Facing a double-digit deficit with just a few minutes left in the game, Aquinas Academy appeared destined for a long and broken-hearted bus ride home from Erie after the school’s first state tournament game.
But a furious comeback followed, and while that didn’t make the Crusaders’ voyage home any shorter, it made it much happier knowing they had just made history by claiming the program’s first PIAA win.
Jake Guillen scored a game-high 36 points and Aquinas Academy stormed back to capture an 83-80 win against District 10 champion Erie First Christian in a PIAA Class 1A first-round boys basketball game at Hagerty Family Events Center.
Just two years after winning a WPIAL playoff game for the first time, Aquinas Academy (19-7), the fourth-place finisher from the WPIAL, captured its first PIAA win after rallying from 14 points down in the final quarter.
“They’re those kinds of kids,” Aquinas Academy coach George Yokitis said. “We have only two seniors, but they’re great leaders and they kept plugging away. I think we’re blessed with the way we play, running up and down. We kicked a few balls out and finally hit some 3s. They believed in our belief.”
After falling behind, 59-51, after three quarters, Aquinas Academy found itself trailing, 73-59, with 3:36 left. But the Crusaders would outscore Erie First Christian (15-8), 24-7, the rest of the way. Jonah Burchill drilled a 3-pointer from the corner with 31 seconds left to put the Crusaders ahead, 79-78, and they led the rest of the way.
“He’s unbelievable,” Yokitis said of Burchill, who finished with 11 points. “He’s the nicest kid in the world. I’ve coached thousands of kids, but I haven’t had a nicer kid than him. We kid with him that he’s going to be the next pope. That’s kind of sacrilegious, but he’s that nice of a person.”
Sam Duer added 18 points and David Zaharko tacked on 12 for Aquinas Academy, while Ayden Blum paced Erie First Christian with 33 points and Avery Collins chipped in with 22.
Coincidentally, Aquinas Academy’s second-round opponent will be a team that also won its first PIAA playoff game Friday. That would be District 5 champion Turkeyfoot Valley (23-3), an 84-70 winner against Johnsonburg.
Class 1A
• Courtney Wallace’s triple-double (20 points, 17 rebounds, 13 assists) propelled WPIAL champion Neighborhood Academy (25-1) to a 95-32 win against District 5 third-place finisher Shade (9-17) at Peters Township. Neighborhood Academy led, 52-14, at the half. Syncer Nicholson added 18 points and Kedron Gilmore 16 for the Bulldogs, while Derick Hardeman tacked on 12 points, 12 rebounds and 6 blocks. The Bulldogs will meet Elk County Catholic (25-1) in the second round.
• Owen Dumbroski’s 15 points led a group of four players scoring in double figures for WPIAL runner-up Serra Catholic (22-4), which claimed a 61-49 home win against District 6 runner-up Saint Joseph’s Academy (14-12). Mark Johnson, Tyler Sapida and Brayden Graham added 10 points apiece for the Eagles, who held a 37-23 lead at the half. They will play Otto-Eldred next.
• Manning Splain scored 26 points and Landon Francis had 25 to lead District 9 champion Otto-Eldred (26-1) to a 64-39 win against visiting WPIAL third-place qualifier Nazareth Prep (19-6). Mikey Keyes scored 15 points and Leon Harrison 10 for Nazareth Prep, which fell behind, 32-13, at the half.
Class 5A
• In a game that was called early due to a brawl in the stands that carried over onto the court, District 10 champion Meadville (17-8) defeated visiting WPIAL fifth-place finisher Uniontown (22-5), 63-55. Uniontown had pulled to within 8 points after trailing, 45-30, at the half, but the game was halted with 3:12 remaining, and Meadville was declared the winner. Kelan Milsom paced Uniontown with 17 points, while Calvin Winfrey and Isaac Ellsworth chipped in with 13 apiece.
• WPIAL champion Chartiers Valley (24-3) scored the first 13 points of the game and rolled to a 62-29 win against visiting District 3 third-place finisher Cocalico (14-13). Jayden Davis scored 15 points and Jake Lewis added 12 for the Colts, who held a 46-18 lead at the half. The Colts will face Montour in the second round.
• Kaleb Platz poured in a game-high 28 points to propel WPIAL third-place finisher Montour (25-2) to a 68-49 home win against District 3 seventh-place finisher Milton Hershey (17-10). Platz knocked down four 3-pointers for the Spartans, who outscored Milton Hershey, 25-12, in the second quarter to go up by 16 points at the half. Ama Sow added 13 points, while Trey Hopper and Colton Straight chipped in with 10 apiece.
