DANVILLE, Pa. – District 12 runner-up Constitution used a 20-6 run that bridge the second and third quarters to break open a close game and get a 59-40 win over Ridgway, the District 9 third-place finisher, in the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals Sunday afternoon at Danville High School.
(Cover photo of Justin Kasmierski. Photo by Paul Burdick. Check out more of Burdick’s work here)
The Elkers (23-6) were right in the game with three minutes left in the second quarter trailing by just four, 20-16, following a 7-2 run.
But Constitution (19-9) used a quick 4-1 spurt to push the lead to seven, 24-17, with 1:41 left before halftime and led 27-20 at the break.
The Generals then started the second half by scoring the half’s first seven points while going on a half-starting 13-2 run that pushed the lead to 40-22 with 3:50 left in the third quarter.
Ridgway was able to fight back within 14, 40-26, by the end of the third quarter and then started the fourth quarter with a 10-7 advantage with Justin Kasmierski scoring all 10 of the points to get within 11, 47-36, with 3:54 to play.
But Constitution answered with an 8-2 run that put the game away.
Kasmierski paced Ridgway with 21 points. Daunte Allegretto added eight and Neil MacDonald seven.
Tamir Green scored 20 for the Generals, his first 20 points of the PIAA playoffs. Maurice Waters added eight points.
Constitution will play Philadelphia Public League rival Math, Civics and Science in the semifinals Tuesday at a site and time to be determined. MCS knocked Constitution out in the Public League finals and also beat the Generals in last year’s PIAA Class 1A semifinals.
CONSTITUTION 59, RIDGWAY 40
Score by Quarters
Ridgway 5 15 6 14 – 40
Constitution 9 18 13 19 -59
RIDGWAY – 40
Justin Kasmierski 7 7-10 21, Daunte Allegretto 3 2-2 8, Neil MacDonald 2 3-7 7, Andy Breier 1 0-1 2, Josh Thorwart 1 0-0 2, Totals 14 12-18 40.
CONSTITUTION – 59
Tamir Green 9 2-2 20, Maurice Waters 4 0-0 8, Jahmir Williams 2 1-2 6, Keshaun Hammonds 2 0-0 6, Raquon West 3 0-2 6, Hakim Hudson 2 0-1 5, Tyree Mitchell 2 0-0 5, Jamaal Brown 1 0-0 3, Totals 25 3-7 59.
Three-pointers: Constitution 6 (Hammonds 2, Hudson, Mitchell, Williams, Brown).
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