District 10 girls basketball playoff recap: Warren wins 5A title, Mercyhurst, HC advance
MEADVILLE — Warren girls basketball coach Lisa LaVan is trying to enjoy every minute left in the season.
With three daughters on the team and a fourth player that is basically a daughter to her, LaVan has been soaking up every moment possible.
On Saturday, her eldest daughter Emma jumped into her arms at the buzzer to celebrate as Warren won its third District 10 championship over the past four years with a 46-34 win over Slippery Rock at Meadville High School.
“It has always been a goal of ours to win D-10 as seniors, and it has come full circle,” said Emma Ruhlman, a Hillsdale recruit. “We won D-10 my freshman year on this court with Riley (Childress) and Margo (Loutzenhiser) and to win again is great.”
Warren secured its fourth D-10 championship in program history and three in the past four years. The first title was in 2016 against McDowell, and the Dragons have beaten Slippery Rock for the past three.
Warren jumped to a 13-9 lead in the first quarter as senior Riley Childress scored six of her 15 points. The Roberts Wesleyan recruit is one of two seniors on the team with Emma Ruhlman. Both are 1,000-point scorers as well.
GAME STATS: D-10 Class 5A title game: Warren vs. Slippery Rock
D-10 scoreboard: District 10 championship Saturday scores, stats (Click on Girls Basketball)
“I think the pressure was on someone else to find a way to beat us. We played as we usually do and didn't feel any pressure,” Childress said. “Emma and I being leaders was very important this year. We lost two key seniors to graduation, and I think we do a good job staying positive and keeping everyone up.”
After the Dragons increased their lead to 27-15 at the half and 35-23 through three quarters, the quickness and steady ballhandling of Ruhlman and Childress took over. The two seniors kept pulling the ball out to halfcourt and lulling the Rockets into thinking they were going to run the clock down before quick-strike passes to the paint for easy buckets.
Slippery Rock (14-9) tried to put pressure on the guards and force turnovers, but the Rockets couldn't cut into the lead.
Childress led Warren with 15 points, while Stuart had 10. Ruhlman, who knocked down three free throws with no time on the clock in the 2021 championship game to give Warren a thrilling win over Slippery Rock for the D-10 title, also scored 10 points.
“I've never seen this group this nervous coming in, but it's a lot to carry all season being the defending champions,” LaVan said. “I think that's why we faltered at the end of the regular season. There was a lot of pressure on them, game after game but everyone stepped up, especially when they keyed on Riley and Emma.”
The pressure of being the top seed was something Ruhlman discussed with her mom on Friday.
“When I was a freshman, we were a lower seed and we were underdogs, and I even told my mom that it was kind of nice when there was no pressure on us to win,” Ruhlman said with a smile. “I think Riley and I were able to lead this team. We knew we were the best team in 5A. We showed it.”
Bronwyn McCoy led Slippery Rock with 11 points and Chatham recruit Ella McDermott added nine.
Warren (19-6) now turns its attention to the PIAA playoffs, where the Dragons are 0-8 all-time. Warren will host Oakland Catholic and Slippery Rock will host Moon on Wednesday.
“It's pretty amazing to win three titles in four years and it feels like the torch is being passed,” LaVan said. While Emma Ruhlman is a senior, LaVan's other daughters will be back next year as Gracie Ruhlman is a junior and Samantha Ruhlman is a sophomore. Samantha Ruhlman is third on the team with 5.1 points per game and Gracie Ruhlman is fourth with 4.4 ppg.
“It hasn't set in that this is the final playoff run with Emma because otherwise, I'd be balling my eyes out,” LaVan said. “To do this with Emma as my own daughter and Riley, who is always around and is basically like a daughter to me, has been amazing.”
Mercyhurst Prep 38, Fairview 29: At Joann Mullen Gymnasium, the Lakers held off the Tigers in the second half to get their first win in three tries against Fairview in the District 10 Class 3A girls basketball third-place game on Saturday at Hagerty Family Events Center.