• WPIAL runner-up Peters Township (19-8) led by 11 points after three quarters and held on for a 64-54 home win against District 3 eighth-place finisher Spring Grove (11-15). Nick McCullough scored 19 points and Dylan Donovan added 17 for the Indians, who will play West York in the second round.
• Mars (14-13), the WPIAL’s fourth-place finisher, coughed up a 7-point halftime lead before falling on the road to District 3 third-place qualifier West York (21-6), 53-51. Mars led, 31-24, at the half before West York outscored the Planets, 17-9, in the third quarter. Austen Wroblewski and Will Wilson led Mars with 13 points apiece. Wroblewski connected on 3 of Mars’ 10 3-pointers.
• After falling behind by three points at the half, District 3 champion Hershey (22-3) used a big third quarter to take down visiting WPIAL eighth-place finisher Penn-Trafford, 52-43. Penn-Trafford (14-13) held a 27-24 halftime lead before Hershey outscored the Warriors, 14-4, in the third quarter. Zach Feldman paced the Warriors with 13 points, while Cameron Sweeney tallied 22 to lead Hershey.
• Ian DeCerb scored 25 points and WPIAL sixth-place finisher Latrobe (21-6) won its first PIAA game since 1990 courtesy of a 64-58 win at District 3 runner-up Exeter Township (14-12). Max Butler added 12 points for the Wildcats, who trailed, 58-52, with three minutes left before scoring the final 12 points of the game. Latrobe coach Brad Wetzel picked up his 300th career win. The Wildcats will meet Greater Johnstown in the second round.
• Boston University recruit Donte Tisinger scored 21 of his game-high 33 points in the second half to power District 6 champion Greater Johnstown (25-1) to a 60-53 home win against WPIAL seventh-place finisher Moon (19-8). Michael Santicola led Moon with 13 points. The score was tied, 27-27, at the half before Johnstown outscored Moon, 33-26, in the second half, including 19-14 in the fourth quarter.
Class 4A
• WPIAL champion Belle Vernon (22-4) was given a scare before finishing strong to pull out a 74-63 win against visiting District 10 fifth-place finisher Farrell (12-12). Trevor Kovatch and Tommy Davis each scored 18 points for Belle Vernon, which led just, 52-50, after three quarters before outscoring Farrell, 22-13, in the fourth. Zion Moore added 17 points and Dom Ghilani 12. The Leopards will face Sharon in the second round.
• Rowan Carmichael scored 27 points and Noah Goetz added 26, but it wasn’t enough for WPIAL third-place qualifier Avonworth (19-7), which saw its season end with an 82-74 loss at District 10 runner-up Sharon (19-8). Carmichael finished his career with 2,342 points. Levi Hailstock scored 25 points for Sharon, which led by 2 at the half and 6 after three quarters.
• Jason Fredericks tallied a team-high 25 points to push WPIAL runner-up North Catholic (20-6) to a 72-56 win against visiting District 10 third-place finisher Hickory (18-7). After holding a 30-28 halftime lead, North Catholic used a 22-8 scoring edge in the third quarter to pull away. Jude Rottmann added 18 points for the Trojans, who will meet Beaver next.
• Brady Mayo pumped in 25 points to vault WPIAL fourth-place finisher Beaver (20-6) to a 65-49 win against District 6 champion Martinsburg Central (18-5) at Hollidaysburg. Mayo and Nick Krzeczowski (16 points) each knocked down 3 of Beaver’s 11 3-pointers. The Bobcats led, 32-19, at the half. Beaver’s 20 wins are the most in program history.
• Michael Thompson scored 22 points and Nando Mirarchi had 21 to lead District 10 champion Cathedral Prep (18-8) to a 70-57 win against WPIAL fifth-place finisher Knoch (19-8) at Hagerty Family Events Center. Cathedral Prep led, 33-22, at the half. Jackson Bauman paced Knoch with 14 points.
Scoreboard
PIAA Class 5A first round
Chartiers Valley 62, Cocalico 29
Greater Johnstown 60, Moon 53
Hershey 52, Penn-Trafford 43
Latrobe 64, Exeter Township 58
Meadville 63, Uniontown 55
Montour 68, Milton Hershey 49
Peters Township 64, Spring Grove 54
West York 53, Mars 51
PIAA Class 4A first round
Beaver 65, Martinsburg Central 49
Belle Vernon 74, Farrell 63
Cathedral Prep 70, Knoch 57
Sharon 82, Avonworth 74
North Catholic 72, Hickory 56
PIAA Class 1A round
Aquinas Academy 83, Erie First Christian 80
Neighborhood Academy 95, Shade 32
Otto-Eldred 64, Nazareth Prep 39
Serra Catholic 61, Saint Joseph’s Academy 49
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.