ProfessorBriggs.com

(Statistical Information Courtesy of Erie Times-News)

DISTRICT 10 BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS -- FIRST ROUND

The District 10 basketball playoffs begin this week with a number of first-round games that involve Mercer County teams. The opening round will advance teams into next week's quarterfinals, which will start Thursday, February 22, with Class 4A boys quarterfinals. Classes 2A and 3A will be Friday night and all girls quarterfinals are Saturday the 24th.

Eight Mercer County area boys teams will be in action Friday while the Grove City girls are the only local squad to have a Saturday game.

CLASS 2A BOYS

(3-6) Maplewood at (2-3) Wilmington, 7:00 p.m.

Wilmington (11-11, 8-6 Region 2) begins the defense of its District 10 Class 2A title Friday night with a home game against Maplewood (5-15, 5-9 Region 3). After a slow start due to injuries and the long run of the Greyhounds' football team, Wilmington won eight of its final 12 games. Tuesday night, Wilmington clinched the No. 3 seed in Region 2 by rolling past Lakeview, 58-35.

The Greyhounds feature three double-digit scorers in their starting lineup in 6-foot junior guard Daniel Hanssen (13.1), 6-3 junior forward Robert Pontius (10.8) and 6-2 junior forward Colton Richards (10.4). Richards, an all-state offensive lineman, is the only Wilmington player to have appeared in all 22 games this season.

Wilmington features the ability to score both inside and outside. Hanssen is third in the county with 45 three-pointers while Richards has 24 three-pointers. Pontius, despite missing eight games, has 23 three-pointers.

Junior Jacob Yohman, a 6-5 center, started in Tuesday night's win at Lakeview and provides a threat in the paint in both ends of the floor. Junior guard Tage Kelliher (7.6 ppg) has sparked the Greyhounds as their top reserve while brothers Colton (4.3 ppg) and Cameron Marett (3.2) have been integral to the backcourt over the second half of the season.

Sophomore forward Isaiah Jarzab has missed the last five games but reportedly could possibly be back for the quarterfinals, should Wilmington advance. The 6-5 Jarzab averages 10.5 points per game.

Maplewood has alternated losses and wins over the last seven games. The Tigers closed the regular season Wednesday night with a 66-64 loss at Jamestown.

Senior Raheem Young leads Maplewood in scoring, averaging 13.2 points per game while classmate Kyle Mehok averages 11.9 points per game for second-year head coach Dave Gjovik. Maplewood's wins this year came over Saegertown (twice), Youngsville (twice) and Iroquois. Last year, the Wood went 14-10, including an opening-round playoff win at Reynolds.

This year, Maplewood and Wilmington have one common opponent, Sharpsville. Maplewood dropped an 85-61 decision at Sharpsville last Saturday. Wilmington split with the Blue Devils in league play. Wilmington secured a 61-49 home win January 9 but then lost the return bout at Sharpsville, 64-61, February 2.

The Wilmington-Maplewood winner will play Region 3 runner-up Eisenhower in the quarterfinals next Friday night at Erie's Prep-Villa Center. Tip-off will be 6 p.m.

(3-5) Union City at (2-4) Lakeview, 7:00 p.m.

It will be a reunion of former French Creek Valley Conference foes Friday night in Stoneboro when Union City (11-11, 7-7 Region 3) visits Lakeview (13-9, 8-6 Region 2). Both will look to regroup after stumbling down the stretch. Union City dropped four of its final five games while Lakeview enters the postseason on a three-game slide.

Lakeview entered the final two games of the regular season with a chance to win the Region 2 title but home setbacks to West Middlesex and Wilmington relegated the Sailors to the fourth seed. Still, the 2017-18 season has marked a seven-win improvement for the Sailors, who went 6-18 last season.

Lakeview features one of the area's top scoring tandems in junior guard Gavin Boggs and senior guard Gaven Aden. Boggs averages a team-best 14.3 points per game while Aden averages 11.6 points per game. Senior forwards Zack Urey (6.6) and Tyler Lightcap (5.1) help anchor the frontcourt while junior guards Noah Burke (3.7) and Zack Doddo (2.6) complement the Boggs-Aden duo. Sophomore forward Brett Beith and senior forward Nathan Partridge have also played extensively this season for 18th-year head coach Gary Burke.

