PIAA Boys' Basketball Capsules
CLASS AAA 11-2 Pottsville (23-4) vs. 1-2 Lower Moreland (16-9)
When/where: Tonight, 7 p.m., Blue Mountain H.S.
About the Crimson Tide
Head coach: Dave Mullaney (7th season)
How got here: Lost to Allentown Central Catholic 64-34 in District 11 championship game
Last PIAA appearance: 2011 - Lost to Neshaminy 64-45 in first round of Class AAAA playoffs
Teams stats: Offense (54.6 ppg), defense (37.2)
Probable starters: G Travis Blankenhorn (jr., 6-foot-2, 18.3 points per game), G Ty Painter (jr., 5-8, 2.7), G-F Jordan Melochick (soph., 6-2, 10.2), G-F Connor Hinchliffe (jr., 6-1, 6.3), F Eli Nabholz (jr., 6-5, 12.1)
Key reserve: F John Toomey (sr., 6-2, 1.5)
About the Lions
Head coach: Seth Baron (3rd season)
Last PIAA Appearance: 2007 - Beat Northern Lehigh 44-38, lost to Prep Charter 56-44 in Class AA playoffs.
How got here: Lost to Holy Ghost Prep 65-47 in District 1 championship game
Team stats: Offense (51.2), defense (50.0)
Probable starters: G Danny Duffey (soph., 5-8, 12.9), G Dickey Rhoades (soph., 5-9), F Phil Madden (jr., 6-5), F Nick Cerruti (sr., 6-3, 9.0), G-F Stefan Zoubroulis (sr., 6-1)
Key reserves: G Matt Cerruti (fr., 6-1, 11.0), G Nick Smolda (fr., 5-10), G Dylan Morganstein (sr., 6-1), F Jake Fazio (soph., 5-10)
Game Notes
Tide have hit 142 3-pointers this season, led by Blankenhorn (58), who has reached double figures in scoring in 26 games, including 11 straight. ... Cerruti led Lions with 11 points, while Duffy had eight in district final loss. Game was tied 12-all after the first quarter before Holy Ghost Prep went on a 25-5, second-quarter run to go up 37-17 at halftime. ... Lions reached district title game for first time since becoming a Class AAA school and are making first appearance in states in Class AAA.
What's next: Winner faces either 3-1 Susquehanna Township (19-7) or 12-4 Imhotep Charter (20-6) in second round Tuesday, March 11
12-2 Philadelphia Electric Charter (16-11) vs. 11-3 Blue Mountain (21-6)
When/where: Today, 7:30 p.m., Archbishop Carroll High School, Radnor
About the Chargers
Head coach: James Lewis
Last PIAA appearance: 2013 - Beat Palmyra 48-44, lost to Abington Heights 66-53 in OT in Class AAA playoffs
How got here: Lost to Neumann-Goretti 69-55 in District 12 championship game
Team stats: Offense (59.7), defense (53.8)
Probable starters: F James Suber (sr., 6-6, 11.7), G Devante Truitt (jr., 6-3, 13.3), G Jihad Barnes (jr., 6-1), G Anthony Harris (sr., 6-4), G Larenz Thurman (sr., 6-0)
Key reserves: F Nysir Marshburn (soph., 6-5)
About the Eagles
Head coach: Dustin Werdt (11th season)
Last PIAA appearance: 2007 - Lost to Phoenixville in first round of Class AAA playoffs
How got here: Beat Bethlehem Catholic 70-63 in District 11 consolation game
Team stats: Offense (60.0), defense (42.6)
Probable starters: G Will Bornstein (sr., 6-1, 15.2), G Kyle Slane (sr., 6-0, 10.5), G Shane Grapsy (sr., 6-0, 5.8), G Mark Chelius (soph., 5-7, 7.1), C Skyler Panchari (sr., 6-4, 12.3)
Key reserves: G Dean Stramara (jr., 5-8, 1.3), G Ian Donovan (soph., 5-7, 0.7), F-C Connor Kerstetter (fr., 6-1, 1.7), F Luke Harding (sr., 5-0, 1.8)
Game Notes
Bornstein has reached doubled figures in scoring in 19 consecutive games. ... Eagles last state playoff victory was Feb. 14, 2006, over Danville 59-54 in Class AAA second round. Lost to eventual state champ Franklin 65-39 in quarterfinals March 17. ... Chargers won 8-of-11 before losing 69-65 to Constitution in Philadelphia Public League semifinal Feb. 18.
What's next: Winner faces 1-1 Holy Ghost Prep (20-5) or 3-4 Bermudian Springs (22-4) in second round Tuesday, March 11
Class A
11-1 Mahanoy Area (24-2) vs. 4-3 Galeton (20-5)
When/where: Today, 7:30 p.m., Martz Hall
About the Golden Bears
Head coach: Mickey Holland (33rd season)
Last PIAA appearance: 2013 - Beat Muncy 58-44, lost to Church Farm 42-36 in Class A playoffs
How got here: Beat Pius X 62-42 in District 11 final
Team stats: Offense (57.8), defense (33.5)
Probable starters: G Jason Richmond (jr., 6-1, 5.9), G Larry McNeil (sr., 6-3, 11.5), G Dylan Mahmod (sr., 6-1, 13.6), F Andy Kuzma (sr., 6-3, 3.7), C Tyler Cavenas (sr., 6-5, 11.6)
Key reserves: G Matt Yedsena (soph., 6-0, 4.1), F Brian Miller (jr., 6-3, 6.2)
About the Tigers
Head coach: Rick Smith (3rd season)
Last PIAA appearance: 2003 - Beat Millersburg 55-50, lost to Muncy 63-48 in Class A playoffs
How got here: Beat Mansfield 57-46 in overtime in District 4 consolation game
Team stats: Offense (52.0), defense (43.4)
Probable starters: G Jacob Batterson (soph., 5-9, 8.2), F Mitchell Smith (soph., 5-10, 4.7), G Dakota Shadle (sr., 5-10, 17.5), F Mickinley Ward (soph., 5-10, 5-9), C Bob Williams (sr., 6-4, 11.6)
Key reserves: G Hunter Rachiele (jr., 5-9, 1.5), F Zach Brown (sr., 5-8, 0.5)
Game Notes
Shadle had a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds in district consolation win over Mansfield, including 17 points in second half. Batterson added 15. ... Tigers enter winning 13 of last 15 games. Only losses during run were to Coudersport 49-43 on Jan. 27 and to eventual District 4 runner-up Sullivan County 44-29 in the district semifinals Feb. 25. ... Shade has over 1,100 career points, hitting the 1,000-point mark in January.
What's next: Winner faces 1-1 Church Farm (23-4) or 3-3 Lebanon Catholic (17-8) in second round Tuesday, March 11, at site and time to be determined.
- Compiled by Mike Carnahan