Feb 23, 2024 2 min read

Maybe it was the long layoff before the postseason began for Class 6A boys basketball teams. Maybe it was the Central Catholic defense.

Whatever the reason was, Canon-McMillan’s offense was misfiring Friday night.

The Big Macs were held to 10 points in the first half and Central Catholic went on to a 53-27 victory in a Class 6A opening round game played at Gateway High School.

Central Catholic (15-8) moves into the semifinals Tuesday night. The season is over for Canon-McMillan because the WPIAL advances only three teams into the PIAA Class 6A tournament. The Big Macs end a resurgent season with a 10-13 record.

Central Catholic led the game 12-8 at the end of the first quarter and then held Canon-McMillan to two points in the pivotal second quarter. That allowed the Vikings to take a 25-10 lead into halftime. Central Catholic led 38-21 after three quarters.

Payton Wehner and Vernon Settles led a balanced Central Catholic attack, each tossing in nine points.

Canon-McMillan’s Roman Koenemund led the Big Macs in scoring with eight points.

Girls results

Rochester 59, Fort Cherry 39

Marque Taylor and Tia Yellick each scored 18 points, powering ninth-seeded Rochester to a 59-39 victory over Fort Cherry in a WPIAL Class 2A girls consolation round game played at Montour High School.

The win clinches a PIAA playoff berth for Rochester (16-8). Fort Cherry (18-7), the No. 4 seed, can still make the PIAA tournament. The Rangers will play in the seventh-place game Tuesday against Winchester Thurston with the winner securing the WPIAL’s final sport in the state playoffs.

Rochester used a big first half to take control of the game. The Rams led 16-7 after one quarter and 32-16 at halftime. A 24-point third-quarter by the Rams secured the win.

Raney Staub led Fort Cherry in scoring with 14 points.