Cranberry Girls Heading to PIAA Playoffs

KANE, Pa. – For the first time since 2012 Cranberry is headed to the PIAA playoffs.

(See other Wednesday recaps)

The Berries earned the third and final PIAA Class 2A playoff spot awarded to District 9 in girls’ basketball with a 46-35 win over Port Allegany in the consolation game at Kane High School.

Strong second and fourth quarters helped Cranberry, who plays the WPIAL champion, either Chartiers-Houston or Vincentian.

The Berries, who led 6-5 at the end of a quarter, used a 17-5 second-quarter advantage to take a 23-17 halftime lead, and then after Port closed to within four, 29-25, at the end of the third quarter Cranberry outscored the Lady Gators 17-10.

Malliah Schreck led Cranberry with 17 points with Erin Merryman adding nine and Bree Swartzfager and Hannah Duncan each scoring eight.

Autumn Buchsenschutz scored a game-high 18 points for Lady Gators.

CRANBERRY 46, PORT ALLEGANY 35

Score by Quarters

Port Allegany 5 12 8 10 – 35
Cranberry 6 17 6 17 – 46

PORT ALLEGANY – 35

Autumn Buchsenschutz 6 2-4 18, Emily Buchsenschutz 0 0-0 0, Hannah Lathrop 0 0-0 0, Leah Garzel 1 0-0 2, Bri Roys 0 1-2 1, Erin Stauffer 1 0-0 2, Jenna Sprankle 2 1-2 5, Cierra Lanager 0 0-0 0, Cailey Barnett 3 1-2 7, Maleh Daniels 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 5-10 35.

CRANBERRY – 46

Bree Swartzfager 2 4-4 8, Erin Merryman 1 7-10 9, Malliah Schreck 8 1-2 17, Ellie Kahle 0 2-2 2, Hannah Duncan 4 0-2 8, Nicole Hutchinson 1 0-0 2, Andrea Altman 0 0-0 0, Emily Duncan 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 14-20 46.

Three-pointers: Port Allegany 4 (Buchsenschutz 4).