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PIAA CLASS 1A SECOND ROUND PLAYOFFS
Teams: 9-3 DuBois Central Catholic Lady Cardinals (15-11) vs. 6-1 Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic Lady Marauders (25-3)
Site, time: Clarion University, 7 p.m.
The coaches: DuBois Central Catholic--Jordan Hoover; Bishop Guilfoyle--Kristi Kaack
Playoff path: DuBois Central Catholic--def. Port Allegany, 70-49, in District 9 quarterfinals; lost to Ridgway, 44-42, in semifinals; def. Clarion, 39-28, in consolation; def. Jamestown, 58-34, in PIAA first round. Bishop Guilfoyle--def. Purchase Line, 69-14, in District 6 quarterfinals; defeated Bishop Carroll Catholic, 57-40, in semifinals; def. Williamsburg, 46-42, in District 6 championship; def. Riverview, 58-33, in PIAA first round.
Probable starting lineups: DuBois Central Catholic--G Lexi Berta, sr.; G Jessy Frank, sr.; F Kayley Risser, sr.; F Hope Jacob, jr.; C Emma Elensky, jr. Bishop Guilfoyle--G Maurie Querry, fr.; G Morgan Ruggery, fr.; G Gia Adams, so.; F Stella Yeskey, so.; F Alana Lightner, so.
Key reserves: DuBois Central Catholic--G Lauren Jenkins, jr.; G Ella Elensky, so.; G Julia Sebring, so. Bishop Guilfoyle--G-F Riley Gofus, jr.; G-F Anberlyn Petrecca, fr.; G Delaney Lechner, so.
Who they get: The winner plays either WPIAL champion Union or District 5 runner-up Northern Bedford in the PIAA quarterfinals on Saturday.
Notable: DuBois Central Catholic is the third seed out of District 9 for the second year in a row and also beat Jamestown in the first round of last year's tournament before it lost to Williamsburg, 48-45, thanks to heroics by Williamsburg's Jade Carper. ... The Lady Cardinals lost to Ridgway in the District 9 semifinals on a shot by Emma Vargas with just 0.4 of a second left. ... DuBois Central Catholic has played a tough schedule that included Forest Hills, Indiana, Clearfield, Punxsutawney and defending PIAA Class 1A champion Union. ... Bishop Guilfoyle lost in this round last season, 49-37, to Otto-Eldred. ... The last time the Lady Marauders played a District 9 team in the PIAA playoffs before Otto-Eldred was a thriller, a 48-47 win over Coudersport in the quarterfinals the year the BG won its last PIAA title in 2021.
PIAA CLASS 1A SECOND ROUND PLAYOFFS
Teams: 9-1 Elk County Catholic Crusaders (26-2) vs. 6-2 Williamsburg Lady Blue Pirates (25-3)
Site, time: West Branch H.S., Morrisdale, 7 p.m.
The coaches: Elk County Catholic--Ken Pistner; Williamsburg--Amy Hileman
Playoff path: Elk County Catholic--def. Otto-Eldred, 50-22, in District 9 quarterfinals; def. Clarion, 50-29, in semifinals; def. Ridgway, 42-20, in District 9 championship; def. Monessen, 45-16, in PIAA first round. Williamsburg--def. Juniata Valley, 63-32, in District 6 Class 1A quarterfinals; def. Saint Joseph's, 56-42, in semifinals; lost to Bishop Guilfoyle, 46-42, in District 6 championship; def. Aquinas Academy, 60-44, in PIAA first round.
Probable starting lineups: Elk County Catholic--G Sami Straub, sr.; G Lucy Klawuhn, sr.; F Tori Newton, sr.; F Syd Alexander, sr.; F Emily Mourer, sr. Williamsburg--G LeeAnna Royer, so.; G Ayla Hileman, sr.; G Regan Prough, so.; F Laney Prough, sr.; F Levada Gorsuch, fr.
Key reserves: Elk County Catholic--G Mya Pistner, jr.; G Gina Geci, jr.; G Payton Newton, so. Williamsburg--G Claire Carper, sr.; F Anastasia Ranalli, jr.
Who they get: The winner plays either District 5 champion Berlin Brothersvalley or WPIAL runner-up St. Joseph's in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Notable: Elk County Catholic has been eliminated in this round the last two seasons, both times by Union. Union also ended Williamsburg's season last year on its way to the PIAA championship. ... The Crusaders haven't lost to a Class 1A team all season. Their only losses are to Saint Marys and Punxsutawney, by a single point, and ECC avenged the loss to Saint Marys with a pair of wins later in the season. ... Elk County has held its opponents under 25 points in eight different games this season. ... Williamsburg has beaten a District 9 opponent in each of the last two state playoffs, Ridgway in 2022 and DuBois Central Catholic last season. ... The Lady Pirates last played at West Branch on Jan. 22 and won 56-28. ... Ayla Hileman (16.7), LeeAnna Royer (15.5) and Levada Gorsuch (14.5) are combining to average 46.7 points per game for Williamsburg.
