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Tuesday’s District 9 Playoff Preview

Here is a quick look at the District 9 playoff games for Feb. 27.

(Photo of Kane’s Ella Marconi. Photo by Paul Burdick. Check out more of Burdick’s work here)

BOYS

Class 2A Semifinals

(5) Clarion (17-6) vs. (1) Ridgway (24-0)

When and where:7:30 p.m. at DuBois High School
Players to Watch:Ridgway: Neil MacDonald (11.5 ppg), Andy Breier (10.6 ppg), Johnny Mitchell (10.2 ppg), Daunte Allegretto (7.9 ppg). Clarion: Cam Craig (18.1 ppg; 1,102 career points), Austin Hummell (13.8 ppg), Calvin German (8.0 ppg), Spencer Miller (7.4 ppg).
Game Notes:Ridgway is unbeaten this deep into a season for the first time since 2012 when the Elkers went all the way to the PIAA Class 1A semifinals … As good as Ridgway has been, and this is the Elkers third straight semifinal appearance and sixth in the last seven years, Ridgway hasn’t been to a District 9 title game since winning the 2014 1A championship. That was the Elkers third straight 1A title-game appearance with wins in 2012 and 2014 … Clarion is in the semifinals for the first time since being in the 1A semifinals in 2005, and the Bobcats haven’t gotten to a title game since 2003 when they won the 1A championship … Clarion beat Clarion-Limestone in the quarterfinals, while Ridgway had a bye into the semifinals.

(6) Brockway (12-12) vs. (2) Coudersport (20-3)

When and where:7:30 p.m. at St. Marys High School
Players to Watch:Coudersport: Owen Chambers (24.4 ppg, 1,330 career points), Jared Green (17.7 ppg, 1, 482 career points), Hunter Ricke (11.1 ppg). Brockway: Carter Adams (15.3 ppg), Noah Vokes (10.5 ppg), Zane Puhala (8.1 ppg).
Game Notes:This is a rematch of last year’s championship game won by Coudersport, 67-61. The Falcons have been to a D9 title game in two straight years having lost to Elk County Catholic in the 1A title game in 2016. Brockway is also looking for its third straight championship game appearance, all in 2A … Brockway knocked off Keystone in the quarterfinals with Coudersport topping Curwensville.

GIRLS

Class 2A Semifinals

(5) Keystone (12-11) vs. (1) Kane (23-1)

When and where:6 p.m. at DuBois High School
Players to Watch:Kane: Ella Marconi (15.5 ppg, 1,033 career points), Trinity Clark (12.2 ppg, 1,176 career points), Rachael Morgan (9.9 ppg), Hannah Buhl (7.3 ppg). Keystone: Taylor Geer (20.6 ppg, 1,349 career points), Mackenzie Byerley (7.0 ppg), McKenzie Hovis (6.1 ppg).
Game Notes:This is the second meeting of the year between these teams. In the first one Jan. 8 with Kane winning on the road, 51-49 … Kane is looking to get back to the 2A championship game for the second straight year. The Lady Wolves fell to Coudersport in last year’s championship game and have never won a D9 title losing in the championship game six times … Keystone didn’t make the playoffs last year after winning the Class 1A title in 2016 … Kane’s lone loss this year came to unbeaten North Clarion … Keystone beat Ridgway in the quarterfinals, while Kane had a bye into the semifinals.

(3) Cranberry (15-8) vs. (2) Coudersport (19-3)

When and where:6 p.m. at St. Marys
Players to Watch:Coudersport Haley Keck (20.4 ppg, 1,431 points), Shaelyn Black (15.2 ppg), Sarah Chambers (9.7 ppg), EmmaRae Easton (8.0 ppg). Cranberry (Malliah Schreck (19.4 ppg), Hannah Duncan (6.5 ppg), Ava Ferringer (5.3 ppg).
Game Notes:Coudersport is the defending champion having beaten Kane in last year’s title game. Cranberry is looking to reach a championship game for the first time since winning its fourth of four titles in a row in 2012 … Coudersport’s losses have come to Kane, Wellsboro and Otto-Eldred … Cranberry suffered a blow in early February when second-leading scorer Erin Merryman (13.4 ppg) quit the team. Since then, the Berries have gone 5-2 with three straight wins, although two of them came over Forest Area before knocking off Clarion in the Class 2A quarterfinals … Coudersport had a bye into the semifinals.