Girard boys advance to PIAA basketball semifinals, set up historic rematch
SLIPPERY ROCK — Mohawk didn’t look quite sure what to do.
It couldn’t stop Girard’s drives to the basket. It couldn’t stop Girard’s 3-point shooting.
All Mohawk could do was try to keep up.
It couldn’t.
Girard’s offense raced out of the gates and never slowed in Saturday’s PIAA Class 3A boys basketball quarterfinal. Its interior game was as potent as its outside shooting and, in front of a packed Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University, the Yellowjackets trounced Mohawk 70-50.
Four double-digit scorers paced a team effort for the Yellowjackets, including a game-high 21 points by Geremia Dell’omo and 17 from Nate Edwards. That made Saturday’s closing moments comfortable for the Yellowjackets, which advanced to their first PIAA semifinal since 1990.
Getting there: Party like it's 2000: Girard boys reach PIAA basketball quarterfinals
None of Girard’s players had been born, of course, the last time it reached the final four. Neither had its head coach.
“We knew that we were going to have a little bit of size on (Mohawk) with (Dell’omo), so our goal was to get inside-out touches,” said Edwards, a senior guard. “Start inside and, hopefully, spray some 3s later in the game. It just happened to work today.”
Double trouble
Dell’omo hit a 3-pointer with four minutes to play and Edwards followed it with a layup. That stretched Girard’s lead above 20 points for the first time, even though it led by eight points at halftime and by double digits throughout the second half.
Building that lead required a mix of dribble-drives, creative passing and 3-point shooting. The Yellowjackets found offensive success wherever they went. Ryan Carr scored 13 points while Kenny Godoy added 11.
“This is what we’ve been working for all season,” said Carr, a senior guard. “We were cutting off the drives, we were knocking down open (3-pointers). We were just moving the ball, finding the open guy and knocking down shots.”
Historic semifinal awaits
A familiar opponent stands between Girard and the PIAA final.
Franklin (23-5), which Girard defeated 60-50 in the District 10 title game two weeks before Saturday’s triumph, is also 3-0 in the Class 3A state playoffs. The Knights knocked off District 7 champion Deer Lakes on Saturday to earn a rematch with Girard, which snapped its streak of three consecutive district titles.
Winning District 10: History in the making: Girard wins first D-10 boys basketball title since 2000
“I told the guys to just enjoy the moment of this because it’s not common,” Girard coach Mark Schrier said. “For them to get to experience this as high school players is a special thing, so we’re excited for Tuesday.”
Tuesday’s semifinal is sure to fill its venue. Girard has packed gymnasiums wherever it’s gone during these playoffs and Saturday was no different.
The Yellowjacket faithful will be ready for one more. And, if a trip to Hershey’s Giant Center is required, they’ll be ready for that, too.
“If it does have to end, let’s try to go as far as we can,” Schrier said. “It’s such a great group of guys and they’re all so close, and this all started the day after we got knocked out last year. We’ve been with each other ever since, so it’s special to get this far and I’m just proud of their effort the whole way.”
Contact Jeff Uveino at juveino@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @realjuveino.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Girard boys basketball tops Mohawk, reaches first PIAA semifinal since 1990
