Must win for Elkers tonight
It's winning and moving on or losing, and the season ends tonight for Ridgway and Karns City, who meet at Clarion High School (7 p.m.) in the District 9 Class 2A consolation game. Three teams move on to the PIAA playoffs.
On Wednesday, top-seed Otto-Eldred (23-1) beat the fourseed, 17-8 Elkers, 41-35, denying them a shot at repeating as champs. The 21-5 Gremlins were beaten by two-seed ClarionLimestone (22-2), 4743. Otto and C-L play for the championship at 8 p.m. Saturday at PennWest Clarion's Tippin Gymnasium.
Ridgway couldn't catch the Terrors, who led by as many as 11 points. Otto twice thwarted Elker rallies. The first saw Ridgway cut an 11-point lead with an 8-0 run that made it 29-26 after three quarters.
Aaron Sorg nailed a three in the fourth with 5:02 left, making it 33-31. The Terrors responded with a bucket by Sheen Thomas 21 seconds later. Neither team scored until Braxton Caldwell did so for Otto, making it 37-31 with 1:22 remaining. After Sorg hit one of two from the line, a seventh team foul sent Austin Cousins to the charity stripe, where he converted a one-and-one with 1:00 left. Alex Merritt kept hopes alive with a three-pointer pulling Ridgway within 39-35 with 46 seconds left. Landon Francis extended the lead with two free throws after being fouled on the inbounds. Both teams turned the ball over, and a late missed Ridgway three allowed the Terrors to drain the clock.
The 41 points was a season-low for Otto, which entered averaging 62.4 ppg.
Karns City led for most of their game with Clarion-Limestone. However, the Lions won with a late comeback that turned things in their favor mid-way through the final period.
The Gremlins average 56 points per outing. The Elkers are giving up 34.
Tonight's winner will face the District 7 (WPIAL) champ on Saturday, Mar. 11, in the first round of the state tourney.