Connect with us

Basketball

District 9 Class A Boys’ Quarterfinals Recaps From Feb. 19, 2016

Cole-Morris-Union-Powers

Cole Morris had 25 points to lead Union to the upset of C-L Friday night. Photo by George Powers.

UNION 66, CLARION-LIMESTONE 59

Read full story on ExploreClarion.com

CLARION, Pa. – Union stunned defending champion Clarion-Limestone ending the Lions season with a 66-59 win in the District 9 Class A quarterfinals Friday night at Clarion High School.

The victory for the fifth-seeded Golden Knights (17-7) was their first over fourth-seeded C-L (21-3) in four tries this year and came just one week after Union lost to the Lions, 64-39, in the KSAC Title Game.

On Friday night, after leading for large portions of the game, Union found itself down one, 56-55, with two minutes to play when Gavin Hawk hit a 3-pointer, his only made shot of the game, to start an 8-0 run that turned the game in the Golden Knights favor.

Cole Morris was the catalyst behind the upset, which puts Union in the District 9 semifinals and the PIAA playoffs for the first time since finishing second in D9 in 2011, recording a triple-double of 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Lucas Bowser (18 points, 13 rebounds) and Hank Murphy (10 points, 13 rebounds) added double-doubles for Union, who will play Elk County Catholic in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Clarion University’s Tippin Gym.
Freshman Ian Callen had 20 points for C-L including 10 in the third quarter alone. Noah Rankin finished with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Dan Callen also had 12 boards. But Dan Callen was held to a season-low five points, the first time he failed to score in double digits all season, and spent most of the night in foul trouble.

ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 51, DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC 39

ST. MARYS, Pa. – A hot start helped propel top-seeded and unbeaten Elk County Catholic into the District 9 Class A semifinals with a 51-39 win over eighth-seeded DuBois Central Catholic Friday night at St. Marys High School.

The Crusaders (25-0) grabbed a 10-point lead, 17-7, after one quarter and led by 14, 32-18, at halftime.  

Nate DaCanal scored five of his game-high 17 points in the first quarter, and ECC also got early 3-pointers from Benji Hoffman and Brad Dippold.

Gabe Kraus added 10 points for the Crusaders with Kyle Huff adding nine and Hoffman seven.

Thomas Grecco paced DCC (16-9), which suffered three of its nine losses at the hands of ECC, with 13 points while scoring all seven of the Cardinals first-quarter points. Christian LaParne added 12 and freshman Justin Miknis 11.

ECC will take on Union in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night at Clarion University’s Tippin Gym.  

COUDERSPORT 61, CLARION 51

KANE, Pa. – Aaron Wolfinger scored six of his seven points in the fourth quarter including going 4 of 4 from the free-throw line, as third-seeded Coudersport pulled away late from sixth-seeded Clarion to get a 61-51 win in the District 9 Class A quarterfinals Friday night at Kane High School.

The Falcons (21-2) led by just two, 44-42, going to the fourth quarter but outscored the Bobcats (17-7) 17-9 in the final eight minutes.

Jared Green and Darren Keglovits each added four points in the fourth quarter with the final quarter ending a fantastic night for Keglovits, who finished with a game-high 27 points.

Keglovits nearly single-handedly gave Coudersport the lead going to the fourth quarter scoring 13 of the Falcons 14 third-quarter points helping them break a 30-all halftime tie.

Freshman Owen Chambers added 14 points for Coudy while hitting three 3-pointers, and Green chipped in 11.

Sophomore Cam Craig had a great game for Clarion with 24 points, including 15 in the first half. Jonathan Smith ended his one-year run with the Bobcats by scoring 14 points, while Ryan Anthony had six.

Coudersport will take on Ridgway in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Marys High School. It will be the fifth game of the year and third in a row at St. Marys for Ridgway. The teams met Feb. 9 in Ridgway with Ridgway coming out on top 54-45.

RIDGWAY 49, CAMERON COUNTY 12

ST. MARYS, Pa. – Second-seeded Ridgway held 10th-seeded Cameron County to two first-half points on its way to a 49-12 win over the overmatched Red Raiders in the District 9 Class A quarterfinals Friday night at St. Marys High School.

It marked the second time in three years Ridgway, which led 30-2, at halftime has rolled past Cameron County in the postseason.

In 2014, the Elkers beat the Red Raiders 47-21 in the quarterfinals. They led 20-5 at halftime in that game.

Jeremy Breier scored 29 of of Ridgway’s 49 points including 10 in the first quarter, as Ridgway (22-3) took a 22-2 lead at the end of the quarter.

Trae Smith and Adam Shaffer scored three points each for Cameron County (14-10).

The 12 points by Cameron County are the lowest point total in a boys’ District 9 playoff game in the D9Sports.com era, which started in 2001.

Ridgway will face Coudersport in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Marys High School. It will be the Elkers third straight game at St. Marys High and their fifth this season. It will also be the second meeting of the year between the teams. Ridgway beat Coudersport 54-45 Feb. 9 in Ridgway.