Bishop Guilfoyle (6-3) vs. Sullivan County (4-1)
CLASS A
Records: Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic Marauders (14-11); Sullivan County Griffins (21-3).
Site, time: Montoursville Area High School, 7:30 p.m., tonight.
The coaches: Bishop Guilfoyle - Josh Baker (66-56 in five years). Sullivan County - Glenn Vaughan (102-69 in seven years).
Playoff path: Bishop Guilfoyle - defeated Juniata Valley, 38-37, in the District 6 quarterfinals; lost to Bishop Carroll, 49-42, in the District 6 semifinals; defeated Glendale, 37-35, in the District 6 consolation. Sullivan County - defeated Muncy, 76-40, in the District 4 semifinals; defeated Neumann Regional, 34-30, in the District 4 championship.
Starting lineups: Bishop Guilfoyle - G Patrick Irwin (2, 5-10 jr., 7.5), G Colin Sullivan (4, 5-10 sr., 4.0), G Brandon Drenning (24, 6-0 jr., 8.8), F Zach Patterson (32, 6-4 jr., 7.3), F Tai Irwin (21, 6-4 sr., 8.1). Sullivan County - G Kelby Mullen (20, 6-0 jr., 7.5), G Zach Meyer (1, 6-5 jr., 10.1), G/F Dalton Molyneaux (22, 6-2 sr., 5.4), F Sharif Welton (11, 6-6 sr., 16.0), C Derek Wilkins (40, 6-5 jr., 9.7).
Key reserves: Bishop Guilfoyle - F Zane Snyder (23, 6-3 so., 3.0), G Nate Nardelli (10, 5-11 jr., 2.9), G C.J. Fulare (11, 5-10 so., 2.2). Sullivan County - F Connor Wylie (3, 6-4 so., 5.1), G Lucas Hatton (24, 6-0 jr., 1.8), C Calen Wylie (42, 6-3 sr., 1.4).
Who they get: The winner plays the winner of the game between Math, Civics Science (12-2) and Pius X (11-1) at a site to be announced.
Notable: Bishop Guilfoyle is making its return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2008. That year, the Marauders advanced to the second round when St. Joseph's forfeited the playoff opener because it refused to travel in that night's snowstorm. ... Guilfoyle has held nine of its last 10 opponents to 50 points or less, going 7-3 in those contests. ... Sullivan County's district title is its first in any sport in school history. This is the second year in a row in which the Griffins have made it into the PIAA bracket. Welton reportedly is drawing some Division II college recruiting interest. He also averages 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals. ... Drenning has made 66 3-pointers this season. No one else on the squad has more than 11. The Irwins who start for the Marauders are cousins.
Bishop Carroll (6-2) vs. Johnsonburg (9-2)
CLASS A
Records: Bishop Carroll Catholic Huskies (14-12); Johnsonburg Rams (22-5).
Site, time: Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium, Clarion University, 6:30 p.m.
The coaches: Bishop Carroll - Cosie Aliquo (69-62 in five years). Johnsonburg - Bill Shuey (91-44 in five years).
Playoff path: Bishop Carroll - defeated Blacklick Valley, 71-60, in the District 6 first round; defeated Conemaugh Valley, 56-54, in the District 6 quarterfinals; defeated Bishop Guilfoyle, 49-42, in the District 6 semifinals; lost to Northern Cambria, 57-56, in the District 6 championship. Johnsonburg - defeated Coudersport, 54-37, in the District 9 quarterfinals; defeated Elk County Catholic, 42-36, in the District 9 semifinals; lost to Ridgway, 40-37, in the District 9 championship.
Starting lineups: Bishop Carroll - G Ryan Lauer (3, 5-7 sr., 13.6), G David Maruca (4, 5-8 so., 3.2), G Mitchell Madonna (24, 5-8 so., 5.1), F Scott Ranck (22, 6-0 jr., 10.8), C Marcus Lee (12, 6-4 so., 11.8). Johnsonburg - G Cameron Grumley (3, 5-9 so., 13.0), G Cole Peterson (12, 5-10 so., 12.2), G Mitch Holmberg (15, 5-9 jr., 6.5), F Quinn Luhr (10, 6-1 jr., 7.8), F Michael Shuey (25, 6-5 sr., 6.4).
