Berlin captures 5th straight District 5-1A title with commanding win over Turkeyfoot
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP — Senior Pace Prosser poured in a game-high 33 points to guide top-seeded Berlin Brothersvalley to a commanding 81-43 victory over second-seeded Turkeyfoot Valley for its fifth straight District 5 Class 1A championship on Friday at Pitt-Johnstown.
"It's pretty cool. Every kid in the locker room doesn't know anything but winning a District 5 championship," said Berlin coach Tanner Prosser. "We've had that now last year and this year, so I'm proud of these kids."
Berlin (24-2) took a commanding 12-2 lead on Pace Prosser's second three of the first quarter. He finished the frame with a whopping 19 points and the Mountaineers led 33-11 after one.
"It's special. Not a lot of people have went 4-of-4," Pace Prosser said of the title reign. "It's pretty special to be able to do it, and it's always the goal coming into the year."
Berlin continued to pour it on in the second quarter. The Mountaineers outscored the Rams 15-2 to close the quarter and take a 57-21 lead into the break.
Prosser tallied 31 of those first-half points, including seven 3-pointers.
"Just move the ball, move without the ball, eventually we're going to get some good looks," Pace Prosser said. "It's all about knocking them down."
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Coach Prosser emptied his bench in the third and fourth to provide his underclassmen the opportunity to compete in a district title game.
Senior Craig Jarvis contributed 16 points for the Mountaineers, while junior Haydon Hutzell added 15, including 10 in the third quarter.
Hutzell is one of three new Berlin starters this season. He has been a consistent contributor in his role all season.
"It means a lot," Hutzell said. "Working hard in practice every day and going in and putting in the work and seeing this come out of it, but we're ready for the big one. We want the big one."
Berlin Brothersvalley will square off with District 6 No. 3 seed Conemaugh Valley on Friday in the first round of the PIAA Class 1A playoffs.
Meanwhile, Turkeyfoot (19-6) will meet District 7 No. 3 seed Union Area on Friday. While it was a tough loss, coach Eric Swank believes his team will be ready to rebound in a week.
"I don't think we have to regroup," Swank said. "I told them, 'Turkeyfoot hasn't been here since 2001, so this was just icing on the cake to get here. We got here. We gave it our all. We got beat by the No. 1 team in the state in single-A. We got we wanted. We are going to be perfectly fine."
Junior Bryce Nicholson led Turkeyfoot with 18 points and Colt Rugg chipped in 13.
Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on X (Twitter) @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Prosser, Berlin too much for Turkeyfoot in District 5-1A title game
