Location, location, location - semis set and extra some ninth grade action

The next step of the boys basktetball brackets are up. Franklin and Oil City will play Tuesday night in Slippery Rock while Rocky Grove travels up 322 to Meadville.

Franklin (21-2) is to face Mercyhurst Prep (10-13) at 6 p.m. at Slippery Rock University in the District 10 class 3A boys semis. Oil City (15-8) boys will take the same court after Franklin warms it up to face Grove City (14-8) in the 4A semis. 

Rocky Grove (18-5) will face West Middlesex (13-10) at 6 p.m. at Meadville High School in the 2A semis.

These contests are not elimination games. Losers move on to the consolation games. Championship and consolation games will be Friday night. Three teams will move on from District 10 into the state playoffs in 3A and 4A. Rocky Grove is guaranteed a bid in the state final as 2A is taking four teams out of District 10.

But the prize in sight for all three teams is to hoist the hardware over their heads Friday and cut down some nets.

In light of the upcoming game between Franklin and Mercyhurst, we thought we'd share a few pictures we took 10 days ago at a ninth-grade matchup between the two schools. The afternoon shoot-out, which included quite a number of three-pointers, ended with Franklin on top 62 to 55. It was a glimpse into the future of the strong Franklin varsity program.

See more photos available for purchase too at ​https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p1053435926