A deep, senior-ladened team, North Catholic subbed early and often and full-court pressed the Dragons the entire game.

“I felt the second quarter was the turning point of the game,” said Warren head coach Jeff Berdine, whose Dragons finish 20-6 after winning their first District 10 championship in 41 years. “We were outscored by 9 points (in the quarter), and they hit a big basket at the end of the half.”

Tied 16-16 after one quarter — with 6 points apiece from Warren’s Brady Berdine and Braylon Barnes, North Catholic outscored Warren 18-9 in the second. The Trojans’ all-time leading scorer, senior Max Hurray, hit a 3-pointer to end the half up 34-25.

“The Hurray kid was as good as advertised,” said Coach Berdine. “I didn’t think Tommy (Nyquist) did a bad job on him at all. They play fast and they are a very talented team. Every time we made a mistake on defense, they seemed to take advantage of it. That’s the sign of a good team.”

Photo by Mark Evans Warren senior Brady Berdine shoots on Friday during the Dragons’ 67-58 PIAA 4A playoff loss to North Catholic at Warren Area High School.

North Catholic hit eight free throws in a 19-16 third quarter to up the lead to 12 points; Brady Berdine had 12 of the Dragons’ 16 in the quarter.

Berdine finished with 22 points for Warren and Barnes 15, but the Trojans seemingly answered every Dragons effort.

“We left a lot of points out there in transition tonight,” said Coach Berdine. “Points that we normally got during the year that we were just a little off, and I give them credit because some of it was the intensity which they play — one of those things that you can’t really tell on film until you get on the floor with them.

“Other than Erie High, no one has really put that kind of pressure on us,” he said. “I thought Tommy did a phenomenal job, breaking them down and getting us through it. We just didn’t finish the way we had in other games.”

Hurray led WPIAL’s fifth-seeded North Catholic (17-9) with 21 points, Owen Maddalon had 13, and Jude Rottmann 11. The Trojans advance to the round of 16 to face Avonworth (18-9), which was a 65-43 winner over Punxsutawney on Friday.

Photo courtesy of Mark Evans North Catholic’s Max Hurray, left, battles Berdine for a loose ball.

“As I had noted earlier, we talked about not wanting to focus on winning the District 10 championship until after the state playoffs,” said Coach Berdine. “Now that that’s over, I would have to say it was a special season; something that the kids can always look back on and know that that District 10 championship will be hanging in the gymnasium and it’s the first one since 1983. No one can take that away from them. I’m super proud I’ve been their coach.”

He also said the atmosphere at Joseph A. Massa Gymnasium is one he won’t soon forget.

“I’m very happy that their classmates and the community showed up to support them and create an electric environment for them to play in,” said Coach Berdine.

Earlier this season, Berdine surpassed 300 career head coaching wins, and obviously guided the Dragons to their first D10 title in his 22-year tenure. He also coached his youngest son for the final time.

“This season has been extremely special to me with being able to play for my dad and to get him his first district title,” said senior Brady Berdine. “It’s a great accomplishment. It also means a lot to end my basketball days with the group of friends it started with, and having that connection with that group makes the game so much more enjoyable.”

NOTE: In addition to Brady Berdine, the Dragons will graduate Braylon Barnes, Johnny Corbett, Konnor Hoffman, Dylan Johnson, and Tommy Nyquist. The only Dragons with significant varsity minutes to return will be junior Chase Sitler and sophomore Logan Crissey.

NORTH CATHOLIC (67)

Milich 0, Stofko 1 0 3, Caligiuri 0, Kontul 0, Larson 0, Siket 3 0 6, Fredericks 3 0 8, Rottmann 3 3 11, Koziara 0, Maddalon 6 1 13, Hurray 6 8 21, Waskiewicz 1 3 5, Zach 0. Totals 23 15-20 67.

WARREN (58)

Corbett 0, Sitler 2 0 4, Berdine 8 6 22, Crissey 3 2 9, Nyquist 1 0 2, Thrift 0, Barnes 7 0 15, Hoffman 3 0 6, Johnson 0, Corey 0. Totals 24 8-15 58.

3-pointers: Stofko, Fredericks 2, Rottman 2, Hurray, Crissey, Barnes.

North Catholic 16 18 19 14 — 67

Warren 16 9 16 17 — 58