March 9 girls’ basketball recaps for District 9 teams in the PIAA playoffs.
(Photo: Abby Gatesman had 15 points and 15 rebounds in North Clarion’s loss to Sewickley Academy in the PIAA first round. D9 girls’ teams went 0-5 Saturday in the PIAA tournament. Photo by Jared Bakaysa of JB Graphics. See more of Bakaysa’s work here)
SEWICKLEY ACADEMY 44, NORTH CLARION 35
WEST SUNBURY, Pa. – The North Clarion girls’ basketball team picked the worst time to have one of if not it’s worst game of the season.
The District 9 champion She-Wolves struggled in many aspects of the game – especially shooting – in dropping a 44-35 decision to Sewickley Academy, the sixth-place team out of the WPIAL, in the opening round of the PIAA Class 1A playoffs Saturday afternoon at Moniteau High School.
“We just picked a bad day to play bad,” North Clarion head coach Terry Dreihaup said. “Unfortunately, the girls didn’t play a good game. We struggled from the get-go and couldn’t get things rolling. We just didn’t play a good game. Hats off to them. They played better than what I saw on any film that I watched. Congratulations to them.”
North Clarion was as cold as the weather had been earlier in the week shooting 10 of 43 (23.3 percent) from the field including just 5 of 30 (16.7 percent) over the final three quarters. That included a stretch of 11:27 seconds from early in the second quarter until late in the third quarter without the She-Wolves connecting on a field goal.
“I think it was just one of those days,” Dreihaup said. “Sometime either in the second quarter or at halftime, I told the girls we can’t live and die by the three. Right now, we are just not hitting them so we need to force the ball inside. We gave it a good effort. We made a couple of inside shots, but unfortunately, we didn’t keep doing that.”
Despite nearly everything that could go wrong going wrong, North Clarion (19-7) was still very much in the game and trailed by just three, 35-32, following two free throws by Abby Gatesman, who was a perfect 8 of 8 from the line on the day, with 3:20 to play.
But the lack of rebounding bit hard when Kamryn Lightcap, who had a game-high 18 points to go with nine rebounds, snagged an offensive rebound and then put the ball back up and in with 2:31 to play to all but put the game away.
It was also Kamryn Lightcap’s 3-pointer midway through the third quarter that gave the Panthers the lead for good when she broke a 24-all tie with a deep shot moments after re-entering the game after starting the second half on the bench with three fouls.
Kendall Lightcap followed that three with a three of her own with the triples part of an 11-0 Sewickley Academy lead that took a two-point, 24-22, North Clarion advantage early in the third quarter and turned it into a nine-point, 33-24, lead for the Panthers following another Kamryn Lightcap basket with 2:18 to play in the third quarter.
Gatesman had a monster game in a losing effort with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Gabby Schmader added 11 points, all in the first half, for North Clarion with Mackenzie Bauer scoring seven.
Kendall Lightcap chipped in seven points for Sewickley Academy (13-8), who moves on to play St. Joseph’s Academy, a 52-41 winner over Quigley Catholic, in the second round Wednesday, March 13, at a date and time to be announced.
SEWICKLEY ACADEMY 44, NORTH CLARION 35
Score by Quarters
Sewickley Academy 11 11 11 11 – 44
North Clarion 12 10 5 8 – 35
SEWICKLEY ACADEMY – 44
Myra Samuel 0 0-0 0, JJ Jardini 2 0-0 4, Kendall Lightcap 2 2-2 7, Theresa Wilson 3 0-1 6, Mia DelVecchio 0 0-1 0, Kamryn Lightcap 7 2-7 18, Bre Warner 2 0-0 4, Desaire Nance 2 1-1 5. Totals 18 5-12 44.
NORTH CLARION – 35
Mackenzie Bauer 2 1-2 7, Addison Shaftic 0 0-0 0, Cierah Manross 0 0-0 0, Gabby Schmader 5 0-0 11, Gabby Carll 0 2-4 2, Abby Gatesman 3 8-8 15, Haley Sherman 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 11-14 35.
Three-pointers: Sewickley Academy 3 (Kamryn Lightcap 2, Kendall Lightcap). North Clarion 4 (Bauer 2, Schmader, Gatesman).
VINCENTIAN ACADEMY 48, JOHNSONBURG 46, OT
ST. MARYS, Pa. – Sydney Calderaro game-winning shot with under four seconds to play lifted Vincentian Academy to a 48-46 overtime win over Johnsonburg in the opening round of the PIAA Class 1A playoffs at St. Marys High School.
Johnsonburg (20-7) forced overtime when Rylee Casilio nailed a game-tying 3-pointer with 6.4 seconds left in regulation knotting the game at 44.
The Casilio triple capped a furious rally by the Ramettes in the final couple of minutes of regulation.
Johnsonburg was down seven, 43-36, with just around two left in regulation, were staging a furious rally.
Casilio hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 43-39 before Hannah Katz split a pair of free throws to put the Royals up five, 44-39.
