DUKE CENTER, Pa. – Otto-Eldred was hell-bent on making history this season.
Also see: D9 Saturday boys recaps • D9 Saturday Girls Recaps • Brookville wins on buzzer-beater in OT
After falling short of winning the program’s first District 9 title last week, the Terrors bounced back in a major way, claiming the program’s first PIAA playoff win with a 66-54 victory over Greensburg Central Catholic in the Class 2A first round.
“We’re getting older every time we step on the court and it shows,” Otto-Eldred coach Derrick Francis said about his team’s continued growth and maturity. “We lost to a really good Clarion-Limestone team a week ago. You know it’s a special group when the kids are emotional about and as a coach, you don’t want to have to want it more than the kids. When we got back in the gym and it was like the first day in the gym back in November. These kids don’t want to lose, they just want to keep playing. What a special group of kids.”
They earned the right to keep playing by taking GCC’s best punch and countering it with a knockout.
It was a game that Otto-Eldred (24-2) led by 10 five minutes in, and GCC (18-7) didn’t take its first lead until a Tyree Turner 3 with 30 seconds left in the third quarter gave the Centurions a 44-41 lead.
The Terrors responded in a huge way with an 18-1 run that sent them on their way to the second round.
“We wanted that (D9 title) bad, but we just had to put it behind us, play one game at a time and try to make history for our school,” said Landon Francis, who finished with a team-high 21 points, said.
It was Francis and Brax Caldwell that spearheaded the run. Caldwell hit a shot late in the third to make it 44-43, and Francis came out and made an off-balance shot in the lane to start the fourth to make it 45-44.
The Terrors wouldn’t trail again.
Caldwell followed with another bucket off a nice feed from Francis and after Samir Crosby knocked down 1-of-2 from the line, it was two more buckets from Caldwell and a pair of free throws by Francis that made it 53-45.
Manning Splain sent the Terror Dome into a frenzy, following with back-to-back 3s in a matter of seconds, the second of which came off a steal to make it 59-45.
Defensively, the Terrors held GCC to just that one point over a six-plus minute stretch in the fourth.
“We made a switch and put Shene back on number 13 (Turner),” Landon Francis said. “He’s a really good ball player but we were able to shut him down late.”
See Francis and Thomas’ full interview here:
Caldwell scored eight of his 10 points during the late run, while Thomas had eight of his 15 points in the third quarter. Splain finished with nine points and Austin Cousins 11, as O-E knocked down nine 3s.
“I have so much faith and confidence in these kids,” coach Francis said. “We shoot really good here and this fan base is unbelievable. These kids just bust their butts every day and that’s all you can ever ask for as a coach.”
GCC came back quickly in the first half after the early 10-point deficit, cutting the lead to one, 25-24 at the half.
The third quarter was back-and-forth, with Austin Cousins and Thomas both knocking down 3s for O-E and 10 of his 27 in the third.
“Sorg (Ridgway’s Aaron Sorg) was probably the best player we’ve seen all year until we met Tyree Turner,” coach Francis said. “What a player he is. He had a really good game.
“For us, we’ve got five guys you’ve got to guard and it can be really hard to guard us. We can spread it out and everyone can score and it’s a lot of fun.”
Crosby was also in double figures for GCC with 12 points.
With the win, Otto-Eldred advances to play Serra Catholic, a 75-62 win over United, on Wednesday, March 15 at a site and time to be determined.
CLASS 1A GIRLS
(9-1) OTTO-ELDRED 57, (7-5) MONESSEN 30
DUKE CENTER, Pa. – Fresh off their first District 9 title in program history, Katie Sheeler scored 30 points as Otto-Eldred carried over the momentum into a 57-30 win over Monessen in the PIAA 1A first round.
The Lady Terrors (24-2) didn’t score until Anna Merry’s free throws with 2:53 to go in the first quarter, but once they broke the ice they never looked back, leading 10-1 after the first quarter and 27-12 at halftime.
Sheeler and Anna Merry scored all 27 of Otto-Eldred’s points in the first half, as Merry finished with 17 points
“The energy and what our community brings, it’s just the best feeling,” Merry said. “Seeing everyone out there is just such a joy.”
The crowd, which also saw the O-E boys knock off Greensburg Central Catholic in the nightcap, was in it right from the get-go.
“When you can’t even hear your teammates on the court, that’s just the best feeling,” Sheeler said.
See Sheeler and Merry’s full interview here:
It was a game that ended in bizarre fashion as Monessen, which dressed just seven players, had three of them foul out, two on technicals, and finished the final 1:56 with just four players on the court.
By then, however, the outcome had long since been determined.
“I thought we rebounded well,” said Otto-Eldred coach Shawn Gray. “I thought we rebounded well and kept them off the glass. That’s one of the things we’ve been trying to emphasize. Rebounding is going to win us championships. It was a rough and tumble game for a while and we kept our poise.”
Gray also credited his team’s defensive effort in light of the slow offensive start.
“They just always hang in there,” Gray said. “Those girls just don’t quit, ever. They always have each other’s backs.”
A Madison Johnson bucket got Monessen (17-7) within seven, 19-12, with 2:16 to go in the first half, but Sheeler and Merry both knocked down 3s as O-E closed the half on an 8-0 run.
The lead never got below 15 points the rest of the way.
Sheeler also had six steals, Merry four rebounds, and Bri Heller 11 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
“Bri’s a beast on the boards,” Merry said.
Na’Jaziah Carter led Monessen with 11 points.
With the win, Otto-Eldred advances to play Bishop Guilfoyle, a 56-43 winner over Bishop Canevin, in the second round on Wednesday, March 15 at a site and time to be determined.
“These girls just continue to keep going and keep at it,” Gray said. “We’re really trying to emphasize rebounding and get everybody a tough, especially early in the game, just to get everyone in the flow. They’re a heck of a group.”
