DUKE CENTER, Pa. – Ten District 9 teams are in action in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs Saturday, March 11.
That includes a boys/girls doubleheader at Otto-Eldred and one game postponed from Friday to Saturday because of the weather.
Here is a look at all the games Saturday.
GIRLS
CLASS 1A
District 9 has five teams in the Class 1A field including Otto-Eldred, Elk County Catholic, DuBois Central Catholic, North Clarion, and Clarion.
(7-5) Monessen (17-6) at (9-1) Otto-Eldred (23-2), 3 p.m.
How they got here: Monessen lost to St. Joseph in the WPIAL quarterfinals, 53-46, before beating West Greene, 56-53, and Aveila, 48-37, to earn the fifth-place spot … Otto-Eldred won its first-ever District 9 title with a come-from-behind 45-40 victory
Who the winner gets: Winner of (7-3) Bishop Canevin/(6-2) Bishop Guilfoyle game Wednesday, March 15
Monessen Leaders: Hailey Johnson (9.2 ppg, 9.9 rpg), Madison Johnson (8.8 ppg), Sidney Campell (8.6 ppg), Myasia Majors (7.9 ppg, 11.3 rpg), Na’jaziah Carter (6.0 ppg)
Otto-Eldred Leaders: Katie Sheeler (22.0 ppg), Anna Merry (10.3 ppg), Brooke Close (6.2 ppg), Bri Heller (5.3 ppg)
Notes: Monessen is in the PIAA playoffs for the second straight year. The Greyhounds lost to Elk County Catholic, 52-23, a year ago at ECC … This is a 191-mile trip that will take nearly four hours for Monessen. In fact, Google Maps give a flight option for the Greyhounds out of Pittsburgh International Airport to Bradford Regional Airport … Otto-Eldred advanced to the PIAA quarterfinals a year ago out of the No. 2 spot out of District 9 before losing to eventual runner-up Kennedy Catholic … Katie Sheeler is District 9’s leading scorer and is the all-time leading scorer at Otto-Eldred with 1,629 career points … One of the Lady Terrors’ two loses was to D9 2A champion Redbank Valley by four points and the other was to New York power Randolph (N.Y.), which is in the New York state quarterfinals in Class C … Monessen currently only has seven players dressing (it started with nine but two are out because of team rules, according to the Tribune-Review) … Otto-Eldred is ranked No. 2 in the state by Trib Live.
https://tribhssn.triblive.com/short-handed-monessen-girls-keep-grinding-toward-piaa-opponent/
(5-2) Northern Bedford (17-8) at (9-2) Elk County Catholic (23-4), 2 p.m.
How they got here: Northern Bedford beat Shade, 62-33, in the District 5 semifinals before losing to Berlin Brothersvalley, 58-31, in the title game … ECC beat Clarion, 47-28, and North Clarion, 51-31, in the District 9 playoffs before letting a lead slip away in a 45-40 loss to Otto-Eldred in the D9 championship game.
Who the winner gets: Winner of the (7-1) Union (New Castle)/(9-5) Clarion game Wednesday, March 15.
Northern Bedford Leaders: Mariah Hall (16 points in the D5 semifinal win over Shade; 4 points in the D5 title game vs. Berlin Brothersvalley), Leah Swanseen (13 points in the D5 semifinal win over Shade; 19 points in the D5 title game vs. Berlin Brothersvalley)
ECC Leaders: Lucy Klawuhn (10.5 ppg), Syd Alexander (8.8 ppg), Tori Newton (8.7 ppg), Emily Mourier (7.4 ppg), Sami Straub (5.5 ppg)
Notes: Northern Bedford won the D5 2A title in 2022 but lost in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs to Shenango, 49-45 … ECC was the D9 1A champion in 2022 and advanced to the second round before losing to Union (New Castle), 38-35 … All five of ECC’s starters are juniors and they are used to PIAA action. In addition to qualifying for the PIAA basketball playoffs a year ago, they were also a PIAA qualifying softball team last spring and a PIAA qualifying volleyball team this past fall … All four of ECC’s losses came to D9 champions including twice to 1A champion Otto-Eldred and twice to 4A champion Punxsutawney … ECC is ranked No. 5 in the state by Trib Live.
(9-3) DuBois Central Catholic (14-12) vs. (10-1) Jamestown (5-17) at Mercer High School, 3 p.m.
How they got here: DCC beat Port Allegany, 54-30, in the D9 quarterfinals before losing to Otto-Eldred, 61-40, in the semifinals. The Lady Cardinals then beat North Clarion, 64-44, in the third-place game … Jamestown beat Commodore Perry, 53-21, to win the D10 title.
