3 D9 teams remain in action in 1A boys’ playoffs

Three out of the five teams from District 9 remain in action in the PIAA 1A Boys’ Basketball Championship. D9 champion Elk County Catholic, runner-up Union, and fourth place team Cameron County all picked up wins in the opening round of the state playoffs over the weekend and will be in action in the second round on Tuesday.

The Elk County Catholic Crusaders (25-2) opened playoff action District 7 fifth place team Neighborhood Academy (20-5), winning 67-47 in a game played on the Crusaders’ home court at Elk County Catholic High School.

Union (14-12) was also in action at home and defeated District 5 third place team Turkeyfoot Valley (17-9) 64-28.

District 9 third place team DuBois Central Catholic (17-8) traveled to Harmony High School in Westover to take on District 6 runner-up Harmony (22-3), and the Cardinals’ season came to an end as Harmony won the matchup 70-58.

In the lone game in the western half of the bracket that was postponed until Saturday due to Friday’s winter weather, District 9 fourth place team Cameron County (17-8) defeated District 6 champion Portage Area (25-2) by a score of 50-28 on Saturday afternoon in a matchup played at Portage High School.

District 9 fifth place team Clarion (17-9) took on District 7 champion Imani Christian Academy (18-6) at North Allegheny High School in Wexford on Friday night, with Imani winning 7843.

In other first round action in the western half of the bracket, District 10 champion Farrell (20-4) defeated District 7 fourth place team Geibel Catholic (17-8) 75-62, District 7 runner-up Union Area (22-3) defeated District 10 runner-up Kennedy Catholic (13-10) 65-45, and District 7 third place team Carlynton (17-7) defeated District 5 runner-up Southern Fulton (19-6) 63-35.

In Tuesday’s second round, Imani and District 9 runner-up Union will face off at Kiski Area High School in Vandergrift at 7:30 p.m., Cameron County and District 7 runner-up Union Area will face off at Brookville High School at 7 p.m., and the remaining two games will be played at as a doubleheader at Clarion University. ECC and Carlynton will face off at 6 p.m., followed by Harmony and Farrell at 7:30 p.m.

In the eastern half of the bracket, District 3 champion Linville Hill Christian (21-0) defeated District 4 third place team North Penn-Liberty (14-11) 74-39 in the first round and District 12 champion City School (22-3) defeated District 11 runner-up Bethlehem Catholic (14-10) 60-36. Linville and City School will face off on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Pottstown High School.

District 4 runner-up Northumberland Christian (18-5) defeated District 2 champion Forest City (12-11) 73-61, and District 1 champion Chester Charter Academy (19-5) defeated District 3 third place team Lancaster Country Day (16-9) 58-44. Northumberland and Chester will face off on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Hamburg Area High School.

District 3 fifth place team Mount Calvary (20-8) defeated District 11 champion Notre Dame ES (15-9) 76-73, and District 1 runnerup Philmont Christian (18-9) defeated District 3 runner-up Greenwood (25-2) 46-45. Mount Calvary and Philmont will face off on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Coatesville Area High School.

District 3 third place team LaAcademia (1211) defeated District 4 champion Sullivan County (17-8) 69-26, and District 5 champion Berlin Brothersvalley (22-2) defeated District 6 third place team Saint Joseph’s Academy (188) 74-33. LaAcademia and Berlin will face off on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Chambersburg High School.

Winners of Tuesday’s games will advance to the state quarterfinals on Friday.