Joe Macciocco scored 29 points Feb. 26 as visiting Old Forge turned back Elk Lake, 60-51, in a District 2 Class 2A boys semifinal.
It was the second straight year that Old Forge clinched a state berth while ending Elk Lake’s season. Last year, with only one entry available in the shortened state tournament, the Blue Devils beat the Warriors in overtime in the district final.
The rematch was close throughout, but the Blue Devils put the game away on the foul line after the Warriors got within two in the last two minutes and three in the final minute.
Macciocco was 9-for-11 from the line in the game, including 7-for-9 while scoring 11 fourth-quarter points.
Ayden Davitt added 17 points, including 11 in the third quarter when he hit three 3-pointers.
Elk Lake led 14-12 after one quarter and the game was tied at halftime, but Davitt’s big quarter gave Old Forge a 40-37 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
Trevor Graham had 13 points to lead Lackawanna League Division 4 champion Elk Lake. Matt Mowry and Wyatt Casselbury added 11 each.
The Blue Devils (15-8) advance to face Holy Cross (18-6) in the district final Saturday at 2 p.m.
Elk Lake finished 17-7.
Holy Cross 71, Blue Ridge 52
Kaeden Carr got Holy Cross rolling in its return to the playoffs, scoring 20 first-half points in the home-court victory by the top seeds.
The Crusaders missed last year’s tournament because of COVID precautions ending their streak of playing in the state tournament every year in school history.
Carr had 10 points and Will Kittrell had 6 of his 10 in the first quarter as Holy Cross took a 26-12 lead. Carr had 10 of the team’s 14 points in the second quarter for a 40-24 halftime lead.
Hayden Hosie added 12 points in the win and Gabe Gonzales had 10.
Connor Cranage had 14 of his 20 points for Blue Ridge (15-9) in the second half. Dylan Bradley added 15 points.