Who the winner gets: Winner of (6-1) Williamsburg/(7-4) St. Joseph game Wednesday, March 15
DCC Leaders: Kayley Risser (12.0 ppg), Faith Jacob (7.9 ppg), Lexi Berta (7.0 ppg)
Jamestown Leaders: Alayna Cadman (8.5 ppg), Taylor Keener (4.9 ppg), Savannah Thurber (4.7 ppg)
Notes: DCC played a killer of a schedule that included just five regular-season games against Class 1A opponents and 11 games (this will be No. 12) against PIAA qualifiers … Kayley Risser really stepped up her game in the second half of the season and is averaging 14.9 ppg over her last 15 games and the junior has 925 career points … The Lady Cardinals are in the PIAA playoffs for the second straight year losing as the D9 fifth-place team last year to WPIAL champion Bishop Canevin … Jamestown is one of just four District 10 Class 1A teams and none of them finished the regular season with more than four wins … The Muskies victories have gone against Commodore Perry (2 wins; 1 on the court, 1 forfeit) three times and winless Rocky Grove. They have been outscored 1,065 points to 562 on the season and the 51 points they scored in the D10 title game were the most they scored all season.
(9-4) North Clarion (20-6) vs.(5-1) Berlin Brothersvalley (18-5) at Pitt-Johnstown, 2 p.m.
How they got here: North Clarion beat Ridgway, 49-33, in the D9 quarterfinals before losing to Elk County Catholic, 51-31, in the semifinals and to DuBois Central Catholic, 64-44, in the third-place game … Berlin Brothersvalley beat Conemaugh Township, 67-34, in the D5 semifinals before topping Northern Bedford, 58-31, in the championship game.
Who the winner gets: Winner of (7-2) Aquinas Academy/(6-3) Juniata Valley game Wednesday, March 15
North Clarion Leaders: Lauren Lutz (10.3 ppg), Emma McFarland (6.7 ppg), Maria Bauer (6.3 ppg)
Berlin Brothersvalley Leaders: Jenny Countryman (19 points in the D5 semifinal win over Conemaugh Township; 17 points in the D5 championship game win over Northern Bedford), Grace Scheler (4 points vs. Conemaugh Township; 12 points vs. Northern Bedford), Regan Lauer (10 points vs. Conemaugh Township, 3 points vs. Northern Bedford)
Notes: … Grace Scheler is a Seton Hill commit and a 1,000-point scorer … Berlin Brothersvalley and North Clarion faced each other in the 2020 PIAA second round with North Clarion winning 62-43 a day before COVID-19 shutdown the PIAA Tournament … The She-Wolves are in the PIAA tournament for the seventh time in eight years with the only season they missed being in 2021 when it was a champions-only tournament … Berlin Brothervalley won the 2019 PIAA Class 1A championship … The She-Wolves started the season 14-0 and were 18-1 after a win Feb. 2 but have gone just 2-5 since.
(9-5) Clarion (12-14) at (7-1) Union (New Castle) (18-6), 2 p.m.
How they got here: Clarion lost to Elk County Catholic, 47-28, in the D9 quarterfinals before beating Ridgway, 41-36, and Port Allegany, 35-31, to earn the fifth and final PIAA playoff berth awarded to D9 … Union (New Castle) beat Aquinas Academy, 52-35, to win the WPIAL title.
Who the winner gets: Winner of (9-2) Elk County Catholic/(5-2) Northern Bedford game Wednesday, March 15
Clarion Leaders: Sophie Babington (10.2 ppg), Taylor Alston (9.3 ppg), Gia Babington (6.6 ppg)
Union (New Castle) 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); Kylie Fruehstorfer (14.9 ppg, Scored 20 points in the WPIAL championship game victory).
Notes: Clarion is a surprise PIAA qualifier … The Lady Cats went 11-12 in the regular season then lost in the KSAC semifinals to enter the D9 playoffs at 11-13 before getting trounced by Elk County Catholic in the quarterfinals… But Clarion rallied to beat sixth-seeded Ridgway and fifth-seeded Port Allegany to gain a PIAA playoff berth for the first time since 2020 … Union (New Castle) won its first WPIAL title this year after finishing second last year. The Scotties beat Elk County Catholic, 38-35, in the WPIAL second round a year ago before losing to Portage, 32-27, in the quarterfinals
CLASS 4A
Punxsutawney is the lone District 9 team in the Class 4A field, and the Lady Chucks will host Knoch.
(7-5) Knoch (17-9) at (9-1) Punxsutawney (22-1), 3 p.m.
