagher combined to score 55 points in an 82-59 road win over Clearfield in the PIAA Class 4A first round.
DeShields scored a game-high 30 points with Gallagher adding 25 as the Mustangs (23-3), the third-place team out of the WPIAL led 41-29 at halftime and cruised from there.
Patrick Cavanagh added 10 points for Laurel Highlands with Balise Krizner chipping in nine points.
Braison Patrick paced Clearfield with 15 points with Cole Miller and Andon Greslick each scoring 13. It was a cold-shooting night for Miller, Clearfield’s all-time leading scorer, who didn’t hit his first 3-pointer until late in the game. Miller did finish his career with 1,533 points.
Morgan Billotte chipped n nine points for the Bison (17-7).
Laurel Highlands will face WPIAL fifth-place finisher Hampton in the second round Tuesday, March 14, at a site and time to be determined.
PENN HILLS 63, DUBOIS 20
PENN HILLS, Pa. – WPIAL champion Penn Hills was way too much for District 9’s lone Class 5A team, DuBois, ending the visiting Beavers’ season with a 63-20 victory in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs.
The Indians (22-3) led 18-7 at the end of the first quarter and 33-9 at halftime.
Noah Barren led a trio of Penn Hills players in double digits with 15 points with Robert Thomas and Lamire Redman each scoring 12 points.
Tyson Kennis led DuBois (11-14) with 12 points.
Penn Hills will face District 3 third-place finisher Hershey in the second round Tuesday, March 14, at a time and place to be determined.
GIRLS
LAKEVIEW 47, MONITEAU 40
WEST SUNBURY, Pa. – Leading by one going to the fourth quarter, Lakeview got points from six different players in the final eight minutes to secure a 47-40 win over Moniteau in the PIAA Class 2A opening round at Moniteau.
The Sailors (17-9) were up 32-31 at the end of 24 minutes after Moniteau (19-8) outscored them 12-4 in the third quarter to turn a nine-point deficit at the half into a single point with eight minutes to play.
But Kelsey Seddon hit a big 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and scored five of her game-high 12 points in the frame to help Lakeview to the win.
The Sailors weren’t great from the line in the fourth quarter but hit enough – 6 of 14, to maintain the lead.
Kyndra Seddan added 11 points and nine rebounds in the win with Emma Masteller adding 10 points. Alaina Peltonen added five assists and six points.
Masteller hit a pair of first-quarter 3-pointers and scored eight of her 10 points in the quarter to help Lakeview to a 14-7 lead at the end of one.
Kyndra Seddan then scored six of her points in the second quarter to expand the lead to nine points by halftime.
Catherine Kelly and Davina Pry each scored 11 points for Moniteau with Pry adding eight rebounds. Sophie Fleeger added seven points, and Kendall Sankey had three points and five blocked shots.
Lakeview will face WPIAL champion Shenango in the second round Tuesday, March 14, at a time and site to be announced.
SHADY SIDE ACADEMY 54, KARNS CITY 19
KARNS CITY, Pa. – Outscoring homestanding Karns City 17-6 in the second quarter, WPIAL third-place finisher Shady Side Academy built a 26-9 halftime lead on its way to a 54-19 win in the opening round of the PIAA Class 3A playoffs.
Maggie Spell led the Bulldogs (24-3) with 17 points with Karis Thomas, who hit four 3-pointers, adding 14 points, and Cassie Sauder 10 points.
Emma Dailey had eight points to lead Karns City (15-10).
Shady Side Academy will take on District 10 champion Mercyhurst Prep in the second round Tuesday, March 14, at a site and time to be announced.
