Eastern York boys' basketball's stunning playoff run ends in PIAA Elite Eight

Eastern York was expected to win a division title this year.

The Golden Knights thought they had a shot to win a YAIAA title. And a District 3 title.

The Golden Knights didn’t reach those goals. That made their fourth goal seem like a long shot to some.

Not them.

“That’s when other teams pack it in and look at spring sports,” Eastern York head coach Justin Seitz said. “But these guys kept that goal of making a run at states. Making the Elite Eight. It was something we thought early on we could do.

“We thought we should be here.”

Eastern York lost to Allentown Central Catholic, 60-44, in the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals at Reading High School Friday night. The Knights finish the season 20-9.

Facing the top team from District 11, Eastern York started slowly. The Knights trailed 15-4 after the first quarter and 29-8 at halftime.

They stormed back in the second half and trailed by 11 at multiple times in the fourth quarter. But they couldn’t get their deficit into single digits.

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Eastern actually won the second half, 36-31, but that wasn’t enough to make up for the slow start.  

What it means

Eastern York finished second in YAIAA Division II and fifth in District 3 Class 4A. But they were the last YAIAA boys’ basketball team still playing this season.

They reached the PIAA Elite Eight for the fifth time in program history and first since 2011.

Eastern York lost five of their last regular season games to lose the division title to West York. The Knights lost their district opener to Octorara in overtime.

Yet they rebounded to make the state playoffs and then beat Danville by four before stunning District 12 (Philadelphia) runner-up Overbrook by 21 in the second round.

“I went to Eastern. Some schools you think of wrestling. Some you think of football. Eastern is a basketball school. It just is,” Seitz said. “Some of those (former players) come back and it makes these guys want to be like the guys they grew up watching.”

The turning point

Eastern York struggled offensively all first half.

Seitz said he didn’t think his team was overly nervous. But he said Allentown Central Catholic played more physically than the Vikings looked on film. The Vikings consistently “knocked the Knights off their spot” according to Seitz.

Still, Eastern York got back into the game with a strong second-half performance by sophomore Carter Wamsley.

But with the Knights down 13 midway through the fourth quarter, Central Catholic’s Lucas Mushrush nailed a 3-pointer to put the Vikings up 16 with 2:48 left.

That seemed to end any hope of an Eastern York comeback.

Stars of the game

Jahrel Vigo led Allentown Central Catholic with 16 points.

Wamsley led Eastern York with 20. The 6-foot-6 sophomore averaged 24 points, 12 rebounds and 4.5 assists during the playoffs, according to Seitz.

“He really grew up the second half of the season,” Seitz said. “He was phenomenal.”

They said it

“We never stopped fighting. It was probably the most fun season I’ve had of basketball since I started. The seniors make me better every day. I love those guys. I’m going to miss them a lot next year. For the guys coming back, we expect to be here next year." — Carter Wamsley, Eastern York sophomore

What’s next?

Allentown Central Catholic will play District 12 champion Neumann Goretti in the Class 4A semifinals next week.

Eastern York graduates two starters, including 1,300-point scorer Austin Bausman, who will play for NCAA Division III Marywood. They also will graduate Jack Weaver and Sam Osterberg.

Matt Allibone is a sports reporter for GameTimePA. He can be reached at 717-881-8221, mallibone@ydr.com or on Twitter at @bad2theallibone.