A. Myers

NORTH HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP — They’ve been coaching at the same schools for a total of 68 years, but Bishop Carroll Catholic’s John Strittmatter and Farrell’s Ed Turosky had crossed paths for a high school girls basketball game just once.

Until Wednesday, when the two met again at Norwin High School for another PIAA playoff game.

“We were laughing before the game because we met each other back in 2006. That’s how long we’ve been coaching,” Turosky said. “We lost to them at Gateway by 6. My assistant (Chloe Stewart) was a sophomore point guard on that team.”

Playing without its suspended leading scorer and rebounder, District 10 champion Farrell was hoping for another competitive game in the latest meeting.

Turns out it wasn’t.

Adelyn Myers scored 18 points, Ava Pablic added 11 and District 6 runner-up Bishop Carroll Catholic rolled to a 54-22 victory in a second-round PIAA Class 1A game to advance to the quarterfinals on Saturday against Williamsburg at a site to be determined.

The Blue Pirates beat District 9 runner-up Otto-Eldred, 47-36, at Penn West Clarion.

“I never thought we’d be here, but the girls bought into what I wanted done early in the year,” said Strittmatter, who’s in his 43rd year coaching the Huskies. “And we worked and worked, and they’re getting better and better. How far we’ll go, I don’t know. But I’m very proud of them.”

Bishop Carroll (20-7) jumped on Farrell (8-15) early and built a huge lead at halftime that grew even more after the third quarter had ended.

The Huskies led, 46-14, heading to the fourth.

“We did a nice job,” Strittmatter said. “When I looked at their size and watched them on tape, they rebounded really well. We worked on boxing out and being aggressive this week. We knew they were aggressive. I thought we were able to control the boards.”

Playing without junior forward Ja’Niya Daniels, suspended for two games after being ejected Friday from Farrell’s 56-53 first-round victory over WPIAL opponent St. Joseph, the Steelers struggled.

Freshman Delani Stewart-Wilson led Farrell with 11 points.

“It’s called a team for a reason, and we talked about that,” Turosky said. “You can’t replace the numbers that Ja’Niya puts up. It’s hard in two days to ask kids to do things that they’re not used to doing. They visualize her being out there and doing things she does and just her complimenting them. Then, it becomes a team effort. They tried their best to do some of those things, but it just didn’t work out for us.”

The incident at Farrell came a day after a PIAA Class 5A boys game between Uniontown and Meadville was called in the fourth quarter when a brawl broke out between fans in the stands that nearly spilled onto the floor.

“It’s unfortunate that things like these happen in a tournament of this magnitude,” said Turosky, who emphasized that Daniels was not involved in a fight when she was assessed with the technical fouls.

Strittmatter said Daniels’ presence would’ve been felt.

“When I looked at their size and watched them on tape, they rebounded really well,” he said. “If (Daniels) would’ve played, I really was scared of her. She would’ve made a big difference.”

Despite Daniels’ absence, Turosky said Bishop Carroll Catholic is a tough out.

“I knew they were talented (players) 1 through 8,” he said. “They’re skilled, they can shoot the ball well. I expected what I saw. We tried to adjust. They’re a good team. I haven’t really looked at the other teams around — I know some names that are pretty good — but I think they have as good a shot as anybody to make a run.”

FARRELL (22): Harrison 1 0-0 3, Stewart-Wilson 3 4-6 11, Frantz 0 0-0 0, Beamon 3 0-4 7, Davis-Roberts 0 1-2 1. Totals — 7 5-12 22.

BISHOP CARROLL CATHOLIC (54): Delauter 3 0-0 8, Lieb 0 0-0 0, Lucko 2 2-2 6, Ad. Myers 8 2-2 18, Pablic 2 6-7 11, Strittmatter 0 0-0 0, Rhul 0 0-0 0, Strait 0 0-0 0, Dziabo 0 0-0 0, Long 0 0-0 0, Miller 0 0-0 0, Av. Myers 4 0-0 9, Golden 1 0-0 2. Totals — 20 10-11 54.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Farrell 3 4 7 8 — 22

Bishop Carroll 15 11 20 8 — 54

3-point goals: Farrell 3 (Harrison, Stewart-Wilson, Beamon); Bishop Carroll Catholic 3 (Delauter 2, Av. Myers, Pablic).

Records: Farrell (8-15); Bishop Carroll Catholic (20-7).