“I thought we did a good job rebounding and keeping them out of the paint,” said Mercyhurst Prep coach Dan Perfetto. “Our help defense was much better in the second half.”
GAME STATS: D-10 Class 4A 3rd-place game: Mercyhurst Prep vs. Fairview
Fairview boys win D-10 Class 4A title: Sitter hits career milestone in championship game win
Mercyhurst Prep (17-8) moves on to the PIAA first round on Tuesday at Forest Hills in District 6. Fairview closed another historic season at 23-2.
The Lakers came out firing in the first half Saturday as they led 10-8 after the first quarter and went on an 11-2 run in the second. Point guard Lillirose Lang led the Mercyhurst Prep charge as she started knocking down jumpers and playing solid defense. She finished with nine points and St. Lawrence recruit Joce Ollinger had 12 and Amherst recruit Anna Tranum had seven for the Lakers.
Fairview, which was looking to bounce back after its first loss of the season in the District 10 semifinals, went on a 14-4 run in the third to cut the Mercyhurst Prep lead down to 25-24 after three quarters.
Bre Heidt and Sara Gennuso had key buckets in the run while leading scorer Hope Garrity led the Tigers with 12 points. Heidt finished with eight and Gennuso scored seven.
“We told them at halftime that Fairview was going to make a run because they are a good team. We settled down after the run offensively and started looking for good shots,” Perfetto said. “We looked to get the ball inside and the kids really responded to having Lilly back. It's a big addition in leadership and huge for us.”
The Lakers now turn to the PIAA tournament in hopes of making a deep run. Mercyhurst Prep has reached the state final as the third seed from District 10 in the past.
“It's a new season, and we've been down this road before,” Perfetto said. “The team is playing together, and it's a good group of kids. I'm happy for them that we get to keep going.”
Harbor Creek 36, Grove City 25: At Meadville, the Huskies used a strong defensive effort to earn a spot in the PIAA Class 5A girls basketball tournament on Saturday at Meadville High School.
“Many of our younger underclassmen have not been to the state playoffs so we were motivated to keep the season alive,” said Harbor Creek coach Mark Corey. “We'll make a trip to Pittsburgh and see what happens.”
GAME STATS: D-10 Class 5A 3rd-place game: Harbor Creek vs. Grove City
D-10 boys basketball recap, Friday: Franklin pulls away from Seneca for 3A title
Harbor Creek (15-9) caught some bad luck on Saturday night as powerhouse Chartiers Valley was upset in the WPIAL championship. As a result, the Huskies have to travel to Chartiers Valley in the PIAA first round on Wednesday,/ Grove City closed the season at 15-10.
Harbor Creek raced to an 11-7 lead in the first quarter and led 20-10 at the half. The Huskies increased their lead to 34-20 after three quarters to secure the win.
“We've been in this situation before, and it's a long season and easy to start getting distracted with the weather turning and spring sports around the corner,” Corey said. “I don't think we played our best game the past few games but we did enough to move on.”
Samantha Zank had a big game for Harbor Creek with 17 points and Elise Benim added 13. Hannah Reiber paced Grove City with 10 points.
Villa Maria 66, St. Marys 24: At St. Marys, the Victors opened the game on a 26-1 run to dominate a PIAA Class 4A girls basketball subregional on Saturday at St. Marys High School.
Villa Maria (21-2) moves on to the PIAA first round on Wednesday against Quaker Valley, while St. Marys (18-6) also qualifies for the first round.
GAME STATS: PIAA Class 4A subregional: Villa Maria vs. St. Marys
The Victors didn't allow more than nine points in a quarter as they pulled away for their fourth win in four games in the PIAA subregional round. Lena Walz led Villa Maria with 16 points, while Mount St. Mary's recruit Carissa Dunham and freshman Addie Biel each had 12 points and sophomore Jayden McBride added 10.
Isabelle Catalone and Jayssa Senlick had five points apiece for the Flying Dutch.
Mifflin County 54, McDowell 42: At Lewistown, the Huskies pulled away in the second half of a PIAA Class 6A girls basketball subregional on Saturday at Mifflin County High School.
