The Fort Cherry boys basketball team had 20-20-20 vision for its first playoff game Tuesday night.
Shane Cornali, Derek Errett and Blake Sweder all scored 20 points to help the Rangers defeat Winchester Thurston, 69-48, in a WPIAL Class 2A first-round game at Avella.
While Cornali, Errett and Sweder all had 20 points, there is more coincidence to their story in this game. All three attempted eight free throws. All three made six.
Winchester Thurston (11-9) trailed by only 35-28 at halftime, but Fort Cherry (18-5) romped to the win in the second half. The win puts Fort Cherry into the quarterfinals for the third time in four years. Before this current run, Fort Cherry had made the quarterfinals only once since 1964.
Other Class 2A games
Aliquippa 70, Nazareth Prep 57: No. 16 seed Nazareth Prep (6-13) outscored No. 1 Aliquippa (18-5) by 40-30 in the second half, but the damage already had been done and the Quips earned a quarterfinal appearance for the 16th consecutive season. Host Aliquippa led at halftime, 40-17. Josh Pratt, Tikey Hayes and Cam Lindsey all scored 11 points for the Quips.
Serra 59, Chartiers-Houston 48: Isiah Petty scored 24 points as Serra (16-7) turned away visiting Chartiers-Houston (16-7) in a game involving 8-9 seeds. Char-Houston led by 16-12 after the first quarter. Nate Gregory led Char-Houston with 21.
Greensburg C.C. 57, Frazier 22: No. 2 seed Greensburg Central Catholic (21-2) jumped to a 28-point halftime lead and cruised to the win against visiting Frazier (11-12). The win ran Greensburg Central’s winning streak to 12 games. Tyree Turner led the winning Centurions with 18 points.
Northgate 66, Clairton 52: Northgate (17-5) advanced to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year with the home win against Clairton (10-13). This is the first time Northgate has made the quarterfinals in consecutive seasons since 1977-78, the first two years of the school. Against Clairton, Northgate held an 18-point lead after three quarters. Josh Williams and Ty Daniels had 15 points apiece for Northgate and Des Williams added 10.
Eden Christian 67, Shenango 56: No. 10 seed Eden Christian (12-10) went on the road and knocked off No. 7 seed Shenango (12-11).
Jeannette 52, Sewickley Academy 47: Youth was served for Jeannette as sophomore Ky’mone Brown had 17 points, freshman Jayce Powell 13 and freshman Markus McGowan 10 to help Jeannette (15-7) to the home win against Sewickley Academy (13-10).
Bishop Canevin 62, Burgettstown 41: Host Bishop Canevin (13-10) jumped to a 20-point halftime lead and breezed to the win against visiting Burgettstown (16-7). Drew Allen scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half for the winning Crusaders.
First Published: February 21, 2024, 3:51 a.m.
Updated: February 21, 2024, 3:59 a.m.