How they got here: Knoch beat Hopewell, 53-21, in the WPIAL first round before losing to Quaker Valley, 52-39, in the quarterfinals. The Knights then fought back through the fifth-place consolation bracket beating Belle Vernon, 66-44, and Beaver Area, 42-29, to earn fifth place … Punxsutawney rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat St. Marys, 44-41, in the District 9 title game
Who the winner gets: Winner of (7-2) Blackhawk/(10-3) Warren game Wednesday, March 15
Knoch Leaders: Hattie McGraw (13.9 ppg), Nina Shaw (13.6 ppg)
Punxsutawney Leaders: Chloe Presloid (15.5 ppg), Avary Powell (11.8 ppg), Danielle Griebel (9.2 ppg), Samantha Griebel (7.8 ppg)
Notes: Knoch was the WPIAL runner-up last year and advanced to the second round of the PIAA tournament … Punxsutawney is back in the PIAA tournament after missing it for the first time since 2014 last year … The Lady Chucks have only won one PIAA playoff game during this stretch though, in 2017 over Central Valley … Punxsutawney’s lone loss came to Cathedral Prep, the D10 5A champion, and the No. 4 ranked 5A team in the state by TribLive. Punxsutawney is ranked No. 2 in 4A by Trib Live … Chloe Presloid is 28 points shy of 1,000 in her career but scored just four in the championship game win over St. Marys after going off for a career-high 36 points the game before in the regular-season finale against Bradford.
BOYS
CLASS 3A
Brookville is District 9’s lone Class 3A team in action. The Raiders will host Seton LaSalle.
(7-5) Seton LaSalle (14-11) at (9-1) Brookville (22-2), 5 p.m.
How they got here: Seton LaSalle beat Washington, 59-57, in the WPIAL first round before losing to Steel Valley, 56-54, in the quarterfinals. The Rebels then beat Mohawk, 77-68, and Shady Side Academy, 62-44, to earn fifth place … Brookville beat Moniteau, 63-37, in the D9 championship game then took down Perry, 46-19, in a subregional semifinal before beating Bedford, 50-39, in the subregional championship game
Who the winner gets: Winner of (10-2) Oil City/(7-4) Neshannock game on Wednesday, March 15
Seton LaSalle Leaders: Connor Spratt (Over 27 ppg), Hayden Merchant (14,7 ppg)
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: Seton LaSalle is back in the PIAA playoffs for the first time since reaching the second round in 2019 … The Rebels lost the 2014 2A title game by two points to Constitution and own a PIAA title in 3A in 1988 … Connor Spratt missed some time this year with a wrist injury but is over 1,000 career points. The senior has some NCAA D2 interest … Brookville is in the PIAA tournament for the fifth straight year. The Raiders were the 2021 PIAA 3A runner-up in the champions-only tournament … Last year, Brookville lost in the opening round to Aliquippa, 53-50 … The last time the Raiders played a home PIAA playoff game they beat Bishop Guilfoyle, 46-44, to advance to Hershey in 2021 … Brookville has won 19 straight games since dropping a 50-47 decision at eventual D9 1 champion Elk County Catholic, Dec. 16. The streak started with a win over D10 3A champion Franklin, 57-42.
CLASS 2A
District 9 has three teams in the Class 2A field including Clarion-Limestone, Otto-Eldred, and Karns City.
(7-4) Bishop Canevin (20-6) at (9-1) Clarion-Limestone (25-2), 2 p.m.
How they got here: Bishop Canevin beat South Side, 72-46, in the WPIAL first round, and topped Serra Catholic, 64-57, in the quarterfinals before falling to Northgate, 63-54, in the semifinals. The Crusaders then fell to Greensburg Central Catholic, 71-60, in the third-place game … Clarion-Limestone beat Kane, 61-37, in the District 9 quarterfinals, then rallied for a 47-43 win over Karns City in the semifinals. The Lions won their first D9 title since 2015 with a 68-54 win over top-seeded Otto-Eldred
Who the winner gets: Winner of (10-2) Mercer/(6-3) Southern Huntingdon on Wednesday, March 15
Bishop Canevin Leaders: Shea Champine (30.4 ppg, 16 GP)
Clarion-Limestone Leaders: Jordan Hesdon (14.2 ppg), Riley Klingensmith (11.8 ppg), Jase Ferguson (9.9 ppg), Alex Painter (7.8 ppg)
Notes: Bishop Canevin is no stranger to the PIAA tournament, having won the Class 1A championship last year, advancing to the Class 1A quarterfinals in 2021 and 2020 (the 2020 season was cut short at the quarterfinals because of the Pandemic) … Clarion-Limestone is in the PIAA tournament for the second time (lost in the first round in 2020) since reaching the Class 1A quarterfinals in 2015.
(7-3) Greensburg Central Catholic (18-6) at (9-2) Otto-Eldred (23-2), 4:30 p.m.
