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PIAA Playoffs: Quarterfinal Previews (March 18-19)

03/17/2017, 11:00pm EDT
By CoBL Staff

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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Thanks to winter storm Stella wreaking havoc on Pennsylvania -- certainly in some spots much worse than others -- the PIAA playoff schedule is all out of whack. With the second round split between Thursday and Friday, the quarterfinals are being played over Saturday and Sunday; any team that played Friday won’t have to play until Sunday, though some of their opponents are on a day’s extra rest.

Here’s a look at the weekend’s matchups involving CoBL-area (District 1 & 12) teams:

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Saturday’s Games

1A: Girard College vs. York Country Day
Garden Spot HS, 1:00 PM

The District 1 champs, Girard College (22-8) is making the most of its first PIAA playoff appearance since winning the Class A championship in 2009. The Cavaliers haven’t been seriously challenged yet, beating West Shore Christian 73-30 in the first round before dispatching Lourdes Regional 75-52 on Thursday night. Freshman Mikael Jones, a multi-talented 6-7 forward with a Penn State offer, is the main draw; he had 22 points against Lourdes. District 3 champs York Country Day (21-4) downed Millville 61-49 in the second round to reach its first-ever PIAA quarterfinal behind 17 apiece from Jordan Ray and DeAireus Brown, helped greatly by a dozen from junior D.J. Hamilton.

1A: Faith Christian vs. St. John Neumann
Pottsville HS, 2:30 PM

St. John Neumann (27-0) is three wins away from finishing off a perfect season, but first they’ll need to get through a Faith Christian squad that’s playing with plenty of confidence on its own. Senior Kevin Anderson, a 6-5 wing guard bound for Delaware, is the highlight-reel player for the Knights, who also get big contributions from junior guard Jaiden Lynch, the other starter back from a year ago -- when St. John Neumann went 24-0 only to lose in the first round of states. Faith Christian (24-4), which lost one game shy of the state tournament a year ago, ran away from Sankofa Freedom for a 55-27 win on Thursday night after only leading by four at the half; Landon Coyle had 16 points to lead the Lions, whose best player is 6-5 wing forward Zeke Snowden; Snowden had nine points, four rebounds and four steals in that game.


Malik Archer (above) and MCS are coming off a 66-point win in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

2A: Masterman vs. Math, Civics & Sciences
Lincoln HS, 2:00 PM

This should be a good one between two Philadelphia Public League teams. Math, Civics & Sciences (20-9), the District 12 2A champion, steamrolled past Northeast Bradford, 86-20 behind 20 points from senior Malik Archer and 12 points and seven rebounds from Zahir Jackson. Masterman (22-5), the Public League American Division champion, downed Halifax, 69-41 in the second round. They’re led by 6-foot-4 senior forward Jesse Turkson, a Haverford College commit, and 6-0 senior point guard Liam Shanahan. The two teams missed each other in Public League playoff action, as Masterman lost to Constitution in the Pub 2A semifinals.

5A: Northeastern (York) vs. Archbishop Carroll
Garden Spot HS, 2:30 PM

The talented Northeastern (23-1) guard duo of juniors Fred Mulbah and Antonio Rizzuto welcome the Patriots out into the central part of the state for a right to play in the 5A semifinals. In the Bobcats’ win over Upper Merion in the second round, Rizzuto -- who has a quartet of Division I offers -- went for 24 points, while the bouncy 5-8 Mulbah and senior Brandon Coleman had 14 apiece. They’ll go head-to-head against a talented Carroll guard group of its own, coming off a 36-point beatdown of Palmyra. Freshman A.J. Hoggard led 10 different scorers with 17 points, while senior big man Jesse McPherson added 14 points and 11 rebounds inside. The Patriots (20-8) are making their ninth consecutive state appearance under Paul Romanczuk, and going for their first title since that first year (2009).


Matiss Kulackovskis (above) is one of two Division I commits on Archbishop Ryan. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

6A: Archbishop Ryan vs. Hempfield
Geigle Complex, Reading, 1:00 PM

The Raiders are enjoying their deepest and most successful season in school history after defeating a talented Central Dauphin East team, 71-66 in the second round. Senior Izaiah Brockington (NJIT) had 27 points and fellow senior Matiss Kulackovskis (Bowling Green) added 20 points and 15 rebounds. Archbishop Ryan (22-5) also received valuable contributions from sophomore Amin Bryant (seven points, five boards, five assists) and senior Chris Palantino (seven points). Hempfield (21-9), the District 3 runner-up, knocked off Williamsport in the second round behind 19 from senior Tyler Hilton; they went to the stripe 38 times in the win.