Mifflin County (18-6) moves on to the PIAA first round on Tuesday. McDowell finished the season at 15-8.
GAME STATS: PIAA Class 6A subregional: McDowell vs. Mifflin County
The Huskies led just 22-20 at halftime before outscoring McDowell 32-22 over the final 16 minutes.
Ella Gebhardt led McDowell with 13 points in her final game with the Trojans, while Amaiya Nelson had eight and Kaeli Bennett scored seven points.
Marissa Gingrich led Mifflin County with 22 points and Jalee Bodtorf added 16.
Kennedy Catholic 72, Farrell 34: At Slippery Rock, the Golden Eagles went on a 37-10 run over the second and third quarters to win their 12th straight D-10 Class 1A championship on Saturday at Slippery Rock University.
GAME STATS: D-10 Class 1A title game: Kennedy Catholic vs. Farrell
Kennedy Catholic improved to 21-2 and Farrell dropped to 13-9 with both teams moving on to the PIAA first round on Wednesday. The Golden Eagles will host North Clarion and the Steelers will travel to Union.
Kennedy led just 13-12 after the first quarter before pulling away with two dominant quarters. Paris Gilmore led the Golden Eagles with 18 points, while Hayden Keith scored 14 and Alderson Broaddus recruit Bellah DiNardo and Alaina Suhar each had seven.
Sanaa Brodie paced Farrell with 12 points and Jaylie Green scored nine.
West Middlesex 61, Maplewood 50: At Slippery Rock, the Big Reds rallied in the second half to win the D-10 Class 2A championship at Slippery Rock University.
GAME STATS: D-10 Class 2A title game: West Middlesex vs. Maplewood
West Middlesex (20-3) and Maplewood (21-4) both move on to the PIAA first round on Tuesday. The Big Reds host Apollo-Ridge and the Tigers host Seton-La Salle.
Maplewood led 24-11 in the first half and 29-20 at halftime before West Middlesex started storming back in the third quarter. The Big Reds outscored the Tigers 24-12 in the third and 17-9 in the fourth to secure the win.
Carlie Beatty paced West Middlesex with 21 points, while Emily Anthony had 19 and Caitlin Stephens scored 11.
Sadie Thomas led Maplewood with 22 points followed by Bailey Varndell with 15 and Izzy Eimer with nine.
Greenville 46, Lakeview 34: At Slippery Rock, the Trojans started the game on fire and held on to win the first District 10 Class 3A championship in program history at Slippery Rock University.
GAME STATS: D-10 Class 3A title game: Greenville vs. Lakeview
Greenville improved to 19-5 and Lakeview dropped to 21-4 with both teams heading to the PIAA first round on Tuesday. Greenville will host Keystone Oaks, and Lakeview will host Avonworth.
The Trojans are coached by former Edinboro all-time scorer Samantha (Reimer) Faler in her first year. Greenville ended Fairview's undefeated run in the semifinals before a historic win on Saturday.
Anna Harpst led the Trojans with 22 points, including 11-of-12 from the free throw line, and Grace Cano scored eight points.
Saint Vincent recruit Reese Gadsby paced Lakeview with 10 points.
Cambridge Springs 38, Cochranton 21: At Meadville, the Blue Devils used a big second half to pull away in a Di-10 Class 2A girls basketball third-place game on Saturday.
GAME STATS: Class 2A 3rd-place game: Cambridge Springs vs. Cochranton
Cambridge Springs (18-6) will move on to the PIAA first round on Tuesday at Brockway. Cochranton closed the season at 13-12.
The Blue Devils and Cardinals were tied at 12 at halftime before Cambridge Springs ended the game on a 26-9 run. Hailee Rodgers led Cambridge Springs with 25 points, including seven 3-pointers, while Madison Yanc scored 10. Jaylin McGill led Cochranton with eight points.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Warren repeats as D-10 5A champ; Mercyhurst, HC head to PIAA tourney
