Fairview records memorable win over WPIAL power; other District 10 teams lose
SHARON – The Fairview boys basketball players were scrambling all over the floor in the final two minutes.
From grabbing rebounds and loose balls to trying to stop shots and get the ball down the floor.
It was like watching a hockey team protect a one-goal lead with constant shots coming at the net from a desperate team with an extra attacker.
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The Tigers showed their poise and toughness over the final two minutes to pull off a thrilling 54-51 win over WPIAL powerhouse Lincoln Park on Friday night in the PIAA Class 4A second round at Sharon High School.
“These guys wanted to win this game. It's a great group, but sometimes we get the label of not being tough,” said Fairview coach Pat Flaherty. “These kids competed to win this game, and it showed over the last two minutes with rebounds, loose balls and foul shots. It's a great group of kids.”
For the second time in program history, Fairview (25-2) is headed to the PIAA quarterfinals against WPIAL champion Quaker Valley on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Sharon High School. Lincoln Park ended the season at 18-8.
GAME STATS: Class 4A: Fairview vs. Lincoln Park
The favored Leopards came in as the bigger, faster and more athletic team with four players in their starting lineup possessing Division I scholarship offers.
Fairview, however, showed its grit not only in going toe-to-toe with the traditional power, but the Tigers played with basically their starting five.
“We knew going in they were a fast team that scores almost 80 points per game, but we have a pretty good defense so we wanted to hold them under 50 points if we could,” said Fairview senior leader Logan Frazao. “We grew up together, and these are the games we love to play. We were there for each other throughout the game.”
Logan Frazao, James Sitter and Tyler Shultz played all 32 minutes on Friday, while Zach Scott and Jeremy Frazao each played more than 29 minutes. John Seyboldt came in to help the guards with about five minutes of playing time, but for Fairview it was pretty much the starting five all game with the season on the line.
“We didn't like the matchups with some of the stuff off the bench, and our guys are able to play full games,” Flaherty said. “I wasn't worried about it because we are in pretty good shape and these guys are competitors. They don't want to come off the floor.”
Each time the five came out of a timeout they walked back on the floor together to a loud ovation from the huge Fairview crowd as if the crowd wanted to give the Tigers an extra boost.
Lincoln Park led throughout most of the first half, but the Leopards couldn't find a way to pull away. Lincoln Park led 23-21 at the half and the Leopards' lead was only 39-37 through three quarters after Scott hit a turnaround jumper at the buzzer for Fairview.
“We've played tough teams like this in the past from New Castle and Pittsburgh, and we just stayed mentally tough,” Scott said. “We got a lot of energy from the crowd and the student section.”
Logan Frazao started the fourth quarter with a steal and an old-fashioned 3-point play to give Fairview a 40-39 lead before Sitter drilled a corner 3-pointer to bring the house down.
Sitter followed with two free throws midway through the fourth to give the Tigers a 45-39 lead. There was a scoring drought from both teams because of tough defensive rebounding and jump balls every time someone went to the floor for a loose ball.
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Brandin Cummings, the younger brother of former Lincoln Park star Nelly Cummings, kept the Leopards in the game by himself. He drilled a 3-pointer to make it 45-42 and a jumper with less than three minutes left to cut Fairview's lad to 48-44.
The Tigers led 48-45 with two minutes to go when the constant action took over with Lincoln Park putting up shots and Fairview fighting for rebounds and trying to get the ball down the floor.
“We said before the game we think we can play with anyone on a good day,” Flaherty said. “In the playoffs, you have to make shots and get some breaks. This team has a lot of confidence and did not come into this game just hoping to play with this team. They wanted to win.”
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Jeremy Frazao hit two foul shots with less than a minute to go to make it 50-45 before Cummings countered with two free throws of his own. Sitter made two free throws with 11 seconds to go to give Fairview a 52-48 lead but Cummings immediately hit a 3-pointer to keep Lincoln Park in the game. Cummings, however, fouled out on the inbounds pass and wasn't available for the final possession.
After Scott calmly drilled two free throws with three seconds left, the Leopards missed a half-court attempt to send the crowd into a frenzy.
“Zach (Scott) is one of the toughest kids we have and can guard anyone and Jeremy (Frazao) played a great defensive game. He took probably three or four charges,” Flaherty said. “I know James, Logan and Tyler get a lot of the ink, but those two guards make us go.”
Cummings led Lincoln Park with 28 points and DeAndre Moye added 11. Logan Frazao paced Fairview with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Scott had 11 points and four assists and Sitter finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Cambridge's Yanc reaches 1,000
SHARON – Madison Yanc scored inside then looked confused when the game was stopped.
The senior leader had no idea that she had just gone over 1,000 career points.
“It's an amazing feeling. At first, I was confused but Makenzie (Yanc's sister) came running at me yelling that I did it,” Yanc said. “She yelled that I reached 1,000 points. A wave of relief and happiness and joy came over me. It's not something that happens for everyone and it's something I'll remember the rest of my life.”
