CLARION — There’s no such thing as an easy game when it comes to the state playoffs.
And for the Ridgway Elkers, they’ll face one of the strongest tests for any district champ across the PIAA when they battle the District 7 (WPIAL) Shenango Wildcats.
The matchup, at Clarion University’s Tippin Gym at 4:30 this afternoon, is Ridgway’s fifth consecutive appearance in the state playoffs. The Elkers, back-to-back District 9 champions, advanced to the Class AA quarterfinals last March, have gone 10-7 in PIAA games since 2012.
Shenango, meanwhile, is into the first round for the second straight season after previously having not made the state playoffs since 2007.
“It’s always hard that first game after the excitement after the district championship game,” Ridgway head coach Tony Allegretto said. “And it’s like, ‘Ok, their team might not bring a lot of people because they are traveling a long way or have a big fan backing to begin with.’
“But in this case, we are probably driving as far as Shenango. It’s a middle of the afternoon game and hopefully it’s a good crowd. Four games (at Clarion University today) and hopefully it’s a good build up.”
As far as confidence goes, there are few teams — perhaps in any PIAA bracket — that have as much as the Elkers do. After a span of five losses in seven games in early January, Ridgway (19-7) has gone 11-2, with eight of those wins coming by at least 10 points.
A stronger emphasis on team defense and a return to getting back to doing what the Elkers do best has fueled that run, according to Allegretto.
“We just weren’t (playing team defense) and in the middle of January I begged them to do it,” the veteran head coach recalled. “When you have young guys playing, they want to block shots and go for steals and they get out of position. With both Dan (Park) and Dom (Allegretto) being young and Alex (Bon) and R.J. (Miller) not having a lot of experience, it took us some time to break out of those habits.”
Getting those guys up to speed to match the strong play of seniors Matt Dush (14.2 points per game) and Zack Zameroski (12.9) has paid dividends for those Elkers, especially in the second halves of their first three playoff games.
After trailing both Smethport (16-14) and Coudersport (19-13) at the intermission, the Elkers allowed those two opponents to net just 21 combined points over the final 16 minutes. And in the D9 Class AA title game against Clarion, Ridgway — leading 21-20 at the half — allowed just four second half field goals en route to a nine-point win.
“You can beat the bad teams on our schedule without playing our way,” Allegretto admitted. “But to beat the teams that are bigger, stronger and better than you, you have to control the ball. “And you know, it’s been pretty successful for us over the years.”
Ridgway will need to keep playing its brand of basketball tonight against an opponent that really shouldn’t even be in this game.
Shenango (19-6) coughed up a 15-point second half lead in its D7 semifinal matchup to Sto-Rox and was eventually upset 65-58 in that matchup.
But the Wildcats boast a 1,000 point scorer in senior guard Colin McQuiston (19.3 ppg this year) as well as a hybrid guard/forward in Jason Kraner (11.3 ppg) and Reis Watkins (9.2 ppg), who also leads the team in rebounding.
Both McQuiston — whose father, Bob, is the head coach — and Kraner are left-handed, posing an extra challenge for the Elker defense.
“Makes it difficult to have guys like that on the floor,” Allegretto said. “(With McQuiston), it’s a game like Coudy last year with (Owen) Chambers on it where he could go by you or shoot from three.
“He’s tough to trap and we like to trap so that’s probably going to take us out of doing that.”
(9-3) Coudersport vs. (10-2) Farrell
Today, 2:30 p.m., at Sharon High School
SHARON — The Falcons and Steelers have never met on the basketball court… but the two schools are still plenty familiar with each other. Farrell and Coudersport have squared off in the Class A football playoffs in each of the past two seasons — both Farrell routs — and now the Falcons will look to buck that trend with a big win on the hardwood.
The Steelers (16-8) are coming off a double-overtime heartbreaker to Lakeview in the District 10 title game. The win snapped an eight-game win streak for Farrell, but the Steelers boast a pair of standout players that should help them bounce back. Eric Hopson (21 ppg) has registered double-doubles in all 24 of his games this season, according to the Sharon Herald, and knocked down a team-high 18 points in that title game. Ben King (11 ppg) has hit 56 3-pointers this year for the Steelers.
Farrell is one of the most successful teams in PIAA playoff history, posting a 79-33 overall record, including 10 appearances in the title game.
Standing in the Steelers’ way will be Coudersport, which has won four straight PIAA first round games. The Falcons won last year’s opener in dramatic fashion on an Owen Chambers 3-pointer at the buzzer and, sans Chambers, bring back many of those key contributors from that team. Point guard Hayden Keck (17.1 ppg) has powered the Falcon offense this year, though Dillon Keglovits, Travis Gleason and Kolby VanWhy have all posted strong offensive seasons for first-year head coach Scott Easton.
After falling to Ridgway in the Class AA semis, the Falcons bested Keystone in the consolation game behind 17 points from Keck and 16 from Gleason.
Should both Coudersport and Ridgway win, they’ll play each other — for the third time this season — on Wednesday in the second round.
