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Feb. 20, 2020 Boys’ Bball Playoffs: Clarion, Ridgway Move into D9 2A Semifinals


KNOX, Pa. – Putting three players in double digits, Clarion held off a strong third-quarter push from Karns City to pick up a 54-48 win in the District 9 Class 2A quarterfinals at Keystone High School.

(Photo: Clarion’s Skylar Rhoades finishes a layup over Karns City’s Micah Rupp during Thursday’s Bobcats win. Photo by Mary Rearick)

Cal German led the fourth-seeded Bobcats (15-8) with a game-high 23 points while adding five assists, three steals and three rebounds, while Hunter Craddock added 11 points and eight rebounds and Skylar Rhoades 10 points, six assists, four rebounds and a steal.

Also See: Kane moves into D9 3A Finals

Rhoades had two crucial assists on baskets from Nick Frederick (seven points, three rebounds, one steal) at the start of the fourth quarter after fifth-seeded Karns City (13-9) cut an 11-point third-quarter deficit, 34-23, into a two-point deficit, 34-32, by the end of the quarter thanks to a 9-0 run that featured seven points from the free-throw line.

But Rhoades twice fed Frederick on nearly identical plays in the opening minute of the fourth quarter to push the lead back to six, and the lead never went under four the rest of the way with only a banked-in 3-pointer at the horn by Karns City’s Caiden Corbett keeping the game at two possessions at the end.

Rhoades talked about the victory.

Chase Beighley led Karns City with 21 points, five rebounds and two steals scoring nine of his points in a fast-paced first quarter that saw the teams tied at 16 after one with German scoring 11 points for the Bobcats.

Nathan Waltman added 10 points, four rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot for Karns City with freshman Micah Rupp chipping in eight points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots.

Clarion will play top-seeded Keystone in the semifinals Tuesday. It will be the fourth meeting of the season between the neighboring schools with Keystone winning the first two but Clarion taking the latest matchup in late January.

Clarion recaps are brought to you by: Delta Contracting & Design/Ace Concrete & ExcavatingBurford & Henry Real Estate ServicesTin Town Metal WorksState Representative Donna Oberlander (Paid for by Friends of Donna Oberlander) • Clarion Area Boys’ Basketball Booster Club

Karns City recaps are brought to you by: Lezzer LumberTin Town Metal WorksState Representative Donna Oberlander (Paid for by Friends of Donna Oberlander)

THE COACH AND THE SCRIBE

Chris Rossetti and Jess Quinn talked about the game on another edition of the Coach and the Scribe Powered by the Rehab Centre with six locations including in Clarion, Brookville and Kittanning.

RIDGWAY 50, SMETHPORT 27

KANE, Pa. – Outscoring Smethport by 31 points over the final three quarters of play, third-seeded and defending champion Ridgway rolled to a 50-27 win over the sixth-seeded Hubbers in the District 9 Class 2A quarterfinals at Kane High School.

The Elkers (17-7) started slowly and trailed 11-3 at the end of the first quarter but outscored the Hubbers (13-10) 47-16 the rest of the way including 36-11 in the second half and 17-4 in the final 4:20.

Matt Dush started things rolling for Ridgway scoring six of his 18 points in the second quarter to get the Elkers within two, 16-14, at halftime.

Ridgway then started the second half on a 10-3 run to take a 24-19 lead late in the third quarter and led 26-21 by the end of the quarter.

The lead grew to 33-23 with 4:20 to play, and then the Elkers blew the game open with the game-ending 17-4 with Dush finishing the fourth quarter with eight more points and Zack Zameroski adding five of his 16 in the final eight minutes and 11 of his points in the second half.

Dan Park chipped in seven points in the win for Ridgway.

Conner Alfieri led Smethport (13-10) with 11 points, seven in the first half with Richie McDowell chipping in six tallies on a pair of first-half 3-pointers.

In a rematch of the last two District 9 Class 2A title games, Ridgway will face Coudersport in the semifinals Tuesday.

Smethport recaps are brought to you by: Team MinardPotter County Family CampgroundClose’s Lumber Company

Full coverage of District 9 teams in the basketball postseason can be found here.

D9Sports.com’s District 9/PIAA basketball playoff coverage Powered by Lezzer Lumber is brought to you by:

Lezzer LumberDelta Contracting & Design/Ace Concrete & ExcavatingTeam MinardFran Morelli Sales & ServiceBurford & Henry Real Estate ServicesPotter County Family CampgroundClose’s Lumber CompanyTin Town Metal WorksState Representative Donna Oberlander (Paid for by Friends of Donna Oberlander)120 Pub and Grub in ClearfieldCampbell Bus Lines