Madison Yanc scored nine points to become the seventh girls basketball player in Cambridge Springs history to reach the 1,000-point milestone. The Blue Devils' season came to a close with a 44-25 loss to powerhouse Neshannock in the PIAA Class 2A second round at Sharon High School, but there were plenty of smiles and hugs after the game.
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“This was incredible and we've been playing together since I was in the second grade,” said Cambridge Springs junior Makenzie Yanc. “To be with her in that moment as a teammate and as a sister meant everything.”
GAME STATS: Class 2A girls: Cambridge Springs vs. Neshannock
Neshannock (26-2) seemed upset-proof as the Lancers were drilling 3-pointers and making highlight-reel shots throughout the game. Cambridge Springs (19-7) trailed 29-11 at the half and 37-20 after three quarters before the Yanc family had their moment.
Madison Yanc brought the ball down and passed it off before going to the post. Makenzie Yanc was being guarded closely and fired a pass to her older sister for the milestone bucket.
“I fed her the ball and I'm so proud of her even though we were losing,” Makenzie Yanc said. “It was so great for me to get the pass to her for her 1,000 points. It was perfect.”
With Neshannock's permission, the game was stopped so the Blue Devils could celebrate. The team surrounded Madison Yanc with hugs before the Yanc sisters hugged with tears flowing and Madison was presented with a 1,000-point basketball.
Makenzie Yanc finished with 10 points for the Blue Devils, while Neleh Nogay and Megan Pallerino each had 13 points for Neshannock.
“I've known Madison for a long time, and she's a special kid to me,” said Cambridge Springs coach Ryan McKissock. “The best part is she had no idea she was close to the record. When I was hired two years ago she came to me and asked who would lead this team and she wanted to be the leader. She has been the rock of this program for two years.”
Madison Yanc finished with 1,003 points in her career and will head to Edinboro in the fall. Edinboro coach Callie Wheeler was on hand Friday to see the milestone moment.
“I can't wait to see my name up on the wall and all of the girls that follow me to get it as well,” Madison Yanc said. “It has meant the world to me to play with my sister. She has been my best friend since birth basically. We've always played basketball together.”
For Makenzie Yanc, it's the end of a long era as she returns next year to lead the Blue Devils as a senior.
“We've played together forever,” Makenzie Yanc said. “I'm definitely going to miss her.”
Other PIAA games with D-10 teams
Freedom 56, Greenville 28: At Slippery Rock, the historic season by the Trojans came to an end in the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball second round on Friday at Slippery Rock University.
Freedom (20-5) moved on to the quarterfinals on Tuesday, while Greenville ended the season 20-6, including the program's first District 10 championship.
Freedom raced to a 15-5 lead in the first quarter and a 25-8 lead at the half. The Bulldogs scored 19 points in the third to put the game away.
Anna Harpst scored 12 points on four 3-pointers for Greenville and Grace Cano scored seven points. Shaye Bailey led Freedom with 27 points followed by Jules Mohrbacher with 14 and Renae Mohrbacher with 10.
North Catholic 56, Lakeview 25: At Slippery Rock, the Sailors didn't score more than nine points in any quarter in a PIAA Class 3A girls basketball second-round loss on Friday at Slippery Rock University.
North Catholic (21-5) heads to the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Lakeview closed another solid season at 22-5.
The Trojans started the game on an 18-3 run and didn't look back. North Catholic led 35-9 at the half and 48-18 after three quarters. Alayna Rocco led the Trojans with 23 points and Dacia Lewandowski added 19.
Saint Vincent recruit Reese Gadsby led Lakeview with 11 points and Kelsey Seddon scored seven.
Bellwood-Antis 52, West Middlesex 42: At Greensburg, the Big Reds couldn't overcome a 15-point halftime deficit in the PIAA Class 2A girls basketball second round on Friday at Hempfield High School.
Bellwood-Antis (23-6) moves on to the quarterfinals on Tuesday. West Middlesex ended the season at 21-4.
The Blue Devils led just 15-12 after the first quarter before going on a 15-3 run in the second. Bellwood-Antis increased its lead to 40-23 after three quarters to secure the win. Jaidyn McCracken led the Blue Devils with 14 points and Chelsea McCaulsky scored 12. Carlie Beatty led West Middlesex with 16 points and Emily Anthony added 11.
Elk County Catholic 65, Farrell 53: At Clarion, the Steelers started with a 21-point first quarter but the Crusaders rallied over the next three quarters in the PIAA Class 1A boys basketball second round on Friday at Clarion University.
Elk County Catholic (24-5) moves on to the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Farrell closed the season at 16-9.
Farrell put together a big first quarter to lead 21-14 but went cold from the field the rest of the way. The Crusaders went on a 12-4 run to take a 26-25 lead at the half before outscoring the Steelers 20-13 in the third and 19-15 in the fourth.
Charlie Briendel led the Crusaders with 28 on five 3-pointers, while Luke Janson had 13 points. Lamont Samuels paced Farrell with 17 points and Kabron Smith scored 11.
Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNreisenweber.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: PIAA basketball | Fairview's memorable night Tigers top WPIAL power Lincoln Park before big crowd