Lindsey Kocjancic then hit two free throws to cut the deficit to three, and Johnsonburg got the chance to tie the game after Vincentian missed a layup with less than 20 seconds remaining in regulation.
“I’ve been with those kids since they were five years old in soccer,” King said about the senior class which includes his daughter, Cassidy. “They are like my kids. They are just so unselfish, and they will work hard to achieve any goal.”
In overtime, Johnsonburg’s Cassidy King got to the line six times but was only able to convert a pair of the six to put the Ramettes ahead by two, 46-44, going to the final stretch.
But Vincentian Academy (13-12), the fourth-place team out of the WPIAL, tied the game at 46 on a basket by Melina Cortez with 20 seconds to go and then got the ball back for the game winner.
Missed free throws were an issue all night long for the Ramettes, who were 10 of 26 from the line.
“Missed free throws killed us from the start,” Johnsonburg head coach Mike King said. “We just could not get them to go in.”
Johnsonburg, playing without one of its top players, Maria Jones, who injured her knee late in the D9 title game against North Clarion, found itself down 24-16 at halftime after a 21-7 half-closing run by the Royals.
The Ramettes were still down five, 33-28, at the end of three quarters before Vincentian Academy seemed to put the game away prior to the late surge by Johnsonburg.
Cassidy King led Johnsonburg with 16 points while Casilio chipped in 13.
Katz led Vincentian with a game-high 21 points while Alania Winkler added 16 tallies.
Vincentian Academy will take on Tussey Mountain in the second round at a site and time to be announced Wednesday, March 13.
VINCENTIAN ACADEMY 48, JOHNSONBURG 46, OT
Score by Quarters
Vincentian Academy 13 11 9 11 4 – 48
Johnsonburg 9 7 12 16 2 – 46
VINCENTIAN ACADEMY – 48
Alana Winkler 7 1-2 16, Hannah Katz 10 1-2 21, Sydney Calderaro 2 0-0 4, Olivia Schoppen 0 0-0 0, Melina Cortez 1 0-0 2, Saige Smith 1 0-0 2, Tara Lucot 1 1-2 3. Totals 22 3-6
JOHNSONBURG – 46
Amanda Williams 2 2-6 6, Rylee Casilio 4 1-2 13, Cassidy King 7 3-10 17, Lindsey Kocjancic 3 2-6 8, Emma King 0 2-2 2, Tess Kocjancic 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 10-26 46.
Three-pointers: Vincentian Academy 1 (Winkler). Johnsonburg 4 (Casilio 4)
SHANKSVILLE-STONYCREEK 52, COUDERSPORT 28
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Shanksville-Stonycreek built an 11-2 lead after one quarter and cruised to a 52-28 win over Coudersport in the opening round of the PIAA Class 1A playoffs at Pitt-Johnstown.
The Lady Falcons (19-6), the third-place team out of District 9, got their offense going a little in the second quarter scoring 14 points but were still down 28-16 at halftime.
Sidney Stutzman and Rylee Snyder led a balanced attack for the Vikings (22-5), the District 5 runner-up, with 11 points each. Hannah Platt and Lexi Wilt each added nine and Josie Snyder scored eight.
Shae Black paced Coudersport with a game-high 15 points.
Shanksville will face Rochester in the second round Wednesday, March 13, at a time and place to be determined.
SHANKSVILLE-STONYCREEK 52, COUDERSPORT 28
Score by Quarters
Coudersport 2 14 5 7 – 28
Shanksville 11 17 10 13 – 52
COUDERSPORT – 28
Mikayla Gunn 0 2-4 2, Tianna Bowser 0 0-0 0, Lauren Stimaker 0 0-0 0, Dana Dubots 0 0-0 0, Elizabeth Frame 2 0-0 4, Sarah Chambers 1 1-1 3, Aubri Thompson 0 0-0 0, Shae Black 6 3-3 15, Alayna Bliss 0 0-0 0, Rosalyn Page 2 0- 4. Totals 11 6-8 28.
SHANKSVILLE-STONYCREEK – 52
Kara Platt 1 2-2 4, Sidney Stutzman 5 0-2 11, Hannah Platt 4 0-0 9, Rylee Snyder 4 3-8 11, Josie Snyder 4 0-0 8, Lexi Wilt 4 0-0 9, Allie Ziegler 0 0-0 0, Katelyn Charlton 0 0-0 0, Maggie Walker 0 0-0 0, Samantha Creamer 0 0-0 0, Tywana Meyers 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 5-12 52.
Three-pointers: Coudersport 0. Shanksville 3 (Stutzman, Hannah Platt, Wilt)
ROCHESTER 67, OTTO-ELDRED 44
NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Alexis Robison and Corynne Hauser combined for 49 points to lift WPIAL champion Rochester to a 67-44 win over District 4 fourth-place finisher Otto-Eldred in the opening round of the PIAA Class 1A tournament at New Castle High School.