Lakeview is 11-4 this year when scoring 45 points or more this year. The Sailors own notable non-conference wins over Erie First Christian, Girard and Class 4A Conneaut.

Union City has posted a pair of four-game win streaks, including one right before the Bears' recent cold spell. Junior center Bronnan Higley leads Union City in scoring by averaging 15.6 points per game. The 6-5 Higley posted a season-high 33 points February 7 in a 75-66 loss to Jamestown. Junior guard Miles Parker (10.7) and junior forward Brayden Kinney (10.6) also average double figures.

In addition, junior guard Andrew Hoban (8.9) has bombed in a team-high 48 three-pointers and Parker has 41 triples.

Union City went 4-7 on the road this year. Iroquois is the teams' common opponent. Lakeview opened the season December 8 with a 76-45 home win over Iroquois. Union City split its two games with Iroquois. The Bears earned a 56-52 home win December 20 over Iroquois, then fell in Lawrence Park, 59-51, January 23. Union City and Iroquois tied for fourth in the region. Iroquois earned the No. 4 seed due to the second tiebreaker, a 1-1 record against second-place Eisenhower. Union City went 0-2 against Ike.

The Union City-Lakeview winner will face Region 3 champion Cambridge Springs in the quarterfinals. That game will be held February 23 at Fairview High School. Tip-off will be 6 p.m.

(2-5) Reynolds at (3-4) Iroquois, 7:00 p.m.

Reynolds eliminated Iroquois from the District 10 Class 2A playoffs in football season. Now, the Raiders will look to repeat the feat in basketball season Friday night at Iroquois.

Reynolds grabbed the No. 5 seed Tuesday night with a 45-41 home win over Mercer in the regular season finale. The Raiders also highlighted the latter part of the regular season with a 68-58 win February 3 over Region 6 (Class 4A) champion General McLane.

Junior guard Tayarry "Shine" Sims has produced nine 20-point outings this year for head coach Dan Kilgore and leads the Raiders in scoring average at 16.7 points per game. In the frontcourt, junior forward Chance Westover (8.8) and senior forward Corey Thompson (5.3) are the Raiders' second- and third-leading scorers. The midseason return of senior forward Devin Weaver has also bolstered Reynolds (4-18, 2-12) up front. Weaver missed the first eight games due to a leg injury from football season.

A trio of seniors leads Iroquois in scoring. Senior guard Nick Bonninger has 51 three-point goals and leads Iroquois with a 14.3 points per game average. Koby McLean, a standout linebacker for Iroquois' football team, averages 13.2 points per game while senior Tarrell Clark averages 10.6 points. Clark played quarterback, running back and linebacker on the gridiron.

Iroquois (10-11, 7-7) went 9-2 at home this year, with wins over Cochranton, Eisenhower and Northwestern. The Braves fell at home to Cambridge Springs, 55-52.

The teams both played Cochranton and Lakeview this year. Reynolds fell to Cochranton in non-conference play, then dropped both league tilts with Lakeview. Iroquois split with Cochranton and fell at Lakeview in the season opener.

The Reynolds-Iroquois winner will play Region 2 champion West Middlesex at 7:30 p.m. next Friday in the quarterfinals at Farrell High School.

(2-6) Mercer at (3-3) Cochranton, 7:00 p.m.

Cochranton (14-8, 9-5 Region 3) hosts Mercer in a first-round battle Friday night. Cochranton closed the regular season by winning six of nine. On the other hand, the calendar switch to 2018 haunted Mercer. The Mustangs owned a 5-2 record December 29, then dropped 14 straight once January began. However, Mercer pulled out a 54-49 win at Commodore Perry to stop the streak Wednesday night.

Mercer (6-16) features a pair of stout seniors up front in 6-3 Josh Bretz and 6-4 Jimmy Amon. Bretz leads the team in scoring at 12 points per game while Amon averages 11 points per game. Guards Brian Shevitz (18 three-pointers), Chris Zacherl (18 threes) and Marcus Ryder (17) provide perimeter scoring for the Mustangs.

After spending two seasons as Cochranton's assistant coach, Phil Canfield is in his first season as head coach. The Cardinals have relied upon the prolific scoring of junior Kohl Bernarding, who is averaging 22.6 points per game this season. He leads District 10 with 497 total points. Bernarding averaged 11 points per game as a sophomore last season.

