PIAA boys basketball second round game recaps from Monday, March 18th 2024:

Franklin Regional 60 Moon Area 43   LISTEN BROADCAST

The Panthers redeemed their loss to Moon Area in the WPIAL championship from earlier this month, as Franklin Regional notched a 60-43 victory against the Tigers in the PIAA Class 5A semifinals at Peters Township High School. Franklin Regional (27-3) jumped out to a 17-2 lead in the first quarter, with Cam Rowell producing nine points in the frame. However, Elijah Guillory hit a 3-pointer late in the quarter for Moon, and the Tigers shifted momentum in their favor in the second quarter. The WPIAL champs outpaced FR 23-8 in the quarter, keyed by eight points in the frame by Guillory and seven points by Aiden Reesman. With the Tigers (26-4) holding a 28-25 advantage at the half, FR recaptured its magic in the third quarter. Once again, the FR defense limited Moon to just five points in the stanza, while Fin Hutchison found his stroke, producing eight points in the quarter. With Franklin Regional holding an eight-point advantage after the third, the Panthers sealed the outcome by decisively winning the fourth quarter. Connor Crossey and Cooper Rankin produced six points apiece in the stanza, securing the Panthers’ spot in the state title game for the first time since 1997. Rowell paced the balanced attack for FR, as he scored a game-high 17 points, while Rankin notched a dozen points, Hutchison and Colin Masten each produced 11 points, and Crossey added eight points. Guillory paced Moon Area with 15 points, but just two points after halftime. The Panthers will seek their first PIAA gold against District 12 champion Imhotep Charter at the GIANT Center in Hershey on Friday at 8 p.m.

PIAA boys basketball second round game recaps from Wednesday, March 12th 2024:

Jeannette 48 Greensburg Central Catholic 46, OT (2A)   WATCH BROADCAST

Isaiah Mallich's three-pointer late in overtime proved to be the difference as Jeannette pulled a major upset over rival Greensburg Central Catholic, 48-46, in the second round of the PIAA Class 2A playoffs at Norwin. The Jayhawks scored the first six points of the game and led 13-8 after one and 23-21 at halftime. The Centurions outscored Jeannette 12-9 in the third quarter then put in the first four points of the fourth quarter to take a 37-32 lead. The Jayhawks countered with a 7-2 spurt and the game was tied at 39-all heading into overtime. With the contest knotted at 44-44, Mallich buried a three-pointer from the left corner with 30.2 seconds left and Jeannette held on for the victory. Markus McGowan paced the Jayhawks with 13 points while Kymon'e Brown added 10. Tyree Turner finished off his illustrious career by scoring 21 points for Greensburg Central Catholic (24-4). Franco Alvarez added 13 for Central. Jeannette (18-9) will square off with Fort Cherry in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Peters Township's AHN Arena. It's the first time Jeannette made the quarterfinal round since 2018.

PIAA boys basketball second round game recaps from Tuesday, March 12th 2024:

Franklin Regional 56 Selinsgrove 45 (5A)

Franklin Regional received a big performance from another unsung hero as the Panthers advanced in the PIAA playoffs with a second round victory over Selinsgrove 56-45 at Altoona. Colin Masten poured in a game-high 21 points for Franklin Regional after Fin Hutchison scored 16 points in the Panthers first round victory over Warwick last week. Franklin Regional (25-3) will meet Shaler in the quarterfinals on Friday at a site and time to be determined. The Titans (25-3) topped Mechanicsburg 68-48 in the second round. FR defeated Shaler twice this season winning 72-62 in the regular season and 68-40 in the WPIAL semifinals.

PIAA boys basketball first round game recaps from Saturday, March 9th 2024:

Girard 74 Derry Area 65 (3A)   LISTEN BROADCAST

Despite a furious rally from Derry Area it wasn't quite enough as the Trojans historic season ended with a 74-65 loss to Girard in a PIAA Class 3A first round contest at Hagerty Events Center in Erie. The Yellowjackets built up a 50-32 lead late in the third quarter but Derry Area went on a 25-11 run to slice the deficit to four points at 61-57 with under three minutes left in regulation. But Girard connected on key free throws down the stretch to put the game out of reach. Nate Papuga poured in a game-best 27 points in his final game for the Trojans. Stanley Rajkovich added 17 points and John Wasnick came in with 16 for Derry Area (15-9) which played in its first ever state playoff game. Girard (24-2), the District 10 champion, will play Bishop Guilfoyle on Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.

Bishop Guilfoyle 62 Burrell 51 (3A)

Macky Bennis scored 15 points in his final game for Burrell but it wasn't enough as the Buccaneers fell to District 6 third seed Bishop Guilfoyle 62-51 in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A basketball playoffs. Burrell, which narrowly lost to Deer Lakes in the WPIAL championship game, finishes the season with an overall mark of 16-10. Jude Haigh racked up a game-high 20 points for the Marauders (23-4) who plays Girard in the second round on Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.

Greensburg Central Catholic 57 Windber 42 (2A)   LISTEN BROADCAST

Tyree Turner's 25 points powered Greensburg Central Catholic to a 57-42 victory over visiting Windber to begin the PIAA Class 2A post-season. The Centurions outscored the Ramblers in every quarter including 14-4 after one and 25-13 at the halftime break. In addition to Turner, Franco Alvarez collected 14 points for GCC (24-3) while Lliam Gallagher added nine. Grady Klosky finished with 13 points for Windber (15-10) the District 5 runner-up. Greensburg Central Catholic will play rival Jeannette in the second round on Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.

Jeannette 58 Iroquois 32 (2A)

District 10 champion Iroquois was no match for Jeannette in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A playoffs. The Jayhawks held a heavily lopsided 40-11 lead at halftime and went on to dominate the Braves 58-32. Isaiah Mallich posted a team-high 14 points for Jeannette (17-9) while Markus McGowan and Kymon'e Brown each put in 11 points. Kellen Burroughs had a game-high 15 points for Iroquois (14-12). The Jayhawks advance to face off against Greensburg Central Catholic in the second round of the PIAA playoffs on Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.

PIAA boys basketball first round game recaps from Friday, March 8th 2024:

Franklin Regional 68 Warwick 53   LISTEN BROADCAST

Fin Hutchison stepped up in a big way to help Franklin Regional topple a feisty Warwick team 68-53 in the first round of the PIAA Class 5A boys basketball playoffs in Murrysville. Hutchinson scored 16 points, 12 in the fourth quarter alone, helping FR capture its first PIAA playoff win since 2017. The Panthers were ahead by just three points, 43-40 after three quarters and by just two points with 5:48 left in the game. But Hutchinson came alive by hitting a 3-pointer, a layup and a foul shot to give Franklin Regional breathing room. He went 6-for-6 from the foul line in the final stanza. In addition to Hutchinson, Cooper Rankin also scored 16 points for the Panthers (24-3). Connor Crossey and Colin Mastin put in 11 and 10 points respectively. Caleb Johnson tallied 17 points for the Warriors (19-10) who were the sixth seed out of District 3. Franklin Regional advances to play District 4 champion Selinsgrove in a second round game on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Altoona High School.