Deer Lakes breaks drought
Lancers win first playoff game in 34 years, 57-47
Deer Lakes coach Terence Parham and his wife are expecting their fourth child Thursday. It turns out Saturday was a pretty memorable day for them, too.
“I won’t tell my wife that it’s bigger, but it’s up there,” Parham said, smiling.
Parham and his Deer Lakes players were all smiles after winning their first playoff game in 34 years. The Lancers defeated Charleroi, 57-47, in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round game at Keystone Oaks.
Since reaching the WPIAL semifinals in 1985, Deer Lakes had qualified for the playoffs 10 times before this season, but lost in the preliminary round or first round on each occasion. The Lancers were section champions four of those years, just as they were this season.
“It’s bigger for the kids and the community. They’ve been striving for and hoping for something like this to take place,” said Parham, who is in his fourth season as coach. “For too long, I thought we were comfortable with being close, so my whole thing when I got this job was just to change the culture.”
More Class 3A boys
Aliquippa 72, Avonworth 50: Maybe the Quips (15-7) were a little upset at getting the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and took it out on the 15thseeded Antelopes (12-10). M.J. Devonshire scored 17 points to lead three players in double-figures for Aliquippa
Neshannock 56, McGuffey 50: C.J. Cole scored 25 of the No. 10 Highlanders’ (158) 50 points, but it wasn’t enough as Jake McCormick had 16 points and led a balanced attack that featured four players in double-digits for the Lancers (18-5), who held off a late charge to move into the quarterfinals.
Lincoln Park 72, Shady Side Academy 38: Topseeded Lincoln Park (19-4) routed No. 16 Shady Side Academy (9-12) as Keeno Holmes scored 26 and Casey Oliver chipped in 18 in a running-clock win over the Indians.
Seton LaSalle 54, Southmoreland 34: Dylan Preston scored 15 points and Michael Bigley 12 to lead the No. 4 Rebels (18-4) to an easy firstround victory over the 13thseeded Scotties (12-10).
North Catholic 77, Valley 60: The No. 14 Vikings fell behind early and could never get out of the hole as junior Jackson Paschall scored 19 of his game-high 23 points in the first half as the No. 3 Trojans (19-4) romped to a firstround win.
Washington 56, Keystone Oaks 43: Dan Ethridge had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Zahmere Robinson dropped in 15 to help the No. 5 Little Prexies (14-8) to a double-digit win against the 12th-seeded Golden Eagles (12-11).
Class 2A boys
Sto-Rox 72, California 57: The No. 7 Vikings (14-9) doubled down with Andre Frenzley (16 points, 20 rebounds) and A.J. Nelson (17, 13), who each finished with a double-double in their win over the Trojans (12-10).
Shenango 56, Summit Academy 51: In the only upset of the day, No. 9 Shenango (11-12) got 23 from Takoma Askew, including seven 3-pointers, in a win over No. 8 Summit Academy (10-10).
Jeannette 70, Springdale 47: Demitri Fritch scored 22 of his 26 in the second half for Springdale(12-9), but the No. 6 Jayhawks (13-10) had too much firepower as Marcus Barnes scored 17 to lead Jeannette.
South Side Beaver 64, Brentwood 59: Logan English scored 18 of his 26 points in the second half as the No. 5 Rams (17-6) came back from a two-point halftime deficit to knock off the Spartans (1112).