Chartiers Valley celebrates another postseason win over section rival Montour in PIAA playoffs

By: Chris Harlan
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | 12:10 AM

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In celebration, Chartiers Valley’s Jayden Davis let go of a half-court shot at the buzzer and it went in.

That 3-pointer was one more than his opponent Montour made the entire night. The Spartans went 0 for 17 from beyond the arc as Chartiers Valley built an early lead and hung on to defeat Montour, 48-38, Tuesday night in a PIAA Class 5A second-round game at Bethel Park.

Davis scored a game-high 18 points.

“Sometimes basketball just comes down to makes and misses,” Montour coach Bill Minear said.

Chartiers Valley made six 3s, yet its biggest three-point play came the old-fashioned way from a resilient junior.

Clinging to a one-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Colts’ Logan Helfrick scored on an offensive rebound, was fouled and made the free throw for a 41-37 lead with 1:51 remaining. Those were Helfrick’s only points in the game, and they successfully stalled Montour’s second-half rally.

“That was a big-time play coming from someone who didn’t score all game,” Davis said. “Our coach always inspires us to keep playing. … That’s what Logan Helfrick did for us.”

Chartiers Valley (25-3) advances to face District 6 champion Johnstown (26-1) in the state quarterfinals Friday at a site and time to be announced.

Colton Straight led Montour (25-3) with 14 points, Kaleb Platz scored 12 and Ama Sow added 10. Sow, a 6-foot-10 senior, also had 16 rebounds and five blocks.

“We didn’t hit one 3 for the first time all season,” Minear said. “That was the difference in the game.”

This was the fourth matchup this season between the section foes. Montour won both regular season matchups, but Chartiers Valley won twice here in the playoffs.

Colts coach Corey Dotchin said that’s a trade off he’d willingly make.

“It’s great,” Dotchin said. “Because I don’t think anyone is going to remember those two in the season but will remember these two at the end.”

A hot start let Chartiers Valley run out to an early 14-6 lead. Davis scored eight points in the first quarter and Julian Semplice added five, while Jake Lewis and Luca Federico each made a 3-pointer.

Chartiers Valley’s shooters went 7 for 10 in the opening quarter, including three jumpers by Davis.

The Colts led 19-10 after one quarter. The quick start was important for a Chartiers Valley team that had to rally from behind to defeat Montour in the WPIAL semifinals.

“I think that semifinal game prepared us for the moment,” Dotchin said. “The guys came out ready and threw the first punch. We knew that they were going to punch back. Credit to the guys. They withstood a lot tonight.”

Montour’s only leads this time were 2-0 and 4-3. The Spartans shot 4 for 16 from the field in the first half including 0 for 9 from 3-point range.

“They didn’t miss a shot in the first quarter,” Minear said. “I think we pressed a little bit.”

Minear said his team often makes eight or nine 3-pointers in a game.

Chartiers Valley’s defense deserves credit for keeping Montour’s shooters uncomfortable. Platz took six 3-pointers, Trey Hopper shot four, and Straight and A.J. Alston took three 3s each.

“We know that Straight is their shooter,” Dotchin said, “so we try to take him completely out of the game and just contest the other guys.”

Chartiers Valley got consecutive 3-pointers by Davis and Danny Slizik early in the second quarter to lead 25-12. The Colts went 6 for 19 from 3-point range.

Montour scored seven consecutive points just before half, cutting the lead to 25-17 at the break. The Spartans used a few Chartiers Valley turnovers in the third quarter to narrow the gap further. A transition layup by Straight in the final minute of the third had the Spartans within five.

Chartiers Valley led 34-29 after three.

Montour continued to chip away in the fourth. The Spartans were within one point with two minutes left after a three-point play by Straight and two free throws by Sow.

But Helfrick shook off an 0 for 5 shooting night, grabbed an offensive rebound, drew a foul and scored. His three-point play gave Chartiers Valley a 41-37 lead with 1:51 remaining.

Montour scored only one point the rest of the way, a free throw by Sow. Minear said Sow, who observes Ramadan and can’t eat before sundown, had more energy in the second half than the first.

“He wasn’t allowed to eat until halftime,” said Minear, noting Sow had a protein bar and electrolyte drink at the break.

Chartiers Valley went 4 for 6 from the foul line in the final 66 seconds. Lewis made a clinching pair with 24 seconds remaining for a 45-38 lead.

The half-court heave by Davis pushed the margin to 10.

“We kind of took offense when they said we got them on a bad night (in the WPIAL semifinals),” Davis said. “We knew it wasn’t a fluke.”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Chartiers Valley, Montour