Key reserves: Bishop Carroll - G Brandon Martinazzi (1, 5-7 fr., 8.7), F Nik Suckinos (15, 5-11 fr., 2.0). Johnsonburg - F Frank Kogjancic (21, 6-0 jr., 6.0), F Kyle Sheldon (5, 6-0 jr., 3.9).
Who they get: The winner plays winner of the game between North Catholic (7-4) and West Middlesex (10-1) at a site to be announced.
Notable: Carroll is making its fourth PIAA tournament appearance in five years and sixth in the last nine campaigns. The Huskies advanced to the second round of interdistricts in 2008. The Rams are making their first trip to the playoffs since 2009, when Northern Bedford knocked them out in the opening round. Johnsonburg was a PIAA semifinalist in 2004. ... Lee is averaging 9.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots. Although predominantly a perimeter player, Martinazzi is making 47 percent of his field goal attempts. Johnsonburg is second in all of District 9 in points allowed at 39.4 points per game. The Huskies are 6-3 against Class A teams this season.
VisionQuest (10-3) vs. Northern Cambria (6-1)
CLASS A
Records: VisionQuest Eagles (13-9); Northern Cambria Colts (20-5).
Site, time: Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School, 7:30 p.m.
The coaches: VisionQuest - Richard Gordon (25-15 in two years). Northern Cambria - Dan Weber (132-117 in nine years).
Playoff path: VisionQuest - defeated Eisenhower, 71-50, in the District 10 quarterfinals; lost to West Middlesex, 74-68, in overtime in the District 10 semifinals; defeated Cochranton, 67-44, in the District 10 consolation. Northern Cambria - defeated Penns Manor, 71-58, in the District 6 quarterfinals; defeated Glendale, 74-51, in the District 6 semifinals; defeated Bishop Carroll, 57-56, in the District 6 championship.
Starting lineups: VisionQuest - G Nasir Mitchell (3, 6-0 jr., 14.0), F Darrian Brown (10, 6-2 sr., 20.7), F Ameer Lloyd (21, 6-3 sr., 2.4), F Derrick Rollins (20, 6-1 jr., 5.9), C Kimon Roberson (25, 6-4 sr., 10.3). Northern Cambria - G Derek Bearer (23, 5-8 jr., 4.7), G Josh Bonatesta (33, 5-8 jr., 15.2), G Adam Polites (23, 6-1 jr., 15.8), F Nick Lee (22, 5-11 jr., 10.8), F Jeff Hogan (35, 6-3 jr., 13.8).
Key reserves: VisionQuest - G Curtis Gibbs (5, 5-9 sr., 6.9), G Dominique Henderson (23, 6-0 sr., 3.8), G Raymond Dickey (13, 5-10 sr., 2.4), F Gumma Munzal (50, 6-2 jr., 0.4), G Tyree Almore (15, 6-1 sr., 2,4). Northern Cambria - G Tyler Hartman (11, 5-9 jr., 1.1), G Zack Lee (20, 5-7 so., 0.3).
Who they get: The winner plays the winner of the game between Berlin Brothersvalley (5-2) and Vincentian (7-3) on Tuesday at a site to be announced.
Notable: Northern Cambria is making its third consecutive interdistrict playoff appearance; the Colts went in 2010 as the fourth-place team from District 6 Class A and made it as the runner-up last year. The Colts reached the second round of the tournament in 2011, the first time the school won a state playoff game since 1965. VisionQuest is a court-adjudicated school in Franklin. Neither Mitchell nor Almore were at the school when the season began. The Eagles never have won a PIAA tournament game. Gordon in a former player at Farrell. He took over as VisionQuest's coach for Rolland "Bay'' Lawrence, the former Atlanta Falcon Pro Bowl cornerback who guided the Eagles since their program's inception 18 years ago. A 6-A team has gotten out of the first round for six straight years.
