Undefeated Falcon boys in 'Elite 8'

A year ago, Kennedy Catholic bounced Coudersport out of the state boys' basketball playoffs with a lopsided game in the Sweet 16.

On Friday night, the same two schools will square off in a marquee match-up in Tippin Fieldhouse at Clarion University (7 pm). The winner returns to action next Tuesday night against either Serra Catholic or Bentworth, battling for berth in next Friday's PIAA Class A championship game at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park.

Coach Chris Fink's Falcons have already written their names in the school record books by going 29-0, a feat never before accomplished.

Only two Coudersport teams - 1952 and 1964 - have played in the state title game. The 1996 Falcons made it to the Final Four before falling. Coudersport has never had a state champion.

Tuesday night's 55-47 win at Tippin Fieldhouse against a dangerous Union High School team from New Castle was a testament to the Falcons' grit and determination. Backup forward Brett Whitman was out of action due to surgery and second-leading scorer John Hau was forced to the locker room when he aggravated a knee injury.

Coudersport pressed on and held off a Union threat down the stretch to send the Scotties and their unruly fans packing for the trip back to New Castle.

The Falcons held on over the final two minutes of the game to post a heart-stopping 55-47 victory over Union in the second round of the boys' PIAA Class A basketball playoffs.

"It was a gutsy performance," Fink said. "We don't have a lot of depth and were especially thin with Hau and Whitman out . . . At the end, we were running on tired legs."

Coudersport senior Blair Heimel responded to his teammates' absence with a giant game: 21 points, 14 rebounds, five blocked shots, a handful of assists and 7-of-9 from the foul line.

Nate Minor came off the bench to score nine points. Derek Burdick, Colton Corey and Eric Babcock once again employed tough backcourt defense against the quicker Scotties. Corey also drove to the hole for some key baskets in the third quarter.

Coudersport slipped on top 28-20 at the break.

Burdick buried a threepointer and the Falcons took advantage of a pair of technical fouls on Union to go up 45- 35, early in the fourth quarter.

The Scotties promptly stormed back, taking advantage of a couple of turnovers to trim the gap to 49-47 with 1:45 remaining.

But Burdick threaded a pass to Minor for a layup and Coudersport added some insurance points at the foul line to lock up the victory.

Last Friday, the Falcons routed Homer Center, 70-40, at St. Marys High School.

"Defense was the key right from the start," Fink said. "All of our guys did a good job defensively."

Early in the third quarter, Heimel scored his 1,000th career point on an eight-footer just to the left of the lane to give Coudersport a dominating 35-16 advantage.

"That's great to have Hau and Heimel both get their 1,000th point this year," Fink exclaimed. "Blair has done a nice job these last couple of games of keeping his head because of the way the other teams are banging him and double-teaming him. He keeps his cool and just keeps plugging away."

Burdick, who had nine assists, fed teammates on the next three baskets as the Falcons completed a 12-0 run for a 43-16 lead halfway through the third quarter.

Heimel had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Corey registered 13 points, Burdick contributed 11 points and Hau scored nine points grabbed eight rebounds.