6A: Emmaus vs. Carlisle
Geigle Complex, Reading, 4:00 PM

Okay, so this one technically isn’t a “CoBL-area” matchup, but it’s too fun of a game not to include. Emmaus, led by the senior twin duo of NJIT commit David Kachelries and recent 1,000-point scorer Matt Katchelries has certainly taken the motto “survive and advance” literally, beating Cheltenham 68-67 in the first round before holding off Harrisburg 64-61 in the second; with the Kachelries twins going for 38 points against the Cougars, Emmaus is in the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history. Andre Anderson’s Thundering Herd took care of Coatesville (64-56) in the opener before having an easier time with Lincoln, 85-69. Senior guard DeShawn Millington put together a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds and forward Ethan Houston had 19 points as Carlisle attempted 51 foul shots, hitting 29.

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Sunday’s Games

2A: Constitution vs. Ridgway
Danville HS, Danville; 3:00 PM

It’s going to be quite a trek for both teams, as the District 12 runner-ups and District 9 third-place finisher meet in the middle of the state. Constitution (18-9) has faced two tough tests thus far in Church Farm (53-49) and Holy Cross (63-53), getting 16 points from junior Raquon West and 13 from freshman KeShaun Hammonds in the second-round win over the Crusaders; they’ve also won both games without senior guard Tamir Green scoring so much as a point after he sat out the first-round game and went scoreless in the second. Ridgway (22-4) will certainly try to slow down an aggressive Generals attack, similar to how it held Berlin Brothersvalley to 28 points in its second-round win; the Elkers were led by Neil MacDonald’s 14-point, eight-rebound effort and Andy Breier’s 10 points.

3A: Neumann-Goretti vs. Lancaster Mennonite
Santander Arena, Reading; 5:30 PM

The three-time defending state champions are going for their 18th consecutive PIAA win as the Saints (21-7) take on a Lancaster Mennonite bunch that’s feeling good at 25-4, winning both of its state contests by a combined 38 points. Of course, that’s going up against a Neumann-Goretti squad which won its second-round game by 45 points over Holy Redeemer, getting 14 points from Mike Milsip, 11 and (10 assists) from Kentucky-bound Quade Green, plus 10 points from Villanova commit Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree. Cosby-Roundtree (6-8) and 6-8 junior Marcus Littles (8 points, 12 rebounds vs. Holy Redeemer) form a powerful 1-2 duo up front for Carl Arrigale. The Blazers, who can do a good deal of scoring themselves, were led in a second-round win over Hughesville by Javan Terry (22 points) and Isaac Beers (10 points), scoring 45 points as a team after halftime.

3A: Valley Forge vs. Del-Val Charter
Lincoln HS, Philadelphia, 2:00 PM

It’s a matchup of father vs. son as Del-Val Charter coach James Lewis will have to figure out a way to slow down Arion Lewis, a junior guard at Valley Forge, and the rest of the Bicentennial/District 1 champion Trojans. Valley Forge (22-4) welcomed back its 6-10 junior Abraham Deng from a wrist injury in the second round, a 65-47 win over Mid-Valley, and he teams with 6-9 Marius Ntwari to form a formidable duo up front. The Trojans were led by its guards in that one, getting 17 from Lewis while seniors Devin Hill (14 points) and Myles Bunyon (10) hit double-figures; they went a combined 12-for-12 from the foul stripe in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Del-Val Charter (22-7) just topped District 3 champ Trinity 71-60 on Thursday; it was the first time Del-Val won a game this year when giving up 60 or more. Junior guard Antwuan Butler led the way with 23 in that one, and keep an eye out for seniors Dion Harris (6-7) and Makhi Morris (6-2), a pair of Division II targets.

