SHEFFIELD, Pa. – For the first time in 10 years, Port Allegany is in the PIAA tournament.
The Lady Gators (19-7) earned the fifth and final PIAA playoff berth awarded to District 9 Class 1A with a 64-54 win over North Clarion at Sheffield High School Thursday night.
The loss by the She-Wolves (17-9), who will miss the PIAA playoffs for just the second time in the past nine years and for the first time since 2015 when the PIAA field consists of more than just the champion like the 2021 season, ost five of six to close the season and seven of 11 after starting the year 13-2.
Kayleigha Dowell led Port Allegany with 22 points, seven rebounds, and four blocked shots, while Ella Moses had another double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds while also chipping in six steals.
Jenna Renner added a career-high 14 points for the Lady Gators to go with five boards.
Lily Homan paced North Clarion with 23 points while Akeela Greenawalt added 15 and Ainsley Hartle nine.
Port Allegany, which is in the PIAA bracket for the first time since 2014, will face the WPIAL champion, either Union (New Castle), the defending state champion, or St. Joseph, at the WPIAL winner’s home court on Saturday, March 9, at a time to be determined.
UNION 63, DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC 42
BROOKVILLE, Pa. – Outscoring DuBois Central Catholic by 17 points in the second quarter, Union rolled into the PIAA playoffs with a 63-42 win over the Cardinals in the District 9 Class 5A fifth-place game at Brookville High School.
The Golden Knights (13-11) led 17-13 at the end of the first quarter before going on a 21-4 second-quarter run led by seven points from Hayden Smith and five each from Trey Fleming and Owen Bish.
Smith had 17 points, eight rebounds, five blocked shots, and three assists for Union, while Dawson Camper added 14 points, seven rebounds, and two helpers.
Also for the Golden Knights, Bish chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds, and Fleming had 10 points and 10 assists.
Andrew Green led DCC (12-13), whose season came to an end, with 14 points with Marek Hoyt adding 11, including nine in the first half.
Union will face WPIAL champion Imani Christian in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs on Friday, March 8, at Imani Christian. A year ago, the Saints beat Union, 80-48, on their way to the PIAA Class 1A title.
