The Bradford boys\’ run in the PIAA Class AAA Basketball Playoffs came to an end because of a poor second half Friday night, while the Coudersport boys, the only District 9 team still playing, will have to wait until Sunday for its quarterfinal game.
District 9 champ Bradford (20-8) trailed Steelton-Highspire (26-6) 35-34 at halftime but managed only seven points in the final 16 minutes and went down to a 72-41 defeat on the State College Area High School hardwood.
The Steamrollers took command with a 21-5 third quarter as the Owls went six minutes without a basket.
The fourth quarter was even worse for the Owls, who went 7:15 without a point and were outscored 16-2.
Steelton-Highspire, surprised in the District 3 title game 57-54 by Susquehanna Township, a team it had beaten by 21 points two weeks earlier.
Going 6-7, 6-6 and 6-3 on their front line, the Steamrollers matched up well with Bradford\’s size. They also had two junior reserves who were 6-2 and weighed 300 and 250-plus.
Steelton-Highspire is ranked No. 5 in Class AAA by the Harrisburg Patriot-News. Bradford earlier ousted No. 6 Chartiers Valley 63-39 and No. 7 Hopewell 50-39, while Steelton-Highspire had taken out Johnstown 71-33 and Hershey 71-51.
Because of the weather forecast for Friday night and Saturday, Coudersport\’s Class A game with Kennedy Catholic of Sharon is one of three moved to Sunday afternoon at Clarion University\’s Tippin Gym.
District 9 kingpin Coudy (29-0) and District 10 champ Kennedy Catholic (19-9) will tip off at 5 p.m. after the Bellefonte girls take on Mercyhurst Prep in Class AA at 2 and the Eisenhower girls test Mt. Alvernia in Class A at 3:30.