ERIE, Pa. – On a night where a number of D10 title droughts were snapped, none waited longer than the Iroquois Braves.
Iroquois, the No. 6 seed, completed its Cinderella run through the D10 2A bracket with a 64-53 win over No. 4 Cambridge Springs in the title game, claiming their first D10 championship since 1974, breaking a 50-year drought.
Kellen Burroughs led three Iroquois (14-11) players in double figures with 14 points, as the Braves built a 37-27 halftime advantage.
Orlando Brown, who scored 13 points for Iroquois, netted six in the first quarter, while Javion Lucas also had six of his eight in the opening eight minutes.
Devin Brink, meanwhile, scored 12 of his 14 points in the second quarter to help stake the Braves to the halftime advantage.
Iroquois also got nine points from Cole Bennett and was able to hold off any comeback attempt the Blue Devils tried to muster in the second half.
Parker Schmidt had a big game in the loss for Cambridge Springs (18-7), scoring 31 points, while Tyler Troutman added 12.
Iroquois will host WPIAL No. 6 Jeannette in the first round of the state playoffs on Saturday, March 9, while Cambridge Springs will host the No. 3 team from District 6, West Shamokin.
EISENHOWER 58, MERCER 55, overtime
ERIE, Pa. – Eisenhower served Braden Balaski’s buzzer-beater to send the game to overtime, earning a 58-55 overtime win over the Mustangs and securing a spot in the Class 2A state tournament.
It’s the Knights’ first trip to the state playoffs since 2010.
Mercer (20-5) led 58-55 after regulation, with Eisenhower (20-5) rallying, outscoring the Mustangs 17-14 in the third quarter and 13-10 in the fourth quarter.
Freshman Austin Hanson had a big game in the win for Eisenhower, scoring a team-high 20 points, while Kyler Black had 14 and Gavin Lindemuth nine.
Cole Cunningham had 23 points and Dae Mattocks 14 for Mercer.
With the win, Eisenhower will play at District 6 runner-up Northern Cambria in the first round of the state tournament on Saturday, March 9.
*Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed the Knights’ last trip to the PIAA Tournament as 2004. Eisenhower last went to the PIAA Tournament in 2010.