PIAA CLASS 1A SECOND ROUND PLAYOFFS
Teams: 5-2 Northern Bedford Lady Panthers (16-9) vs. Union Area Scotties (20-5)
Site, time: Hempfield Area H.S., Greensburg, 5:30 p.m.
The coaches: Northern Bedford--Jon Ewart; Union--Rob Nogay
Playoff path: Northern Bedford--received a bye into District 5 semifinals; def. Southern Fulton, 59-37, in semifinals; lost to Berlin Brothersvalley, 51-18, in District 5 championship; def. Ridgway, 44-31, in PIAA first round. Union--def. West Greene, 59-16, in WPIAL quarterfinals; def. Riverview, 56-13, in semifinals; def. St. Joseph's, 50-43, in WPIAL championship; def. Port Allegany, 59-18, in PIAA first round.
Probable starting lineups: Northern Bedford--G Leah Swanseen, sr.; G Mariah Hall, sr.; G Alyssa Yeatts, so.; F Lacy McIlnay, sr.; F Lauren Heck, sr. Union--G Bella Cameron, sr.; G Kylie Fruehstorfer, jr.; F Kelly Cleaver, sr.; G-F Mia Preuhs, jr.; G Miera Gunn, so.
Key reserves: Northern Bedford--G-F Addie Love, jr.; G-F Halle Baker, so.; G-F Amberly Detterline, fr. Union--G Kayla Eppinger, sr.; G-F Irelyn Fisher, fr.
Who they get: The winner plays either District 6 champion Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic or District 9 third-place finisher DuBois Central Catholic in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Notable: Union won last year's PIAA championship, 46-29, over Lourdes Regional. In 2022, the Scotties fell to Portage, 32-27 in overtime, in a quarterfinal game. ... Union's softball team edged Claysburg-Kimmel, 10-8, in the PIAA semifinals last spring before it lost to Tri Valley, 6-3, in the state final. ... Mariah Hall is Northern Bedford's first 1,000-point scorer since Sydney Snyder reached the mark in 2017. ... That 2017 NBC girls team was the District 5 Class 2A runner-up and lost to Bellwood-Antis in the first round of the PIAA tournament. ... Union outscored its opponents in the regular season on average 50-30.3 per game. ... The Scotties have won 15 games in a row after a 5-5 start that included losses to schools with higher classifications, including WPIAL 2A champion Greensburg Central Catholic, which topped Bellwood-Antis in the first round of the 2A state playoffs.
PIAA CLASS 5A SECOND ROUND PLAYOFFS
Teams: 7-2 Armstrong River Hawks (22-5) vs. 6-1 Hollidaysburg Lady Tigers (23-3)
Site, time: University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown's Sportscenter, 7 p.m.
The coaches: Armstrong--Jim Callipare; Hollidaysburg--Deanna Jubeck
Playoff path: Armstrong--def. Latrobe, 51-40, in WPIAL first round; def. Lincoln Park, 59-31, in quarterfinals; def. Oakland Catholic, 49-40, in semifinals; lost to South Fayette, 70-63, in WPIAL championship; def. Palmyra, 44-33, in PIAA first round. Hollidaysburg--def. Selinsgrove, 59-12, in the District 4-6 semifinals; def. Shikellamy, 65-45, in District 4-6 championship game; def. Manheim Central, 51-33, in PIAA first round.
Probable starting lineups: Armstrong--G Marlo Mellish, jr.; G Emma Paul, sr.; G Isabella Yancy, jr.; F Kyla Fitzgerald, sr.; F Sarai Weaver, sr. Hollidaysburg--G Lauren Stevenson, jr.; G Bella Vent, jr.; G Makenna Weimert, so.; F Samantha Shoemaker, sr.; C Isabella Yohn, sr.
Key reserves: Armstrong--G Sophia DiGregorio, sr.; F Kali Allensworth, sr. Hollidaysburg--G Hannah DiPangrazio, sr.; F Clare Padamonsky, so.
Who they get: The winner plays WPIAL third-place finisher McKeesport or WPIAL seventh-place finisher Indiana in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Notable: Armstrong was formed when Kittanning and Ford City merged in 2015 and played in its first-ever WPIAL championship game this year, losing to South Fayette. Armstrong upset top-seeded Oakland Catholic in the WPIAL semifinals. ... Emma Paul is Armstrong's leading scorer and averages 21 points per game. ... The River Hawks lost at home to Altoona, 59-45, on Dec. 29. ... Hollidaysburg was in the PIAA quarterfinals in 2021, but that season only district champions made the PIAA tournament and it began in that round. The Lady Tigers fell to Spring Grove, 71-59... Armstrong finished the regular season on a 13-game winning streak and handed Oakland Catholic its first loss of the season. ... Hollidaysburg won a first-round PIAA game for the fourth time in the last five years.
BOYS
PIAA CLASS 2A SECOND ROUND PLAYOFFS
Teams: 6-4 Claysburg-Kimmel Bulldogs (16-10) vs. 2-1 Holy Cross Crusaders (21-3)
Site, time: Milton H.S., 7 p.m.
