AMBRIDGE — Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic sophomore guard Ryan Feczko drained a 3-pointer seconds before the end of the first quarter in Friday's WPIAL Class AAA first-round boys basketball playoff against Ellwood City.

The immediate impact was it cut the Trojans' deficit to 19-14, but it sparked something much bigger than that.

The shot was the beginning of a 19-3 run, during which Feczko scored 11 points. His trey with 5:40 left in the first half gave CWNC a lead it would not give up in a 67-53 victory at Ambridge High School.

“We lost Isaiah Wilson (who transferred out following his sophomore year) and Ryan has been a starter since the beginning of the season,” said Trojans' coach Dave Long. “He has done a good job of filling the void. If it wasn't for him tonight, we would have been in trouble.”

Feczko scored a game and career-high 21 points, 19 coming in the first half.

“I scored 15 in a game this year and 13 in another, but this feels great,” Feczko exclaimed. “I'm so happy for the team. We get to keep playing, keep practicing.”

The team will do so in preparation for Washington, who the Trojans (12-11) will meet in the quarterfinals Thursday at a site and time to be determined.

Washington defeated Brentwood, 46-37, on Friday.

Ellwood City coach Steve Antuono was caught off guard by Feczko's performance.

“We watched tape on them and I was looking for us to key on (senior guard) John Fukon,” he said. “He (Feczko) came on tonight. Man, I didn't see that coming.

“We moved to a triangle-and-two to defend against (Fukon and Feczko) and it worked in the third quarter.”

The Trojans, who led 30-22 at the break, scored just nine points in the third period, but still led 39-35 with eight minutes left to play. That's when CWNC turned to its inside game, mainly forwards Brian Davidson and Mike Drambel, and the duo scored 16 combined points in the final period and the Wolverines were unable to keep pace.

Davidson ended the game with 19 points and Drambel added 11.

“We've struggled inside at times this season,” allowed Long, “but our guys were strong tonight. When you can get the ball into the paint and get points, it's a big lift for the team.”

“Credit their players, they came back and hit shots,” said Antuono.

The Wolverines hit 10 treys in the game, three of them in the first period as Ellwood led at one point 16-9.

“They came out fast,” said Feczko, but we stuck with the plan and it worked out.”

Broc Boariu made five 3-pointers and led the Wolverines with 17 points.

The Trojans have had an up-and-down year, but proved they will not go quietly in their quest for a third consecutive district championship.

“This is our time of year,” said Long.

ELLWOOD CITY 53

Tom O'Brien 1 0-0 2, Anthony Roth 5 1-1 13, Broc Boariu 6 0-0 17, Sean Busby 4 0-0 8, Luca Botti 2 2-2 7, Rick Pitrelli 2 0-0 6. Totals: 20 3-3 53.

C.W. NORTH CATHOLIC 67

Nick Koscinski 2 4-6 8, Brian Davidson 8 3-3 19, Mike Drambel 5 1-1 11, John Fukon 4 0-0 8, Ryan Feczko 8 0-0 21, Joe Meinert 0 0-0 0, Anthony Serventi 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27 8-10 67.

Ellwood City 19 3 13 18 — 53

CWNC 14 16 9 28 — 67

3-point goals: Ellwood City 10 (Boariu 5, Pitrelli 2, Roth 2, Botti); CWNC 5 (Feczko 5).

Thursday: WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinal, CWNC vs. Washington, time and site TBD