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ECC on a Crusade: Elk County Catholic Upsets Union-New Castle in PIAA Class A Quarterfinals

CLARION, Pa. (EYT/D9) — Charlie Breindel bumped fists with the rabid Elk County Catholic fans decked out in Saint Patrick’s Day green.

He hugged his mother. He rejoiced with his teammates. He celebrated one of the biggest wins of the year for the Crusaders’ boys basketball team.

Breindel scored 24 points and shot 15 of 17 from the free throw line to lead ECC to a 52-45 upset win in overtime over District 7 runner-up Union-New Castle in the PIAA Class A quarterfinals Tuesday night at Clarion University.

The Crusaders are indeed on a crusade — a perfect nickname for ECC, for sure. That mission has landed them in the semifinals for the first time since 2009.

“We’ve been talking all year — nobody believes in us — but we for sure believe in ourselves,” an emotional Breindel said after the game. “I did. I did. It’s a dream of mine for sure to get to the final four. As a senior, I finally get to make it there with all the hard work and seeing it pay off.”

Elk County Catholic had to work hard to get back into the game after a nightmare start.

Union-New Castle jumped up 7-0 and led 12-2 before ending the quarter with an 18-8 lead.

Everything the Scotties were putting up was falling through the net at Tippin Gymnasium.

It was similar to the Crusaders’ second-round game against Farrell where the Steelers came out with a hot hand, but then got ice cold, allowing ECC to rally and advance.

“I wasn’t necessarily disappointed — they made some shots, a lot like the Farrell game where Farrell came out and made everything in the first quarter,” said Elk County Catholic coach Aaron Straub. “I was a little disappointed that we turned the ball over three times in the first four possessions. You can’t score if you don’t put up shots. I thought we did a good job battling.”

After falling behind by 10, the Crusaders stormed back with a 13-1 run to take a 21-19 lead with a little less than two minutes remaining in the second quarter and took a 23-21 advantage into halftime.

ECC’s lead got as large as seven a little more than a minute into the second half, but Union-New Castle was able to draw even with a 7-0 run.

The Scotties took a brief 32-31 lead with 30 seconds left in the third quarter, but Jordan Wasko drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Union-New Castle never led again, but was able to force OT on a basket by Matt Stanley with a minute left in the fourth.

Foul trouble haunted Union-New Castle all game.

“Believe me, they deserved to win,” said Union-New Castle coach Mark Stanley. “They’re fundamentally sound. They do a lot of good things and they took some thing away. I just don’t understand how we go to the hole just as hard as anybody, and we can’t get a foul, and my two best players are in foul trouble. At this level, that game can’t be officiated like that. I don’t know, call me a baby, but they shot 24 (foul shots) and we shot 10. It’s frustrating.

“I do want to give credit to them,” Stanley added. “They’re a good team. I love how they play. They made great plays. All the credit.”

Matt Stanley scored 19 points to lead Union-New Castle.

Coach Stanley showed his frustration by getting a technical foul in the waning seconds.

That sent Breindel to the line and he buried all four free throws to turn a three-point game into the seven-point win.

Breindel was money at the line. He was 11 of 13 on free throws in the second half and 6 of 6 in overtime.

“This team’s resilient,” Breindel said. “We’ve been down multiple times in the first quarter and we find a way. That just shows how much we want it. It means the world for us to get to the final four.”

Wasko, a sophomore, and junior Adam Straub each added 10 points for Elk County Catholic, which will square off against WPIAL champion Bishop Canevin Friday at a site and time to be determined with a trip to Hershey on the line.

“They beat two D9 teams (Johnsonburg and DuBois Central),” Breindel said, smiling, “so we’re going to go in there and give it our best shot.”