District 10 girls basketball recap: 3 Erie County teams lose in semifinals
For the first time all season, Fairview girls basketball coach Aaron Garrity had to talk with his team after a loss.
He wanted to make sure the Tigers knew that their historic season wasn't over just yet.
“This is a tough one and we haven't felt this way all season,” said Garrity. “Yes, we had a goal of winning a District 10 championship and we're crushed and we should be crushed about it, but we'll regroup."
"I told them this does not tarnish our season at all," Garrity said. "We're on a special run and we're still going. We'll lace them back up on Saturday.”
D-10 scoreboard: District 10 playoff scoreboard: (Click on Girls Basketball)
For just the fourth time all season, Fairview allowed 40 points in a game as Greenville continued to hit clutch shots in a 46-38 win over the Tigers in the District 10 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at the Hagerty Family Events Center.
GAME STATS: Fairview vs. Greenville
Greenville (18-5) will take on fellow Region 4 champion Lakeview for the D-10 3A championship on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Slippery Rock University, while Fairview (23-1) looks for a trip to the PIAA playoffs in the third-place game against rival Mercyhurst Prep at the HFEC at 1 p.m.
Fairview entered the game with the top defense in District 10 and the only teams to score 40 or more points against the Tigers were North East (41) and Mercyhurst Prep, which scored 44 points in both games against Fairview. Greenville managed to score a season-high 46 points against the Tiger defense, including a crucial 15-5 run in the third quarter.
“I really think the key was our teamwork and these girls are so tough,” said Greenville first-year coach Samantha Faler. “They spend so much time together in the weight room and they stayed together and wore down a phenomenal basketball team with a great coach.”
Faler, formerly Samantha Reimer, is familiar with Erie County basketball after a Hall of Fame playing career for Edinboro. She put in a plan to keep the Trojans relaxed as they faced a long bus ride to play an undefeated team on Wednesday.
“We preached to our girls physical and mental toughness. They spent the day reading to my little elementary kids all day,” Faler said. “They were joking and having fun on the bus ride up here and we've adopted the motto 'Start unknown, finish unforgettable' and the girls did a good job finishing this game.”
Grace Cano led Greenville with 20 points, while Josie Lewis had 13 and Anna Harpst scored nine. Lewis had three big 3-pointers and Harpst added two in clutch situations.
“They made shots and we struggled to make shots,” Garrity said. “That's a good team and in the playoffs, we're going to see nothing but good teams.”
Hope Garrity led Fairview with 22 points and Sara Gennuso scored 10.
Lakeview 45, Mercyhurst Prep 42: At Sharon, the Lakers suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss in the District 10 Class 3A semifinals.
Lakeview (21-3) advances to the D-10 championship on Saturday against fellow Region 4 champion Greenville at Slippery Rock University at 4 p.m., while Mercyhurst Prep (16-8) will battle rival Fairview for third place and a spot in the PIAA tournament a 1 p.m. at the HFEC.
GAME STATS: Mercyhurst Prep vs. Lakeview
Mercyhurst Prep led 28-22 after three quarters before a big fourth quarter by Lakeview. The Sailors went on a 13-7 run to tie the game at 35. The Lakers had two shots in the final seconds of regulation but couldn't get either to fall to force overtime.
Saint Vincent recruit Reese Gadsby, a 1,000-point scorer, scored 10 of her 25 points in overtime to lead Lakeview to a big win. Kelsey Seddon added nine points for the Sailors. Sophomore Olivia Kulyk led Mercyhurst Prep with 16 points and St. Lawrence recruit Joce Ollinger scored eight.
McDowell 66, Allderdice 50: At Paul Goll Gymnasium, the Trojans went on a 34-17 run over the second and third quarters to rally for a PIAA Class 6A subregional win on Wednesday.
McDowell (15-7) travels to District 6 champion Mifflin County on Saturday at 3 p.m. for another subregional. Allderdice ended the season at 11-8.
GAME STATS: McDowell vs. Allderdice
Sophomore Amaiya Nelson had a big game with 15 points, while fellow sophomores Caylen Spano and Kaeli Bennett each had 13 points. Ella Gebhardt and Jessica Hetz each added 10 points for the Trojans.
The Dragons jumped to a 17-12 lead in the first quarter before McDowell's midgame run to pull away.
Zaniya Murray had a huge game for Allderdice with 37 points, but the rest of the Dragons combined or 13 points.
