Otto-Eldred boys advance, girls end season
The Otto-Eldred Terrors and Lady Terrors were both in action on Saturday afternoon at Clarion University in the quarterfinals of the PIAA state playoffs. The Terrors used a two-point win to reach Tuesday’s semifinals in the boys’ 2A tournament, while the Lady Terrors lost by one point to end their run in the girls’ 1A tournament.
The Terrors played first, taking on District 10 champion Erie First Christian at 2 p.m.
Otto-Eldred entered the PIAA 2A boys’ tournament as the District 9 runner-up with a 23-2 record after losing to Clarion-Limestone in the D9 2A boys’ title game. In the first round, the Terrors defeated District 7 third place team Greensburg Central Catholic 6754, and then they defeated District 7 seventh place team Serra Catholic 64-44 in the second round.
Erie First Christian was the District 10 champion, entering the state playoffs with a 14-10 record. The team defeated District 7 sixth place team Clairton 57-37 in the first round and District 7 runner-up Northgate 67-52 in the second round.
That set up Saturday’s matchup between Otto and Erie in the quarterfinals, with Otto-Eldred winning 42-20.
Otto-Eldred will now take on District 7 champion Aliquippa in the western final on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Clarion University, with a trip to Friday’s state championship game on the line.
The PIAA 2A boys’ championship game will be played at 2 p.m. Friday at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Following Saturday’s 2A boys’ quarterfinal matchup, the Lady Terrors faced off against District 5 champion Berlin Brothersvalley at 3:30 p.m. in the 1A girls’ quarterfinals.
The Lady Terrors entered the PIAA 1A girls’ playoffs as the District 9 champion with a 23-2 record.
Otto defeated District 7 fifth place team Monessen 57-30 in the first round and District 6 runner-up Bishop Guilfoyle 49-37 in the second round.
Berlin entered the state playoffs with a 20-5 record, defeating District 9 fourth place team North Clarion 20-6 in the first round and District 7 runnerup Aquinas Academy 47-35 in the second round.
In Saturday’s quarterfinal, Otto reportedly held a 39-38 lead late in the fourth quarter until Berlin’s Mercy Sechler scored her only two points of the game to put Berlin up 40-39 with 20.4 seconds remaining. Berlin held on for the onepoint win, ending the Lady Terrors’ season.
Berlin will face District 7 champion Union – who ended ECC’s season in the second round – on Tuesday in the western final with a trip to the state title game on the line. Union defeated District 6 champion Williamsburg 43-37 in Saturday’s quarterfinals.