Inside, 6-5 senior Colton Greenlee averages 8.8 points per game. Junior guards Zach Snedeker and Alex McKay have each drained 22 three-point goals this year.

Cochranton only played eight home games this year, going 6-2 in its home facility. Both teams played Jamestown, Reynolds and Sharpsville this season. Cochranton won at Reynolds, 56-45, and pulled out a 67-57 win at Jamestown. The Redbirds dropped a 55-50 decision to Sharpsville in the consolation game of the Conneaut Holiday Tournament. Mercer went 0-2 against both Reynolds and Sharpsville in Region 2 play but owns a 50-41 win at Jamestown.

The Cochranton-Mercer winner will play Region 2 runner-up Rocky Grove in next Friday night's quarterfinals. That game will be held at Meadville, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

CLASS 4A BOYS

(5-8) Slippery Rock at (5-2) Hickory, 7:00 p.m.

Region 5 foes Slippery Rock and Hickory will meet for the third time this season Friday night as the Hornets aim for a 3-0 sweep of Slippery Rock. Hickory earned a 69-35 home win January 13 over Slippery Rock, then picked up a 67-37 win at Slippery Rock 10 days ago.

In Hickory's first win, sophomore guard Donald Whitehead led the Hornets with a game-high 19 points while senior forward Brandon Beader poured in 14 points. Junior guard Michael Filardi, one of the area's top sixthmen, added 10 points in the Hickory victory.

Beader (18) and Whitehead (13) paced Hickory (17-4, 11-3) in the victory at Slippery Rock.

Whitehead and Beader are Hickory's leading scorers for the season, respectively averaging 16.2 and 14.9 points per game. Freshman forward Peyton Mele, the son of first-year head coach Chris Mele, averages 9.2 points per game. High-flying sophomore forward Jaylen Jarvie, Mele's counterpart up front, averages 7.9 points per game.

Senior guard Jon Walsh, a three-year starter, rounds out the Hornets' starting five. Filardi and senior Antonio Shannonhouse-Blackwell provide scoring punch and athleticism off the bench.

Hickory went 8-1 at home this year. The only loss came to Region 5 champion Sharon, 52-51, February 9. Hickory owns home wins over both Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School and Class 6A Erie.

Slippery Rock's victories this year came over Moniteau, Reynolds and Keystone this year. The Rockets also had near-misses against Oil City, Conneaut, Farrell, Shenango and Franklin throughout the season. Senior guard Nick Wherthey leads the Rockets in scoring, averaging 10.6 points per game. Senior forwards Luke Brandon and Rod Williams (both 6-foot-4) respectively average 7.7 and 5.9 points per game and provide a sizeable duo inside.

The winner of this game will play either Farrell or Harbor Creek in the quarterfinals February 22.

(5-6) Farrell at (6-3) Harbor Creek, 7:00 p.m.

Farrell begins its final postseason run in Class 4A Friday night at Harbor Creek. The Steelers, who will play in Class 2A in the next PIAA two-year cycle, have been playing their best basketball in recent weeks.

Sophomore guard Eric Hopson, Region 5's seventh-leading scorer at 14.2 points per game, has been a reliable source of offense throughout the season for Farrell this year. The midseason return of junior forward Kyi Wright bolstered the Steelers as he has averaged 12.5 points per game since returning in the season's 10th game.

Senior forwards Roy Timmons (7.5 ppg) and Reyon Hammonds (4.0) join junior center Kobe Hilton (4.6) and Wright in the Farrell frontcourt. Guards Ben King (9.1 ppg, 37 3-point goals), Elijah Harper and Brian Hilton have all spent time in the starting lineup for second-year head coach Bobby Stewart.  

Farrell played 10 of its final 15 games on the road after opening with seven straight home games. Farrell earned wins at George Junior, Ellwood City, Grove City and Oil City during that 15-game stretch.

Over the last two weeks of the season, Harbor Creek (10-12, 5-5) dropped games to Corry, Fort LeBoeuf and Conneaut -- the three teams below the Huskies in the Region 6 standings. Senior guard Peyton Ennis leads Harbor Creek in scoring, averaging 10.4 points per game. He is the only returning starter from a Harbor Creek squad that reached the PIAA playoffs last season and finished 18-8.

