Iroquois and Fairview pull upsets in District 10 boys basketball playoffs
FARRELL — The growth the Iroquois boys basketball went through this season under new coach Ron Pacley was on display Friday as the Braves won their first quarterfinal playoff game in 16 years.
Iroquois had a big fourth quarter to knock off Lakeview 54-49 in the District 10 Class 2A quarterfinals at Farrell High School.
The last time Iroquois won a playoff game was in 2018, a Round of 16 win over Reynolds 63-41. And the last time the Braves won a D-10 quarterfinal was in 2008, a 63-59 win over Conneaut Valley. Iroquois beat West Middlesex in the semifinals that winter before falling to Kennedy Catholic in the D-10 championship.
Iroquois (12-11) moves on to the D-10 semifinals on Tuesday against Eisenhower, while Lakeview ends the season at 16-7.
The Sailors jumped out to a 13-7 lead in the first quarter before Iroquois erupted for 18 points in the second quarter, including six each from Kellen Burroughs and Cole Bennett. Burroughs finished with 13 points and Bennett had 11 for the Braves.
The two teams played even for most of the second half before Iroquois pulled away in the final minute. Devin Brink led the Braves with 15 points and Roman Caporale scored 11. Lucas Fagley led Lakeview with 18 points, while Evan Reiser scored 10.
More: See District 10 basketball box scores, postseason high school results for Feb. 19-24
Fairview upsets Oil City
MEADVILLE — Fairview ground things down to shorten the game Friday and knocked off Oil City 40-33 in the District 10 Class 3A boys basketball quarterfinals at Meadville High School.
Fairview (9-14), the No. 6 seed in the bracket, moves on to play rival Girard in the semifinals on Tuesday, and Oil City ends the season 16-7.
Fairview controlled the pace throughout the game. Oil City led just 10-8 after the first quarter before the Tigers led 17-14 at the half. Fairview extended the lead to 25-18 after three quarters before hanging on during a 15-point fourth quarter by the Oilers to get the win.
Will Harmston had 14 points and six rebounds to lead Fairview, and Sayyid Donald had 13 points for Oil City.
Girard dominates Greenville
From the opening tip, Girard overwhelmed Greenville with a ferocious defense and quick-strike offense. The guard combination of Kenny Godoy and Nate Edwards scored 41 points as Girard beat Greenville 74-35 in the District 10 Class 3A boys basketball quarterfinals on Friday at the Hagerty Family Events Center.
“Everything we do starts on the defensive end. We have a real focus and intensity and credit the kids as they had a great energy defensively,” Girard coach Mark Schrier said. “They are hardwired that a shot goes in and we are right on the ball and it fits our personality.”
Girard (21-2) takes on rival Fairview on Tuesday in the D-10 semifinals, and Greenville ends the season 9-14.
The YellowJackets raced out to a 29-6 lead in the first quarter behind 11 points from Edwards and extended the lead to 54-15 at the half as Godoy scored 15 points in the second quarter. Geremia Dell’omo added 10 points, including a dunk to punctuate a dominant first half. Noah Cano had 13 points and Mason Vannoy scored 10 for the Trojans.
Mercyhurst Prep sweeps North East
Mercyhurst Prep scored 27 points in the second quarter to build a cushion against North East. The Lakers extended their 18-point lead in the third quarter to beat the Grapepickers for the third time this season 74-58 in the District 10 Class 3A boys basketball quarterfinals on Friday at the Hagerty Family Events Center.
“I think it was fight and energy and not that North East didn’t have it, but we had it with every player who stepped on the floor,” Mercyhurst Prep coach Sean Baer said. “We picked up our defense full court and were physical for 94 feet. That was the key to victory. We didn’t sit back and let them get hot.”
Mercyhurst Prep (16-7) will take on top-seeded Franklin on Tuesday in the semifinals, and North East ends the season 14-9.
The Lakers took a 13-12 lead after the first quarter as Derek Bly drilled a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the quarter. Mercyhurst Prep then built a 40-22 lead at the half with a big second quarter. Craig Buckner scored seven of his 19 points in the second quarter and Cam Bryant and Bly each had five.
Mercyhurst scored 26 points in the third quarter to put the game away. J.J. Ganska and Bly each had 14 points and Bryant had nine for the Lakers. Carter Crozier had 20 points, Willie Shunk had 15 and Colin Cunningham had 12 points.
Mercer earns payback
FARRELL — Daemyin Mattocks scored 30 points as Mercer earned some payback with a 75-55 win over Erie First Christian in the District 10 Class 2A boys basketball quarterfinals on Friday at Farrell High School.
Mercer (20-3) moves on to the semifinals to take on Cambridge Springs, while Erie First Christian ends the season 5-17. Erie First beat Mercer in the D-10 2A championship last season.
The Mustangs raced out to a 20-7 lead in the first quarter behind 10 points from Mattocks. Mercer led 37-26 at the half before pulling away in the third quarter. Cole Cunningham and Tristen McCracken had 12 points apiece for the Mustangs.
Simon Gonzalez led Erie First with 33 points, including four 3-pointers, while leading scorer Avery Collins had 16 points.
Franklin rolls in opener
OIL CITY — Franklin had four players score in double digits to rout Seneca 92-43 in the District 10 Class 3A boys basketball quarterfinals on Friday at Oil City High School.
Franklin (19-4) moves on to the D-10 semifinals on Tuesday against Mercyhurst Prep and Seneca ends the season 7-16.
Franklin scored 29 points in the first and second quarters to take a 58-15 lead into the locker room at halftime. Damarco Payne led the Knights with 26 points, followed by Jalen Wood with 19, Damon Curry with 17 and Cole Buckley with 12. Braden Kibbe scored 14 points to lead the Bobcats and Lucas Rupp had nine.
Cambridge Springs wins rivalry game
MEADVILLE — Cambridge Springs scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from rival Saegertown 66-57 in the District 10 Class 2A boys basketball quarterfinals on Friday at Meadville High School.
Cambridge Springs (17-6) takes on Mercer in the semifinals on Tuesday, and Saegertown ends the season 15-7.
The two rivals were one point apart after three quarters as the Blue Devils led the Panthers 45-44. Tristen Mazzadra then scored 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win. Parker Schmidt led Cambridge Springs with 20 points and Tyler Troutman and Owen Riley had 12 points apiece. Jackson Scott scored 12 points and Samuel Draa and Cody Huson each scored 10 for Saegertown.
Eisenhower pulls away in quarterfinals
OIL CITY — Eisenhower scored 37 points in the second half to pull away from Sharpsville 68-44 in the District 10 Class 2A boys basketball quarterfinals on Friday at Oil City High School.
Eisenhower (19-4) takes on Iroquois in the semifinals Tuesday, while Sharpsville ends the season 7-16.
The Knights led 31-20 at halftime before scoring 21 points in the third to build a 21-point lead. Austin Hanson had 22 points and Kyler Black added 13 for Eisenhower. Aiden Cadman led Sharpsville with 10 points.
More: Vote in the latest Erie County high school winter sports Athlete of the Week polls: Feb. 19-21
Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNreisenweber.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Fairview and Iroquois had wins in the District 10 basketball playoffs
