CURWENSVILLE – The Curwensville Golden Tide boys basketball team returns to the District 9 (D-9) playoffs for the first time since 2008 when the Tide lost to DuBois Central Catholic, 60-48, in first round action.
This year the Golden Tide, 14-8, are the number three seed in the D-9 AA playoffs and will battle Brookville 8-14, the sixth seed, Wednesday night at St. Marys Area High School.
The Curwensville-Brookville boys game will follow the Curwensville-Kane girls contest which tips off at 6 pm in a playoff doubleheader for Tide fans.
The two teams met last year with the Golden Tide losing at Brookville, 50-46.
Curwensville Head Coach Shane Pentz talked about his squad entering the post season, “We are very excited to still be playing. The kids have worked hard all season to have the kind of year where we could be involved in playoff basketball. I think it shows the resiliency of the players that they came from a six win season last year to being the third seed in the playoffs this season. One thing that hasn’t changed is the work ethic in practice. No matter win or lose, they came ready to work at it each day.”
Seniors Brett Gardner and Tanner Elensky pace the Golden Tide offense. Gardner averages 14.9 points per game while Elensky, not far behind, checks in with 13.2 tallies per game.
Junior Trey Rauckhorst helps out with an 8.2 average and Kyle Johns, a senior, chips in scoring 6.8 points per contest.
Gardner is by far the Tide’s leading three-point threat, with 47 baskets made from beyond the arc while Elensky has connected on 18 treys.
Pentz then spoke about the Brookville team, “Brookville is going to be a very difficult game. They have a number of seniors on the team and have been playing much better over the last half of the season. Even the games they lose, they are very close games. We played them last season at their place and lost a close game. We are expecting a very tight game and the team that wins is going to be the one that makes the most plays down the stretch.”
The leading scorer for the Raiders is senior Nate Shirts, who scores 16.5 points per game.
Curwensville’s only District 9 championship came in 1997 when the Golden Tide defeated Brockway in AA action, 61-48, at Clarion University.
Pentz summed up the upcoming battle, saying “I hope the kids and fans enjoy the playoff experience. It’s been a few years since we’ve been in the playoffs and it’s a much different atmosphere than a regular season game. It’s win or go home and I hope we aren’t going home for a little while.”
Listen to the Curwensville-Brookville boys game Wednesday night following the Curwensville-Kane girls playoff game on WOKW-FM, 102.9 in an exclusive District 9 AA playoff doubleheader.
The girls game will start at 6 pm with the boys contest to immediately follow.
DISTRICT 9 AA QUARTERFINALS SCHEDULE
Redbank Valley (1), 16-7 BYE
Karns City (2), 14-7 vs Kane (7), 7-15
Curwensville (3), 14-8 vs. Brookville (6), 8-14
Cranberry (4), 12-10 vs. Keystone (5), 11-11
Golden Tide Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 12/06 | MO VALLEY | ppd. | 0 – 0 |
| 12/09 | @ Clearfield | 56 – 38 | 1 – 0 |
| 12/10 | BROCKWAY | 54 – 51 | 2 – 0 |
| 12/13 | @ Ridgway | 25 – 46 | 2 – 1 |
| 12/16 | WEST BRANCH | 63 – 52 | 3 – 1 |
| 12/19 | @ Harmony | 68 – 31 | 4 – 1 |
| 12/20 | @ Kane | 47 – 54 ot | 4 – 2 |
| 01/03 | DUBOIS CENTRAL | 63 – 55 | 5 – 2 |
| 01/08 | @ Mo Valley | 61 – 44 | 6 – 2 |
| 01/14 | @ Elk County | 38 – 67 | 6 – 3 |
| 01/16 | @ Glendale | 55 – 56 ot | 6 – 4 |
| 01/21 | RIDGWAY | 41 – 56 | 6 – 5 |
| 01/24 | @ Brockway | 51 – 41 | 7 – 5 |
| 01/27 | @ DuBois Central | 55 – 64 | 7 – 6 |
| 01/29 | GLENDALE | 64 – 53 | 8 – 6 |
| 01/31 | JOHNSONBURG | 31 – 81 | 8 – 7 |
| 02/04 | @ Sheffield | 59 – 41 | 9 – 7 |
| 02/05 | ST. JOE’S ACADEMY | ppd. | 9 – 7 |
| 02/07 | KANE | 53 – 48 | 10 – 7 |
| 02/08 | MO VALLEY | 83 – 53 | 11 – 7 |
| 02/10 | HARMONY | 51 – 21 | 12 – 7 |
| 02/11 | ST. JOE’S ACADEMY | 63 – 35 | 13 – 7 |
| 02/12 | @ West Branch | 69 – 76 ot | 13 – 8 |
| 02/14 | CLEARFIELD | 57 – 52 | 14 – 8 |
| D9 AA Playoffs | |||
| 02/19 | vs. Brookville (@ St. Marys) |