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PIAA basketball

Class A boys: Bishop Carroll (6-1) vs. Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (7-3)

Teams: Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans (17-10); Bishop Carroll Huskies (27-0)

Site, time: Henry J. Furrie Sports Complex, Gateway High School, Monroeville, 7:30 p.m., tonight

The coaches: Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic – Dave Long (267-158 in 16 years). Bishop Carroll – Cosie Aliquo (119-69 in seven years).

Playoff path: Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic – defeated Winchester Thurston, 75-45, in the District 7 first round; defeated Our Lady of Sacred Heart, 51-49, in the District 7 quarterfinals; lost to Lincoln Park, 75-58, in the District 7 semifinals; defeated Berlin Brothersvalley, 56-44, in the PIAA first round; defeated Ridgway, 58-43, in the PIAA second round. Bishop Carroll – defeated Saltsburg, 70-28, in the District 6 quarterfinals; defeated Juniata Valley, 64-31, in the District 6 semifinals; defeated Bishop Guilfoyle, 51-48, in the District 6 championship; defeated Clarion-Limestone, 81-42, in the PIAA first round; defeated Monessen, 69-65, in the PIAA second round.

Starting lineups: Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic – G P.J. Fulmore (5, 5-8 jr., 7.5), G Timon Gribbin (11, 5-9 jr., 8.6), G Ryan Kirby (26. 6-2 jr., 15.2), G Jon Savulchak (24, 6-2 so., 12.3), F Dom Robb (32, 6-6 sr., 18.6). Bishop Carroll – G David Maruca (4, 5-11 sr., 5.4) G Mitchell Madonna (24, 5-9 sr., 5.3), G Scott Lucas (11, 6-0 jr., 8.5), G Brandon Martinazzi (23, 5-10 jr., 20.4), F Marcus Lee (12, 6-6 sr., 16.1).

Key reserves: Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic – G Tom Braun (11, 5-8 jr., 2.0), G Chris Goetz (3, 6-0 jr., 3.0), G Vince LeGrande (23, 6-4 jr., 5.0), G Jake Matschner (33, 5-10 so., 2.0). Bishop Carroll – G David Swatsworth (25, 6-1 so., 2.9), F Nik Suckinos (15, 6-1 jr., 5.8), F Nick Burk (42, 6-5 sr., 2.9).

Who they get: The winner plays the winner of the game between Lincoln Park (7-1) and Vincentian (7-4) on Tuesday at a site to be announced.

Notable: This is the second straight year Carroll has reached the quarterfinals. The Huskies were eliminated by Lincoln Park in this round last year but won in their previous two trips to the state quarterfinals. … Martinazzi is averaging 27.5 points in this year’s state playoffs. … Long spent 20 years as an assistant coach before becoming head coach. … Fulmore was one of the star players on the North Catholic football team that defeated Tussey Mountain in the PIAA playoffs in the fall. … For years, North Catholic was in Class AA, and, in 2009, the Trojans reached the state championship game, losing to Imhotep Charter. Had North Catholic not won in the last round, Bishop Carroll’s opponent would have been District 9 champion Ridgway. The Huskies had been scheduled to play the Elkers in the regular season, but that game was cancelled. … Carroll is averaging right around 16 steals per game.

– Philip Cmor

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