Slippery Rock 43, Harbor Creek 26: At Meadville, the Rockets used a big first half to earn a spot in the District 10 Class 5A girls basketball championship on Wednesday at Meadville High School.
Slippery Rock (14-8) will take on Warren in a rematch of last year's D-10 5A championship game on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Meadville High School, while Harbor Creek (14-9) can still go to the PIAA playoffs with a win over Grove City in the third-place game on Saturday at Meadville at 2:30 p.m.
GAME STATS: Harbor Creek vs. Slippery Rock
Slippery Rock led 13-4 after the first quarter and 23-9 at the half to build a 14-point cushion on the Huskies. The second half was closer, but the Rockets outscored Harbor Creek in the third and fourth quarters to secure the win.
Chatham recruit Ella McDermott led Slippery Rock with 14 points and Katie Book scored 12. Samantha Zank led Harbor Creek with 12 points.
Warren 47, Grove City 25: At the HFEC, the Dragons' pair of 1,000-point scorers each had 16 points as Warren won a D-10 Class 5A semifinal on Wednesday.
GAME STATS: Warren vs. Grove City
Warren (18-6) looks to defend its D-10 championship on Saturday against Slippery Rock at 4 p.m. at Meadville High School after edging the Rockets last year, and Grove City (15-9) can earn a spot in the PIAA tournament with a win over Harbor Creek in the third-place game at 2:30 p.m. at Meadville.
Grove City hit several clutch shots in the first quarter to take a 12-10 lead before Warren outscored the Eagles 37-13 the rest of the game. Riley Childress, a Roberts Wesleyan recruit, had 16 points for the Dragons along with Hillsdale recruit Emma Ruhlman. Delaney Callahan paced Grove City with 11 points and Izzie Gamble scored eight.
Maplewood 47, Cambridge Springs 46: At Meadville, the Tigers stole a pass in the final seconds to hang on to a thrilling win in the District 10 Class 2A semifinals on Wednesday.
GAME STATS: Maplewood vs. Cambridge Springs
Maplewood (21-3) will take on West Middlesex for the D-10 championship on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Slippery Rock University, and Cambridge Springs (17-6) can keep its season going in the PIAA playoffs with a third-place win over Cochranton at 1 p.m. at Meadville High School.
Maplewood and Cambridge Springs traded the lead back and forth as the Blue Devils led 16-11 after the first quarter and the game was tied at 21 at halftime. Maplewood led 36-31 after three quarters and hung on in the fourth. Izzy Eimer, a 1,000-point scorer, led the Tigers with 29 points. Madison Yanc had 21 points and Makenzie Yanc added 15 for the Blue Devils.
West Middlesex 54, Cochranton 39: At Sharon, the Big Reds slowly built a strong lead throughout the game in the D-10 Class 2A semifinals on Wednesday.
GAME STATS: West Middlesex vs. Cochranton
West Middlesex (19-3) looks to reclaim the D-10 championship on Saturday against Maplewood at 2:30 p.m. at Slippery Rock University, while Cochranton (13-11) looks for a trip to the PIAA playoffs in a third-place game against Cambridge Springs at 1 p.m. at Meadville High School.
The Big Reds led 8-7 after the first quarter, 24-20 at halftime and 36-28 after three quarters to slowly pull away from Cochranton. Carlie Beatty, a 1,000-point scorer, led West Middlesex with 20 points and Emily Anthony, another 1,000-point scorer, added 18. Shelby McBryar led Cochranton with 12 points.
Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNreisenweber.
District 10 girls basketball playoffs
Saturday
Class 1A championship
At Slippery Rock University
Kennedy Catholic vs. Farrell, 1 p.m.
Class 2A championship
At Slippery Rock University
West Middlesex vs. Maplewood, 2:30 p.m.
Class 2A third-place game
At Meadville High School
Cochranton vs. Cambridge Springs, 1 p.m.
Class 3A championship
At Slippery Rock University
Greenville vs. Lakeview, 4 p.m.
Class 3A third-place game
At HFEC
Fairview vs. Mercyhurst Prep, 1 p.m.
Class 5A championship
At Meadville High School
Warren vs. Slippery Rock, 4 p.m.
Class 5A third-place game
At Meadville High School
Grove City vs. Harbor Creek, 2:30 p.m.
PIAA girls basketball subregionals
Class 4A
Villa Maria at St. Marys, 6 p.m.
Class 6A
McDowell at Mifflin County, 3 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: D-10 girls basketball playoffs: Erie County teams lose in semifinals
