SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – It was a Yellow Jacket swarm in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals.
Geremia Dell’omo scored 21 points as Girard led from start to finish in a 70-50 win over Mohawk and send the Jackets to their first semifinal appearance since 1990.
The win sets up a D10 title game rematch with Franklin with a berth in the state title game on the line.
“I’m so excited for the experience,” Dell’omo said. “Last time at Edinboro was the most amount of people I’ve seen at a high school game, personally. It was rocking. I’m excited for the fans.”
See Dell’omo’s full interview:
Dell’omo’s 21 points were a team high. He was one of four players in double figures for Girard (26-2), as Nate Edwards had 17 points, Ryan Carr 13 and Kenny Godoy 11.
“Everybody came up big,” Edwards said. “Ryan Carr was in a little bit of a slump lately but he hit a couple of shots early and got us a big lead. Geremia went crazy from deep, Kenny played really well, everyone was playing defense. As a team, when we play together like that we’re very tough to beat.”
See Edwards’ full interview:
It was inside, it was outside and it was constant pressure from the Jackets, as they jumped out to an 18-12 lead after the first quarter, with Carr jumpstarting the offense with a couple of quick buckets out of the gate.
The long ball kept Mohawk in the game early, as they scored 18 of their first 20 points from deep. But every time they tried to go on a run, Giard had an answer.
The Jackets led 37-29 at halftime after back-to-back buckets from Edwards and Carr.
“Early on, we were letting them get loose on three’s,” said Girard coach Mark Schrier. “I think their first five or six makes were all three’s. We talked about making sure we were arriving when they caught the ball and try and take them out of rhythm. They are a really good shooting team, so that was definitely an emphasis.”
Dell’omo was on fire in the second half, scoring 17 of his 21 points. A Ryan Pratt 3-pointer gave Girard it’s largest lead of the game, 53-37 at the 1:42 mark of the third quarter.
Not only that, but the 3’s that were falling for Mohawk weren’t in the second, thanks in large part to Girard’s defense.
A layup from Godoy made it 58-44 Girard after three quarters, and the Jackets opened the fourth on a 12-2 run to put the game away.
Schrier got to take his starters out to a raucous ovation, letting all the players soak in the moment.
“I’m so proud of the,” Schrier said. “What we talked about is, unfortunately, the end is coming for this team. If it does have to end, let’s try and take it as far as we can. It’s such a great group of guys, they are so close and this all started the day after we got knocked out last year. It’s special to get this far and I’m just proud of their effort the whole way.”
Now it’s on to a rematch with the Knights. In the D10 title game, Girard got down early before closing the first half on a big run on its way to a 60-50 victory.
The Jackets know it will be a challenge once again.
“It seems like every game along this run and even during the regular season we’ve had great crowds,” Schrier. “I told the guys to enjoy the moment, because it’s not common. For them to get to experience this as high school players is a special thing. We’re excited for Tuesday. We have a lot of work to do. Franklin is a great team and we saw that first hand a couple of weeks ago. We have a lot of work to get ready for them.”
GIRARD 70, MOHAWK 50
Score by Quarters
Mohawk 12 17 15 6 – 50
Girard 16 21 21 12 – 70
MOHAWK – 50
Bobby Fadden 3 2-2 8, Drew Wrona 4 5-6 16, Jay Wrona 2 0-0 5, JJ Nail 3 1-2 7, Justin Boston 0 0-0 0, Mason Hopper 2 0-0 6, Keigan Hopper 4 0-2 9, Totals 18 8-12 50
GIRARD – 70
Ryan Pratt 1 1-2 3, Ryan Carr 6 0-0 13, Nate Edwards 6 4-4 17, James Kibbe 1 0-0 2, Kenny Godoy 4 2-2 11, Zach Kelley 1 0-0 3, Zak Balogh 0 0-2 0, Gunner Bax 0 0-0 0, Geremia Dell’omo 9 1-2 21. Totals 28 8-12-70
Three-pointers: Mohawk 6 (D. Wrona 2, M. Hopper 2, J. Wrona, K. Hopper); Girard 6 (Dell’omo 2, Carr, Edwards, Godoy, Kelley).