The coaches: Claysburg-Kimmel--Mike Harris; Holy Cross--Al Callejas Jr.
Playoff path: Claysburg-Kimmel--def. United, 57-51, in District 6 quarterfinals; lost to West Branch, 81-51, in semifinals; lost to West Shamokin, 73-58, in consolation; def. Muncy, 63-62, in PIAA first round. Holy Cross--def. Montrose, 77-44, in District 2 semifinals; def. Blue Ridge, 73-42, in District 2 championship; def. Schuylkill Haven, 70-35, in PIAA first round.
Probable starting lineups: Claysburg-Kimmel--G Elias Ritchey, sr.; G Brayden Haney, so.; F Anthony Napolitano, sr.; F Cory Walter, so.; F Aidan Simpson, sr. Holy Cross--G Michael Hughes, jr.; G-F Adam Badyrka, jr.; G-F Mario Matrone, jr.; G-F C.J. Thompson, fr.; F Matt Lyons, jr.
Key reserves: Claysburg-Kimmel--F Christian Treon, so.; F Landon Douglas, jr. Holy Cross--G Charlie O'Malley, sr.; G Austin Bicking, jr.
Who they get: The winner plays District 1 champion Dock Mennonite or District 12 runner-up Sankofa Freedom in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Notable: Holy Cross is the result of a merger of Bishop O'Hara and Bishop Hannan high schools. ... In the 17 years of the school, it has made the PIAA playoffs in boys basketball 16 times. The only year it didn't was 2021 when it opted out of the District 2 playoffs due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. ... Holy Cross beat Muncy, 66-38, in last year's second round and made it to the PIAA semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Lancaster Mennonite. ... Claysburg-Kimmel is coming off its first-ever state playoff win, 63-62, over Muncy. ... The Bulldogs ended the regular season with five straight wins and beat United to clinch a spot in the PIAA tournament. ... C-K senior Aidan Simpson outdid his seasonal averages in the first-round win with 12 points and 10 rebounds despite averaging 7.0 points and 6.8 rebounds for the year. ... Michael Hughes leads Holy Cross with a scoring average of 17.7 points per game this season.
PIAA CLASS 3A SECOND ROUND PLAYOFFS
Teams: 6-3 Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders (24-4) vs. 10-1 Girard Yellowjackets (24-2)
Site, time: Clarion University, 5:30 p.m.
The coaches: Bishop Guilfoyle--Ryan Lestochi; Girard--Mark Schrier
Playoff path: Bishop Guilfoyle--def. Richland, 73-43, in District 6 quarterfinals; lost to Westmont Hilltop, 53-45, in semifinals, def. Tyrone, 72-58, in consolation; def. Burrell, 62-51, in PIAA first round. Girard--def. Greenville, 74-35, in District 10 quarterfinals; def. Fairview, 56-38, in semifinals; def. Franklin, 60-50, in District 10 championship; def. Derry, 74-65, in PIAA first round.
Probable starting lineups: Bishop Guilfoyle--G Tyson Lestochi, so.; G Jude Haigh, jr.; G Hamilton Gates, jr.; G-F Taurean Consiglio, so.; F Trevor Rehm, jr. Girard--G Nate Edwards, sr.; G Kenny Godoy, so.; G-F Ryan Pratt, jr.; G-F Geremia Dell'omo, sr.; F Zak Balogh, jr.
Key reserves: Bishop Guilfoyle--G-F Chase Kissell, jr.; G-F Jake Kissell, so.; G Nick Foor, jr.; G Troy Ruggery, fr. Girard--G-F Ryan Carr, sr.; G Zach Kelley, jr.
Who they get: The winner plays either WPIAL third-place finisher Mohawk or WPIAL seventh-place finisher Ellwood City on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
Notable: Girard has been riding its backcourt duo of Nate Edwards and Kenny Godoy in its last two wins. Godoy and Edwards each scored 18 points in the District 10 championship win over top-seeded Franklin, and Godoy scored 24 points and Edwards 22 in the Yellowjackets' PIAA opening win over Derry. ... This will be the fourth time Girard and Bishop Guilfoyle have met in the PIAA playoffs. The most recent meeting was a 56-32 Marauders victory in the first round in 2022. Girard defeated BG, 55-53, in the 1987 PIAA quarterfinals before losing to Windber in the semifinals, and Girard topped the Marauders, 63-43, in the 1990 quarterfinals on its way to beating GAR Memorial, 59-49, to win the state championship. Girard won its other state title in 1988 with an 81-62 win over Eastern York. ... Girard is 25-14 all-time in the state tournament. ... The Marauders got their 30th PIAA win in the first round and improved to 30-33 all-time. ... BG has won its last three second round PIAA games. Its last loss was in 2018 when it fell to Constitution, 86-59, the year before the Marauders went all the way to the state championship game.
-- Compiled by Michael Boytim