Cole Knauss scored 20 points to lead the way Saturday night as Northumberland Christian posted the first Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association boys basketball state tournament victory in school history by defeating Forest City, 73-61, in a Class A first-round game at Lewisburg.
The Warriors took control late in the first quarter and turned back the Foresters each time they began cutting into the deficit.
Henry McElroy, who grabbed 10 rebounds, and Luke Snyder added 17 points each.
The District 4 runner-up moved into the second round against Chester Charter, a 58-44 winner over Lancaster Country Day.
Dylan Bezek and Max Urbas scored 14 points each to lead Forest City, which finished second in both the District 2-11 Class A Subregional and Division 4 of the Lackawanna League. The Foresters were recognized as champions of District 2, which did not conduct its ow tournament or title game this year.
Northumberland Christian scored nine straight points late in the first quarter to take a 21-11 lead.
The Warriors scored the last basket of the first half, then took advantage of a halftime technical foul on Forest City coach John Duffy for a 13-2 start to the second half to open a 47-30 lead midway through the third quarter.
The Foresters cut a 16-point deficit in half at one point in the fourth quarter, but could not get any closer.
Forest City had a balanced attack that included four double figures scorers.
D.J. Heath scored 13 points while Davon Reams had 11. Brad Bartholomay just missed joining them, scoring nine.