Sixth-year head coach Ryan Smock owns a 65-57 record at Harbor Creek. Franklin is the only common opponent between the teams. Harbor Creek fell to Franklin at home, 61-39, December 18. Farrell fell twice to Franklin in Region 5 play, 66-61 and 76-70.

The winner of this game will play either Hickory or Slippery Rock in the quarterfinals February 22.

(5-7) George Junior Republic at (6-2) Warren, 7:00 p.m.

George Junior Republic (6-14, 4-10) will open the playoffs Friday night by making the two-hour trip to Warren. The Tigers will bring one of Class 4A's most explosive offenses to Warren County as GJR boasts three men averaging in double figures.

Junior guard Leonard Lawrence fired in 21 points in GJR's 58-48 setback at Sharon in Tuesday night's regular season finale. He has a team-leading 47 three-pointers and averages 13.3 points per game. Dwayne Jones leads the Tigers in scoring, averaging 14.9 points per game, while 6-5 junior Dashawn Robinson adds 11.1 points per game.

Freshman forward Zayaan Sanders has emerged in recent games, highlighting the recent run with 22 points in a 67-63 setback to crosstown rival Grove City. Seven of GJR's last eight games have been decided by 10 points or less.

Warren (9-12, 6-4) dropped five of its last seven games but the two wins came over the other two teams that finished in Region 6's top half, General McLane and Harbor Creek. Juniors Caleb Ei (13.4 ppg) and Jake Kupchella (12.1 ppg) lead the Dragons in scoring. Kupchella is also the starting quarterback for the Warren football team.

Head coach Jeff Berdine is in his 16th season at Warren. Meadville is the only common opponent between the teams. GJR fell to visiting Meadville, 72-64, December 18. Warren dropped a 55-50 decision January 10 at Meadville.

The winner will play Grove City in the quarterfinals February 22.

CLASS 5A GIRLS

(5-5) Grove City at (6-4) Corry, 1:00 p.m. Saturday

Only one Mercer County girls team will be in action Saturday in the opening round of the playoffs as Grove City (9-13, 3-9) heads to Corry (4-18, 0-10) for an afternoon tussle.

Youth has been the key word for Grove City this year as a pair of freshmen, Clara Hannon and Becca Santom, are the Eagles' top two scorers. Hannon averages 10.9 points per game while Santom checks in at 8.8 points per game. Junior Abby Biddle, a state placewinner in the 800 meters at the 2017 PIAA track championships, has added 8.7 points per game this year.

Junior guard Lily Burtch (3.7) and senior forward Macguire Gubba, a volleyball standout, have frequently rounded out the starting lineup. Sophomores Emma Isenberg and Katie McDowell have been joined by senior Tayler Persinger as key reserves for third-year head coach Chris Burtch.

"It's been extremely enjoyable and satisfying to watch this young team improve throughout the season," Chris Burtch said. "We have worked hard to develop a solid identity as a team that plays good defense, is patient on offense, and takes care of the ball."

Grove City has held 10 opponents to 35 points or less this season. However, the Eagles have been held below 40 points in 10 of their last 11 games.

Corry won four of its first seven games but has dropped 15 straight games. Senior Haley Kurelowech, a 5-9 guard, averages a Corry-best 15.8 points per game. However, she has accounted for 43 percent of Corry's offense this season.

"Corry has a great player in Haley Kurelowech," Chris Burtch said. "They are a dangerous team in their gym. We are really looking forward to going up to Erie County with an opportunity to win a playoff game and extend our season into the quarterfinals."

Corry upset General McLane in the first round of last year's D-10 Class 5A playoffs. Head coach Meghan Sisson is in her sixth season.

Grove City and Corry have two common opponents, Fairview and Erie. Grove City owns two wins over Fairview, including a 46-30 in the championship game of the Mercer Christmas Tournament. Corry split with Fairview. Grove City fell at Erie, 63-36, February 8. Four days later, Erie earned a 75-15 win at Corry. Corry fell in its first Region 6 meeting with Erie, 66-35, January 19.

The winner will face Slippery Rock in the quarterfinals February 24. That game will tip off at 4 p.m. at Farrell High School.