Do-or-die game for Falcons in Sharon

Junior John Hau (with ball) came to life after a sluggish start to help the Falcons knock off topseeded DuBois Central Catholic in the PIAA District 9 consolation game. The Falcons were scheduled to meet perennial powerhouse Kennedy Catholic Friday night at Sharon in the first round of the state playoffs. A win against the Golden Eagles would send Coudersport up against either California (Pa.) or Saltsburg on Tuesday in the PIAA Western Quarterfinals.

Coudersport's boys will make a 165-mile trip to Sharon Senior High School on Friday night to play Kennedy Catholic in its own back yard. Game time is 7:30.

Those two teams are battling for a berth in the "Sweet 16" for the state's Class A high school basketball championship, returning to action on Tuesday night against either California High School (24-3) or Saltsburg (20-7). The loser is eliminated.

Kennedy Catholic (19-5) enters Friday's game as the favorite, but long-time basketball observers don't rule out a Coudersport upset. The Falcons (24-2) have shown flashes of brilliance in their two most recent games.

Like Coudersport, the Golden Eagles can run hot and cold from the floor. They shot a sizzling 15 of 23 in the first half of their last game, a 75-57 win over West Middlesex to give Kennedy its 10th straight District 10 title.

A strong all-around performance by guard Derek Burdick was one of the big factors in Saturday's come-from-behind win over DuBois Central Catholic. An upset of Kennedy Catholic on Friday would send Coudersport into the state's "Sweet 16" next week, but a loss would bring the season to an end. All but two of this year's players will return in 2007- 08.

Coudersport advanced into the tournament by erasing an early 11-0 DuBois Central Catholic lead on its way to a 52- 48 win in Saturday's District 9 consolation game at Clarion.

DCC held leads of five points on two occasions in the third period. Derek Burdick's threepointer ignited a 14-3 Coudersport run that gave his team a 49-43 advantage with 3:19 remaining.

DuBois twice had opportunities to tie the game inside the final minute, but the Falcons stepped up their defense. A pair of hurried threepointers by the Cardinals were off the mark.

John Hau led all scorers with 15 points, while Burdick added 12, and Blair Heimel 11. Hau pulled down 16 rebounds and Heimel grabbed 13.

Coudersport was 20-of-50 (40%) from the field, while DCC shot 32% (19-of-60), including 2-of-14 in the decisive fourth quarter.

"DuBois used its quickness to jump out to an 11-0 lead," Coudersport coach Chris Fink said. "Once we realized we could stop their speed, we got things going."

All about the

numbers…

Coudersport (52): Hau 7 0-2 15, Burdick 4 2-2 12, Heimel 5 1-5 11, Colton Corey 1 4-6 6, Drew Levavasseur 2 0-2 5, Eric Babcock 1 1-2 3, Nate Minor 0 0-0 0, Logan Hathaway 0 0-1 0, Kody Frederick 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 8-20 52.

DuBois CC (48): Christian Spilman 4 1-2 9, Michael Hassan 1 0-1 2, Dom Varacallo 1 3-6 5, Eric Johnson 3 3-6 9, Max Moclock 0 0-0 0, Chris Wulderk 4 0-2 8, Andrew Welch 2 1-2 5, John Ferraraccio 0 0-0 0, Matt Pentz 0 0-0 0, Cody Wilson 4 2- 2 10. Totals: 19 10-21 48.