SHEFFIELD, Pa. – Down four to Clarion-Limestone heading to the fourth quarter of the District 9 Class 2A boys’ third-place game at Sheffield, Otto-Eldred turned to Landon Francis to get it into the PIAA playoffs.
Francis scored 13 of his 20 points in the final eight minutes to help the Terrors (25-2) outscore the Lions (16-11) 23-11 to get a 60-52 victory.
The win avenged a 60-43 Otto-Eldred loss to C-L in the regular season and a loss to the Lions in last year’s District 9 title game.
C-L, the fourth seed, led 41-37 going to the final quarter after outscoring Otto-Eldred 17-9 in the third quarter behind eight points from Jase Ferguson, who hit a pair of 3-pointers in the quarter, and five from Jesse Siwiecki.
But Francis hit a 3-pointer, two 2-pointers, and went 6 of 6 from the line in the fourth quarter to lift the Terrors to the victory.
Manning Splain also played a key role in the frame with eight points while also hitting a long-range shot in the frame.
Splain led Otto-Eldred with 22 points while Francis added 20 and Brax Caldwell seven.
Ferguson had 12 points to lead a balanced C-L attack while Jack Craig added 10 and Jack Callen nine in their final games for the Lions. Siwiecki and Kohen Kemmer each chipped in with eight points.
Otto-Eldred will face the WPIAL champion, either Aliquippa or Greensburg Central Catholic, in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs at a time to be determined on Saturday, March 9. That game will be at the WPIAL champions’ home court. If it is Aliquippa, that would be a rematch of last season’s PIAA semifinal contest won by the Quips.
CAMERON COUNTY 56, JOHNSONBURG 49
PORT ALLEGANY, Pa. – Grabbing an 11-point halftime lead, Cameron County beat Johnsonburg, 56-49, in the District 9 Class 1A boys’ third-place game at Port Allegany High School.
The Red Raiders (22-5) led 35-24 at the break thanks to eight points apiece from Ryan Shaffer, Josh Beer and Jake Narby, and six from Landen Farren.
Shaffer ended up leading Cameron County with 14 points, Beer and Narby each added 11, and Smith chipped in with 10 tallies. Farren also contributed eight points in the win.
Isaiah Jackson had 16 points for Johnsonburg (19-8) while Luke Zimmerman added 15.
Both teams advance to the PIAA playoffs.
Cameron County will play on the road at District 6 runner-up Williamsburg while Johnsonburg will be at District 6 champion Bishop Carroll. Both of those games are on Friday, March 8.
GIRLS
DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC 39, CLARION 28
BROOKVILLE, Pa. – DuBois Central Catholic didn’t score in the first six minutes of the game, but it didn’t matter as the Lady Cardinals beat Clarion, 39-28, in the District 9 Class 1A girls’ third-place game at Brookville High School.
Despite the early lull, the Lady Cardinals (14-11) led 10-7 by the end of the first quarter thanks to a 3-pointer from Julia Sebring and five points from Kayley Risser.
That lead expanded to eight, 23-15, by halftime thanks largely to 3-pointers from Sebrning, Ella Ellensky, and Lexi Berta.
Risser led DCC with 13 points while Hope Jacob had eight.
Taylor Alston paced Clarion (14-12) with 11 points with Marley Kline adding seven.
Both teams are in the PIAA playoffs on the road on Saturday, March 9.
DCC will take on the District 10 champion, either Jamestown or Youngsville, while Clarion faces the District 5 champion, either Berlin Brothersvalley or Northern Bedford.