4A: Imhotep Charter vs. Audenried
Liacouras Center, Temple University; 2:00 PM

In a rematch of the thrilling Public League 4A final, Imhotep Charter finds themselves facing a familiar opponent in the quarterfinals, Audenreid. The Panthers won that game 74-69 en route to the championship, and have rolled their way through the state playoffs with dominant wins over Bishop McDevitt and Scranton Prep. Led by a talented backcourt of Daron Russell (Rhode Island) and David Beatty (South Carolina), the Panthers also look to sophomores Chereef Knox and Donte Scott to provide additional scoring on the wing and interior. Audenreid has also cruised through the first two rounds of the state playoffs, beating Jim Thorpe 84-36, then beating Berks Catholic 85-57 to earn their spot in the quarterfinals. The Rockets are led by a dynamic trio of Shaheed Fagan-Haynes, Nisheem McNeal-Wright, and Damir Prescott, seniors who have plenty of experience, firepower, and length to get revenge on the eventual Public League champions. 

5A: Chester vs. Abington Heights
Liberty HS, Bethlehem; 2:00 PM

Say what you want, but it really wouldn’t be a Pennsylvania state basketball tournament without Chester plugged in somewhere. And while Larry Yarbray’s Clippers (22-6) already steamed past Milton Hershey (72-53) and Hershey (61-51) to reach the quarterfinals, getting by experienced Abington Heights (24-3) should take quite an effort. Senior guard Ahrod Carter lit up Milton Hershey in Chester’s first state tournament game, canning seven treys en route to a career-high 27 points. Senior forward Jamar Sudan backed his classmate by scoring 15 points and grabbing 13 boards. Sudan pocketed another double-double in the Clippers’ second-round scrap with Hershey, netting 19 points and snaring 10 rebounds as Yarbray’s bunch broke open a game that was tied 22-22 at the break. Brian Randolph III also posted a double-double (15 points/10 rebounds), while Carter chipped in 10 points. As for Abington Heights, Ken Bianchi’s Comets got a sizable taste of a sizable front line before finding a way to slip past Martin Luther King 65-60 in two overtimes in Friday’s second-round scrap. Junior Jackson Danzig collected 25 points, while 6-3 soph Trey Koehler finished with 17 and 6-5 soph George Tinsley added 11. The District 2 champs had an easier time in their state opener, handling Lampeter-Strasburg 67-48 behind double-digit efforts from Koehler (19), Tinsley (15) and the 6-5 Danzig (14). Seth Maxwell, a 7-0 senior, totaled 17 points in the Comets’ first two state victories yet could be a factor against Chester’s sizable frontcourt.

5A: Archbishop Wood vs. Spring Grove
Santander Arena, Reading; 7:00 PM

It’s a matchup of two of the most explosive guards in the state, as Villanova-bound Collin Gillespie leads Wood (25-3) up against a Spring Grove (22-8) squad led by Michigan pledge Eli Brooks. Brooks shrugged off a second-half injury Friday night, scoring 23 points as the Rockets turned back District 11 champion East Stroudsburg North by a 65-55 count. That sets up a matchup with the Catholic League champions, who’ve won 19 straight games, including a Catholic League championship and District 12 5A title along the way. Gillespie is backed by a strong group that includes senior Matt Cerruti and juniors Tyree Pickron and Seth Pinkney, a 6-10 rim defender who could cause an undersized Spring Grove squad some issues. Brooks will need help from Austin Panter and the rest of an upperclassman-heavy squad, or his next game will be played in a Wolverines uniform.

6A: Reading vs. Plymouth-Whitemarsh
Liacouras Center, Temple University; 3:30 PM

In a battle between two perennial state playoff contenders who made the state semifinals last season, the Red Knights and Colonials will face off for a chance to make the semifinals yet again. The Colonials are the last team standing from District 1 6A, after Reading dispatched Perkiomen Valley Thursday night. Plymouth Whitemarsh enters this game after two wins over Lebanon and a three point win over District 11 champions Pocono Mountain West. The loss of Ahmin Williams has hurt the Colonials down the stretch, but head coach Jim Donofrio has plenty of other options to turn to. Whether it’s Ahmin’s twin brother Ahmad Williams, 7-foot center Naheem McLeod, or sharpshooters Cheo Houston and Ish Horn, Plymouth Whitemarsh can win in a variety of ways. They’ll have their hands full with Reading, with all eyes on superstar wing Lonnie Walker. Walker sparked a late rally Thursday night with a vicious slam dunk, and will be called upon yet again Sunday to carry the Red Knights. While Walker gets all of the attention for his stardom, both Tyrone Nesby and Isaiah Cook have had excellent seasons in Reading.


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