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H.S. basketball preview capsules

District 6 Class 1A boys final

Teams: Bishop Carroll Huskies (19-4); Juniata Valley Green Hornets (17-5).

Site, time: Mount Aloysius College Athletic Convocation and Wellness Center, Cresson, 7:30 p.m. tonight

The coaches: Bishop Carroll — Cosie Aliquo (208-110, 12th year). Juniata Valley — T.J. Anderson (54-61, sixth year).

Path to the finals: Bishop Carroll — defeated Blacklick Valley, 73-49, in the semifinals. Juniata Valley — defeated Williamsburg, 71-49, in the quarterfinals; defeated Saint Joseph’s, 78-75 in overtime, in the semifinals.

Starting lineups: Bishop Carroll — G Carson Ertter, sr., 5, G Alex Karlheim, sr., 3, G Tristan McDannell, jr., 10, F Nolan Burk, jr., 32, F Scotty Semelsberger, jr., 24. Juniata Valley — G Cameron Collins, sr., 1; G Jaxson Rand, sr., 13; G Devin Deihl, sr., 25; F Quinn Zinobile, sr., 2; F Nolan Reihart, sr., 30

Key reserves: Bishop Carroll — F Hamid Rodkey, jr., 25, G Logan Gottshall, sr., 21; G-F Jordan Bobroski, so., 33. Juniata Valley — G Jacob Hensor, jr., 5; F Paul Leri, sr., 21; F Grant Musser, jr., 40

Who they get: The winner will play the third-place team from District 9. The loser will play the District 9 runner-up. The teams in the District 9 semifinals include Elk County Catholic, Johnsonburg, North Clarion and Clarion-Limestone.

Notable: Bishop Carroll is the top seed; Juniata Valley is third. … Bishop Carroll is in the finals for the 17th time and the 12th time in 15 years. … The Huskies are seeking their 10th district title. … The Huskies made it all the way to the PIAA semifinals a year ago before losing to eventual state champion Kennedy Catholic, which has now moved up to Class 6A. … Juniata Valley entered the postseason as the top seed a year ago but lost to Saint Joseph’s in the semifinals before dropping a consolation game to Blacklick Valley and missing out on the state playoffs. … Two years ago, the Green Hornets lost to Saltsburg in the semifinals before winning the consolation game and knocking off Imani Christian in the state playoffs. Juniata Valley eventually lost to Kennedy Catholic, 88-45.

District 6 Class 1A girls final

Teams: Bishop Carroll Lady Huskies (16-7); Purchase Line Red Dragons (14-10)

Site, time: Mount Aloysius College Athletic Convocation and Wellness Center, Cresson, 6 p.m. tonight

The coaches: Bishop Carroll — Bob Gongloff (435-111 in 19 years at Bishop Carroll; 456-163 in 22 years overall). Purchase Line — Kelley Goss (14-10 in first year at Purchase Line).

Path to the finals: Bishop Carroll — defeated Blacklick Valley, 49-22, in the semifinals. Purchase Line — defeated Williamsburg, 54-36, in quarterfinals; defeated Saint Joseph’s, 51-41, in semifinals.

Starting lineups: Bishop Carroll — G Kate Yahner, sr., 15; G Sam Rosenberger, sr., 25; F Mara Yahner, jr., 4; F Dani Gittings, sr., 33; F Anna Haigh, sr., 35. Purchase Line — G Addaleia Beer, jr., 23; G Madison Scalese, fr., 21; G Emileigh Syster, jr., 15; F Bethany Smith, fr., 3; F Payton Balogh, sr., 12

Key reserves: Bishop Carroll — G Lexi Popma, jr., 3; G Savannah Smorto, fr., 11. Purchase Line — F Abigail Goss, fr., 42; G Kristin Zurenko, jr., 14

Who they get: The winner will play District 3’s fourth-place finisher and will land on the opposite side of the PIAA bracket from all the WPIAL and District 10 traditional powers. The loser will play District 5’s third-place finisher, either Fannett-Metal or Tussey Mountain.

Notable: Bishop Carroll is the first seed, while Purchase Line is seeded third. … Bishop Carroll is going for its 12 District 6 title and its third in the last four years. The Lady Huskies are 11-10 in district championship games, winning six of their last seven title game appearances. … Juniata Valley defeated Bishop Carroll in last year’s final but has moved up to Class 2A. … Purchase Line played just one team from the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference this season and lost, 76-41, at Cambria Heights on Dec. 29. Bishop Carroll won its season opener at Cambria Heights, 55-52, and then beat the Lady Highlanders, 45-36, at home on Jan. 25.

— Michael Boytim

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