In both regular-season matchups between Coudersport and Otto-Eldred, the Lady Terrors managed to hang with Coudy through the first half before late Lady Falcon runs put the games away in the third.
Can O-E flip the script this time around? That will be determined in tonight’s District 9 Class A semifinals. Third-seed Otto-Eldred and second-seed Coudersport are set to face off again, this time at Bradford Area High School for a 6 o’clock game.
The Lady Falcons (19-4) took game one on Jan. 13, 43-24, and then finished the regular-season sweep of O-E on Feb. 11 with a 50-35 win.
In each game, the Lady Terrors (16-6) were either ahead or tied with Coudersport after the first quarter, but couldn’t sustain that performance the rest of the way.
“We just have to make some shots,” O-E coach Shawn Gray said. “We tend to get in a funk, and when we’re not making shots, it affects our entire game. If we can make shots throughout the game, I think we can hang with (Coudy).”
That certainly won’t be easy, as the Lady Terrors are down a couple of players. Emmalee Sheeler and Hannah Gordon will both be out for tonight’s matchup, thinning the O-E bench.
“We’re getting a little thinner, but it just means a couple more players will have to pick up some more minutes is all,” Gray said, before jokingly adding, “(Emmalee) will be my new assistant coach, which is good because the girls might listen to her. They don’t listen to me.”
The task gets even tougher when you factor in Coudy’s offensive balance and potency. That begins with Sarah Chambers, who scored a team-high 11 points in game one between the two teams and 21 points in game two.
Chambers also racked up seven blocks and 12 rebounds in the Lady Falcons’ first win over O-E.
In addition, the Lady Terrors will have to find an answer to Coudy forward Rosalyn Page, who scored a game-high 22 points in Coudy’s 50-35 win over O-E on Feb. 11.
“Rosalyn Page is a monster inside. She had 22 points against us in the last game,” Gray said. “And Sarah is one of those impossible-to-guard type of players; she can go inside or she can go outside, and against us, she doesn’t miss.
“We have to be ready to help anytime (Chambers) touches the ball, and we have to keep (Page) off the glass. She’s just a beast, and my bigs just have to step up.”
The winner of this semifinal will be pitted against the winner of No. 4 Elk County Catholic and No. 1 North Clarion, which are playing tonight at Kane Area High School. The championship match is set for Saturday at Clarion University.
The loser, meanwhile, will play in a third-place consolation game Saturday. All four remaining teams have qualified for the PIAA state playoffs.
“My message (to the team) has been I’m proud of them no matter what. I’ve probably learned as much from them this year as they’ve learned from me,” Gray said. “I appreciate all their effort, and from great opportunities come great moments, so we’ll see if we can have a great moment.”
Boys Class AA Semifinal
No. 3 Ridgway vs. No. 2 Coudersport, 7:30 p.m.
Tonight’s other matchup at Bradford High will be another rematch, this one between No. 3 Ridgway and No. 2 Coudersport.
The two met in Elk County on Jan. 3 in a 50-39 Falcon win. In that victory, Coudy (19-3) jumped out to a quick 11-1 lead before Ridgway (17-7) clawed back into the game gradually. The Elkers led 20-19 in the third quarter before the Falcons went on a final, decisive run to put the game away.
In addition to this year’s regular season contest, the two teams have met in each of the past two D9 Class AA championships. Coudy ended Ridgway’s perfect season in 2018, but the Elkers got revenge last season.
Given the hotly contested games, the series has developed into one of D9’s fiercest rivalries.
“It’s always exciting to play Ridgway, because it’s a physical game and a good challenge,” first-year Coudy head coach Scott Easton said. “The kids are really looking forward to this challenge.”
The contest will feature dueling styles of play, as Ridgway prefers a slow, methodical attack while Coudy runs a high-octane fastbreak attack.
With that in mind, Easton said he wants his Falcons to be able to set the tempo early.
“I think it’s important for us to establish the tempo because that’s what we’re used to playing,” he said. “We try to get up and down the floor and run the lanes, or penetrate and kick or get to the rim. It’s important we run that because we’re more comfortable in that style.”
What the teams have in common is intense man-to-man defense. Ridgway and Coudy rank second and third in the District, respectively, in terms of points allowed per game. The Elkers allow just 37 points per game, while Coudy is giving up 38.4.
For the Falcons, the defensive job begins with stopping two players in particular — Matt Dush and Zack Zameroski — who are averaging 14.5 and 13 points per game, respectively.
“We’re going to do our best to stay between them and the basket, and we’ll have to defend and fight through screens,” Easton said. “They’re two really talented ballplayers… Everything that goes for Ridgway goes through Dush and Zameroski.”
Easton added that the Falcons can try to mix in some zones to make the duo uncomfortable as needed, too.
The Falcons will benefit from having Travis Gleason in the mix this time around. The forward returned from a football injury on Jan. 30 and has provided his team with a physical presence inside.
In addition, Easton confirmed that Daniel Frame is returning to the lineup for the Falcons after missing time for a knee injury.
“I think Travis can certainly be a big part of the game. He’s a physical presence, and he’s got some length and strength and helps set the tone for us on defense,” Easton said. “And Dan Frame is back, and he’s one of our top defenders, so that will help as well.”
The winner of this game will face the victor of No. 4 Clarion and No. 1 Keystone, who are also playing tonight at Redbank Valley. That championship game is set for Saturday at Clarion University.
The loser will play in a third-place consolation game in a win-or-go-home scenario. The third-place team will move on to the PIAA tournament.
