PIAA basketball: Jason Fredericks, Jude Rottman shoot North Catholic boys past Beaver into quarterfinals
WEXFORD — North Catholic's nickname isn't the Flames.
The Trojans came out on fire anyway in posting an 84-53 PIAA Class 4A boys basketball tournament win over Beaver on Tuesday night at North Allegheny High School.
North Catholic (21-6) sank 10 of its 13 shots, including nine 3-pointers, and led 32-8 after the first eight minutes. The Trojans began the game with a 17-0 run.
"It hurts the other team," North coach Jim Rocco said. "We got the amount (of treys) we usually get, but when it's a barrage like that ... it makes a difference."
North Catholic sank 17 treys on the night. Junior guard Jason Fredericks canned six — five in the first quarter — and Jude Rottmann sank five. The duo combined for 49 points.
The Trojans led 27-3 six minutes into the game and 45-26 at halftime. The 19-point spread at intermission was the closest Beaver (20-7) got.
North's lead peaked at 32 (81-59) with just under two minutes to play.
"That start was frustrating," Beaver coach Jason Bumblis said. "We knew they were capable of doing that. I think we had Rottmann covered pretty well early, but then Fredericks hurt us.
"Our shots weren't going in early. That didn't help."
The Bobcats missed their first seven field goal attempts and hit just 3 of 14 shots overall in the first quarter.
"We practice shooting a lot," Rottmann said. "But we've never started a game as hot as that. I mean, that was crazy."
Rocco agreed.
"None of those shots even touched rim. ... Nothing but net," he said, marveling.
Rottmann led the Trojans with 25 points, adding five rebounds and three assists. Fredericks had 24 points and three boards, Joe Waskiewicz 13 points and 12 rebounds. Owen Maddalon had six assists.
Philip Marino paced Beaver with 15 points. Jake Peluso had 14 points and three steals off the bench. Nick Krzeczemski contributed 12 points, nine rebounds and three steals.
The Trojans will take on Cathedral Prep (19-8), a 66-44 winner over Grove City, in the quarterfinals Friday at a site and time to be determined.
BEAVER 53
Jake Peluso 5-16 0-0 14, Philip Marino 7-15 0-0 15, Micah Pupi 0-2 1-2 1, Brady Mayo 2-8 6-6 11, Logan Wieland 0-2 0-2 0, Nick Krzeczemski 4-11 4-5 12, Sincere Sly 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-54 11-15 53.
NORTH CATHOLIC 84
Jason Fredericks 9-15 0-0 24, Tom Arth 1-1 0-0 2, Donnie Schubert 1-1 1-2 4, Eli Stofko 1-7 2-2 5, Jude Rottmann 9-14 2-2 25, Owen Maddalon 0-0 5-8 5, Joe Waskiewicz 4-6 4-8 13, Brady Trout 1-1 0-0 3, Dante Palmer 1-1 0-0 3. Totals: 27-46 14-22 84.
Beaver 8 18 17 10 — 53
North Catholic 32 13 18 21 — 84
3-point goals: Beaver 6 (Peluso 4, Marino, Mayo), North Catholic 17 (Fredericks 6, Schubert, Stofko, Rottmann 5, Waskiewicz, Trout, Palmer)