Robison had a game-high 27 points with Hauser adding 22. Both players nailed three 3-pointers apiece.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this group,” Otto-Eldred head coach Shawn Gray said. “We got beat by a better team today, but we really played hard and were ready to go. The future is bright.”
Otto-Eldred (15-11) held its own for a quarter and trailed by just nine, 24-15, at the end of eight minutes.
But the Rams (20-6) continued to score while the Lady Terrors got a bit stagnant on offense and the lead was 42-24 at halftime.
Jadelyn Spinney paced Otto-Eldred with 12 points, while Kayley Heller added nine points and six rebounds.
Reilly Raught chipped in with five points, 10 rebounds and four assists and Britney Greeley had three points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists.
Rochester will play Shanksville-Stonycreek in the second round Wednesday, March 13, at a time and place to be announced.
ROCHESTER 67, OTTO-ELDRED 44
Score by Quarters
Otto-Eldred 15 9 11 9 – 44
Rochester 24 18 17 8 – 67
OTTO-ELDRED – 44
Hayley Frederick 0 0-0 0, Lauren Cousins 0 0-0 0, Haley Cousins 2 0-0 6, Emmalee Sheeler 0 0-0 0, Reilly Raught 2 1-2 5, Autumn Smith 2 0-0 5, Britney Greeley 1 1-2 3, Jadelyn Spinney 4 2-2 12, Morgan Dalton 0 0-0 0, Kayley Heller 4 0-2 9, Veronica Benini 0 0-0 0, Hannah Gordon 0 0-0 0, Suzie Rounsville 1 0-0 2, Taylor English 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 4-10 44.
ROCHESTER – 67
Alexis Robison 11 2-2 27, Corynne Hauser 9 1-1 22, Jasmine Mack 0 0-2 0, Victoria Schinke 2 2-4 6, Bethany Barto 5 0-0 11, Alysha Martin 0 0-0 0, Mackenzie Robison 0 1-2 1, Kiera Witt 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 6-11 67.
Three-pointers: Otto-Eldred 6 (Hayley Cousins 2, Spinney 2, Smith, Heller). Rochester 7 (Alexis Robison 3, Hauser 3, Barto)
BLACKHAWK 70, PUNXSUTAWNEY 46
HYDE, Pa. – Turning a two-point lead midway through the third quarter to a 24-point first-round PIAA Class 4A state playoff win, Blackhawk ended Punxsutawney’s season with a 70-46 first-round victory at Clearfield Area High School.
The Lady Cougars (20-5) held a slim 39-37 lead at the 4:19 mark of the third quarter, but embarked on a massive 29-2 run that gave them a convincing 68-39 lead with 3:41 left in the game.
Robert Morris commit McKenzie Amalia, a junior guard, led the way with 25 points, 15 coming in the second half. Mady Aulbach finished with 12 points, and Olivia Roberts and Julie Strati each scored 10 points apiece.
The Lady Chucks, whose season finished at 22-2, led 19-18 after the first quarter before Blackhawk grabbed a 35-29 halftime advantage after an Amalia 3-pointer beat the horn.
However, the Lady Chucks started the third with a 6-0 run to tie things up at 35-35 before Blackhawk went ahead for good and then took firm control of the game from there with the big run.
Sarah Weaver led the Lady Chucks with 15 points, the only player on her team to reach double-figure scoring. Ryley Casaday came off the bench to score eight points.
Blackhawk, the WPIAL fourth seed, advances to the second round to face WPIAL champion North Catholic next Wednesday at a site and time to be announced. They did not meet during the regular season.
BLACKHAWK 70, PUNXSUTAWNEY 46
Score By Quarters
Blackhawk 18 17 16 19 – 70
Punxsy 19 10 8 9 – 46
BLACKHAWK – 70
MacKenzie Amalia 10 2-2 25, Mady Aulbach 3 5-6 12, Morgan Wissner 1 0-0 2, Olivia Roberts 3-3-3 10, Ava Haddox 1 2-2 4, Karyne Kinger 0 0-0 0, Sierra Richard 2 0-0 5, Julie Strati 4 1-1 10, Morgan Faller 0 0-0 0, Alivia Thompson 1 0-0 2. Totals: 25 12-13 70.
PUNXSUTAWNEY – 46
Emily Griebel 1 1-2 3, Kate Horner 2 1-2 5, Abby Gigliotti 3 0-2 6, Sophie Wyant 0 1-2 1, Katelyn Griebel 1 0-0 2, Bella Martino 0 0-0 0, Jadyn McMahan 0 0-0 0, Riley Presloid 2 0-0 5, Ryley Casaday 4 1-2 9, Sarah Weaver 4 5-6 15, Lindsey Small 0 0-0 0, Kierstin Riley 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 9-16 46.
Three-pointers: Blackhawk 8 (Amalia 4, Aubach, Roberts, Richard, Strati), Punxsutawney 3 (Presloid, Weaver 2).
