PIAA Boys’ Basketball Playoffs
Capsule Previews
Class AA First Round
11-1 Mahanoy Area (20-5) vs. 4-2 Wellsboro (19-6)
Today, 2:30 p.m., Martz Hall
About the Golden Bears
Head coach: Scott Hudson (1st season)
How got here: Beat Minersville 51-49 in overtime in District 11 title game
Last appearance in PIAA playoffs: 2014 in Class A — Beat Galeton 57-20 in first round, lost to Church Farm 56-52 in second round
Team stats: Offense (53.1), defense (43.8)
Probable starting lineup: G Matt Yedsena (jr., 6-0, 15.7 ppg), G Mike Wronski (jr., 5-9, 7.5), G Mike Joseph (soph., 5-8, 8.9), F Marcus Styka (jr., 6-1, 2.6), F-C Brian Miller (sr., 6-3, 15.4)
Key reserve: F Peter Luddy (sr., 5-9, 2.2)
Notes: Yedsena had 20 points and 10 rebounds in title game, with Miller (14) and Joseph (13) also reaching double figures in scoring. Joseph hit go-ahead bucket with 16 seconds remaining in overtime, while Yedsena had three assists in extra period. … Golden Bears’ district title was third consecutive, the previous two were in Class A. … Golden Bears also reached second round of states in 2013. … All of the Golden Bears starters this season are new.
About the Hornets
Head coach: Todd Outman (4th season)
How got here: Lost to Loyalsock 54-35 in District 4 title game
Last appearance in PIAA playoffs: 2013 — Lost to Delone Catholic 63-47 in first round
Team stats: Offense (51.3), defense (47.4)
Probable starting lineup: G Mike Pietropola (sr., 6-1, 18.6 ppg), F Kieron Smethers (sr., 6-4, 12.7), G Dawson Prough (fr., 5-11, 6.6), F Jake Mitchell (sr., 6-4, 4.0), G Brandon Lamphier (soph., 5-8, 4.2)
Key reserves: G Quinn Henry (fr., 5-9, 3.2), F Alden Weiner (soph., 6-4, 1.3)
Notes: Loss in district final was second in last three years for Hornets. ... Had not reached state playoff for 16 years prior to 2013. ... Pietropola is a two-time All-State quarterback who will play in this year’s PSFCA East-West All-Star Game. ... Smethers, Prough and Pietropola are returning starters from last year.
Up next: Winner faces 12-1 Conwell-Egan or 3-3 Camp Hill winner in Wednesday’s second round.
12-2 Freire Charter (13-13) vs. 11-2 Minersville (19-5)
Today, 1 p.m., Archbishop Ryan H.S., Philadelphia
About the Dragons
Head coach: John Brown (7th season)
How got here: Lost to Conwell-Egan 67-31 in District 12 championship game
Last appearance in PIAA playoffs: 2008 in Class A — Beat Pius X (77-57), Scotland School (67-38), Girard College (69-59), and Reading Central Catholic (50-41) before losing to Serra Catholic (67-66) in championship game
Team stats: Offense (55.9), defense (56.7)
Probable starting lineup: G Calil Moultrie (sr., 5-8, 18.3 ppg), G Joel Grant (sr., 5-7, 10.5), G-F Elijah Elam (sr., 6-0, 9.1), F Lavon Edwards (soph., 6-0, 4.8), F-C Jaison Battle (sr., 6-4, 4.2)
Key reserves: F-C Tymir Miller (jr., 6-2, 3.4), G Semaj Smith (sr., 5-11, 3.2), G-F Davon Mandy (sr., 5-10, 2.7)
About the Miners
Head coach: Cliff Woodford (8th season)
How got here: Lost to Mahanoy Area 51-49 in overtime in District 11 title game
Team stats: Offense (53.9), defense (43.3)
Last appearance in PIAA playoffs: 2001 — Beat Lewisburg (44-40) in first round, beat Bishop O’Hara (50-46) in second round, lost to Trinity (79-59) in quarterfinals
Probable starting lineup: G Collin Hashin (sr., 5-8, 5.5 ppg), G Jon McBreen (jr., 6-2, 7.5), G Chris Leshko (jr., 6-2, 12.2), F David Graham (jr., 6-0, 11.8), F Spencer Tobin (sr., 6-1, 9.2)
Key reserves: G Dylan Stephen (jr., 5-10, 1.4), G Storm Fekette (sr., 5-9, 3.0), F Brian Brennan (jr., 6-2, 3.4)
Notes: Graham and Tobin led Miners in district title game with 15 points apiece. Graham had nine points in third quarter as Miners battled back from 22-10 first-half deficit. … Miners hit eight 3-pointers in district championship game.
Up next: Winner faces 4-1 Loyalsock or 2-2 Holy Cross winner in Wednesday’s second round.
— Compiled by Mike Carnahan