Big third quarter helps Farrell pull away from Elk County Catholic

By Chris Rossetti

CLARION, Pa. – District 10 runner-up used a 28-point third quarter to blow open a single-digit game at the half and roll to a 79-49 win over District 9 third-place finisher Elk County Catholic in the second round of the PIAA Class A boys’ basketball playoffs Tuesday night at Clarion University’s Tippin Gym.

The Steelers (23-4) led 34-25 at halftime but outscored ECC (26-3) 28-8 in the third quarter to blow the game wide open.

Farrell was 11 of 17 from the floor in the third quarter including 4 of 4 from beyond the arc and got 10 points from Malik Miller, who finished with a game-high 30 including the junior’s 1,000^th career point, in the frame.

Miller, who finished the night with 1,001 career tallies and shot 11 of 15 from the field, did most of his damage after halftime scoring 21 points in the second half. But he was hardly alone on offense for Farrell, which shot a blistering 61.1 percent (33 of 54) for the game including an incredible 66.7 percent (18 of 27) in the second half after connecting on a hot 55.6 percent (15 of 27) before halftime.

Jamel Brown added 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting and score 12 first-half points, while Leon Lewis added 15 on 7 of 9 shooting and Terrance Holloway nine. Brown added six rebound, while Miller had five and Thomas Ripley and Holloway a team-high seven each helping the Steelers outrebound ECC 35-24.

Mitch Struble led ECC with 11 points, while Nate DaCanal had eight points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and a blocked shot.

The Crusaders, though, struggled from the field going 19 of 45 (42.2 percent) for the game and didn’t help themselves at the free-throw line shooting just 7 of 16 nor from beyond the arc going 4 of 12.

Farrell will play District 9 champion Clarion-Limestone, a 97-90 winner over Vincentian Academy Tuesday, in the quarterfinals Friday at a site and time to be determined.

FARRELL 79, ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 49

Score by Quarters

Farrell 15 19 28 17 – 79

Elk CC 7 18 8 16 – 49

Farrell – 79

Thomas Ripley 3-8 0-1 6, Terrance Holloway 4-9 0-2 9, Jamel Brown 8-12 2-5 19, Malik Miller 11-15 4-6 30, Leon Lewis 7-9 0-1 15, Malik Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Curtis Seay 0-0 0-0 0, Marcus McCoy 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 33-54 6-15 79.

ECC – 49

Ben Hoffman 2-4 1-2 6, Mitch Struble 5-14 0-1 11, Ian Herzing 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Seelye 1-3 0-0 2, Nate DaCanal 3-11 1-2 8, Jack Wolfe 0-0 0-0 0, Jeff Wehler 1-3 3-6 5, Mitchell Smith 0-1 0-2 0, Alex Dattoli 1-1 0-0 2, Dan Singer 2-3 1-1 5, Kyle Huff 2-3 1-2 5, Patrick Hoffman 1-1 0-0 2, Peter Riddle 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 19-45 7-16 49.

Three-pointers – Farrell 7-16 (Miller 4-8, Lewis 1-2, Holloway 1-3, Brown 1-3). ECC 4-12 (Riddle 1-1, Hoffman 1-2, DaCanal 1-2, Struble 1-6, Singer 0-1).