PIAA basketball: Which District 10 team advanced to the Class 3A boys' final?

This story has been updated from a previous version. Franklin plays Devon Prep on Saturday in the PIAA Class 3A boys basketball championship game.

EDINBORO ― McComb Fieldhouse smelled like chocolate.

Not literally. But everyone at Tuesday’s PIAA boys’ basketball semifinal knew what was at stake.

Girard and Franklin brought their best to PennWest Edinboro, as did their fans. Only one team, however, could advance to Hershey and the Class 3A state final.

After 32 minutes, it was Franklin’s student section littering the floor with Hershey’s kisses. The Knights avenged their loss in the District 10 final and beat Girard, 64-55, to reach their first PIAA title game since 2006.

“We got (Girard’s) best punch in the first half,” said Franklin senior Damon Curry. “We were able to come out, compose ourselves, put a run together and win the basketball game.”

First meeting: History in the making: Girard wins first D-10 boys basketball title since 2000

Emotional victory for Knights

The emotion on Jalen Wood’s face spoke volumes.

He couldn’t hide it as he stood on the free throw line, 1.4 seconds from realizing a childhood dream.

As the senior guard sank his second of two shots, he stood motionless on the charity stripe while chaos erupted around him. Wood then untucked his jersey, pulled it over his eyes, and laid on the hardwood in a pool of emotion.

“I used to sit back with a mini hoop and ball, counting down to the buzzer and hitting game winners, for a game like this,” Wood said. “To finally get here, I can’t let myself not cry when I’m at the free throw line getting ready to go to states.”

Wood scored 13 points, Curry scored 15 and Cole Buckley scored 14 to pace Franklin. The Knights needed all three and then some to cut a double-digit deficit in the first half, Franklin’s seniors stepping up to lead a third-quarter comeback.

“I wanted to get here so bad, but I never really thought it was going to happen,” Wood said. “It still doesn’t feel real, but we’re going, and that’s the biggest thing that’s ever happened in my life in basketball.”

Game of runs

Girard’s second-quarter run energized its half of McComb Fieldhouse. The building’s near-capacity energy was palpable well before tip-off, each team receiving pregame standing ovations from its respective fan base.

For as impactful as Girard’s 10-0 streak was, however, Franklin closed the first half on a 12-4 run to pull within four of the lead. The Knights kept momentum in the third quarter, leading by as many as 10 points after trailing by 12 in the second.

Buckley’s dribble-drives were often the catalyst of Franklin’s offense, as were timely baskets by Wood and Curry. Dreyden Payne scored all 10 of his points in the second half and Damarco Payne added eight points for the Knights.

“We let the emotions get the best of us (in the D-10 title game),” said Buckley, a senior. “In this game, we knew the chips weren’t going to fall our way at one point, so we kept grinding, got back in the game and won the game.”

While Franklin scored inside, Girard’s 3-point shooting kept it around in the second half.  The Knights never trailed after a Dreyden Payne layup and 3-pointer from Wood put them ahead with five minutes left in the third quarter.

Kenny Godoy led Girard with 21 points and Nate Edwards scored 13.

How Girard got there: Girard boys advance to PIAA basketball semifinals, set up historic rematch

Franklin seeks third PIAA basketball title

As Curry alluded to postgame, Tuesday was – in some ways – history repeating itself.

Franklin’s last PIAA final appearance was in 2006 when the Knights fell to General McLane in the D-10 title game before avenging that loss in the PIAA playoffs. The same was true of Tuesday, Franklin brushing off the 60-50 loss Girard handed it March 1.

More: Franklin senior Payne wins District 10 Midseason Boys Basketball Breakout Players poll

Franklin will seek its third PIAA championship in program history when it meets Devon Prep of District 12 Saturday at Hershey’s Giant Center. It previously won state titles in 2001 and ’06.

“We’re eight seniors deep and a bunch of dudes who have a lot of playoff experience,” Curry said. “We’re able to weather the storm and just go put one together.”

Contact Jeff Uveino at juveino@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @realjuveino.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Franklin boys beat Girard, clinch spot at PIAA Class 3A basketball final