How they got here: Greensburg Central Catholic beat Propel Braddock Hills, 65-45, in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs, then topped Eden Christian, 73-54, in the quarterfinals before falling to Aliquippa, 61-36, in the semifinals. The Centurions came back to defeat Bishop Canevin, 71-60, in the third-place game … Otto-Eldred earned a 61-36 win over Curwensville in the District 9 playoffs, then held off defending champion Ridgway, 41-35, in the semifinals before falling to Clarion-Limestone, 68-54, in the championship game
Who the winner gets: Winner of (7-7) Serra Catholic/(6-1) United on Wednesday, March 15
Greensburg Central Catholic Leaders: Tyree Turner (21.7 ppg), Franco Alvarez (19.2 ppg)
Otto-Eldred Leaders: Landon Francis (14.8 ppg), Manning Splain (12.8 ppg), Shene Thomas (12.3 ppg), Austin Cousins (11.3 ppg)
Notes: Greensburg Central Catholic is making its second straight PIAA tournament appearance following a 4-year drought from 2018-2021 … Otto-Eldred is also making its second straight PIAA tournament appearance after finishing third in D9 Class 1A last season … the Terrors dropped out of the Trib Live state rankings following their loss to C-L in the D9 title game.
(9-3) Karns City (22-5) at (7-1) Aliquippa (20-6), 2 p.m.
How they got here: Karns City defeated Port Allegany, 46-36, in the District 9 quarterfinals before losing the lead late in a 47-43 loss to Clarion-Limestone in the semifinals. The Gremlins responded with by holding off Ridgway for a 36-33 win in the third-place game … Aliquippa steamrolled its way into the WPIAL championship game with 25+ point wins in the first round (75-33 over Laurel), quarterfinals (63-37 over Shenango), and semifinals (61-36 over Greensburg Central Catholic). The Quips won by double-digits, 52-40, over Northgate in the championship game
Who the winner gets: Winner of the (10-3) Cambridge Springs/(6-2) West Branch on Wednesday, March 15
Karns City Leaders: Taite Beighley (13.9), Micah Rupp (10.5), Shane Peters (8.9), Jacob Callihan (8.9)
Aliquippa Leaders: Quintin Goode, Tyree Turner, Cam Lindsey
Notes: Karns City is back in the PIAA tournament following a one-year absence in 2022 … the Gremlins made it to the quarterfinals in 2021 where they lost to eventual state champion Our Lady of the Sacred Heart … Aliquippa won its first WPIAL championship since 2016 … despite that drought of district titles, the Quips reached the Class 3A state championship game a year ago, falling to Devon Prep, 76-58 … The Quips have held 6 straight opponents to 40 points or less … Aliquippa is ranked No. 2 in 2A by Trib Live
CLASS 1A
Cameron County’s game with Portage was moved from Friday to Saturday because of the weather Friday.
(9-4) Cameron County (17-8) at (6-1) Portage (25-2), 2 p.m.
How they got here: After pulling a mild upset of No. 4 Johnsonburg, 40-37, in the D9 quarterfinals, Cameron County dropped a 43-28 decision to Elk County Catholic and then lost the third-place game, 50-47, on a last-second shot by DuBois Central Catholic in a game the Red Raiders led for most of the night … Portage beat Harmony, 70-62, to win the District 6 title. It was the third consecutive D6 title for the Mustangs who won 2A championships in 2021 and 2022 after a runner-up finish in 2A in 2020
Who the winner gets: Winner of the (10-2) Kennedy Catholic/(7-2) Union (New Castle) game Tuesday, March 14
Cameron County Leaders: Camydn Allison (12.5 ppg), Josh Smith (10.8 ppg), Ryan Shaffer (10.6 ppg), Landon Farren (8.0 ppg)
Portage Leaders: Andrew Miko (14.6 ppg), Mason Kargo (13.9 ppg), Luke Scarton (13.3 ppg), Trae Kargo (10.3 ppg), Bode Layo (8.0 ppg)
Notes: Cameron County is back in the PIAA tournament for the first time since 2020 when it lost in the second round to Bishop Canevin. The Red Raiders are making their 13th all-time appearance in the PIAA postseason but only their fourth since 2000 … Portage is 53-4 combined in the last two years, 75-7 over the last three, and 96-14 since the start of the 2019-20 season … The Mustangs lost to Kennedy Catholic in the PIAA 2A quarterfinals last year after falling to eventual champion OLSH in the semifinals in the champions-only tournament of 2021 … Prior to 2020, Portage had only been to the PIAA Tournament once, in 2015 … The Mustangs’ two losses have come in overtime to Windber and to D6 2A champion United.
Brian Hagberg contributed to this story
