MONROEVILLE — The play was run exactly the way Freeport boys basketball coach Wayne Greiser drew it up.

It resulted in an easy layup for Garrett Schaffhauser that gave the Yellowjackets a 30-29 lead in the opening seconds of the second half.

Unfortunately for Freeport, it was the last positive note of what turned out to be a disastrous night in a 76-47 loss in the first round of the WPIAL 4A playoffs Wednesday at Gateway High School.

Ringgold scored 26 of the next 32 points in the quarter to take a commanding lead and outscored Freeport 47-19 in the second half.

“We came out and executed exactly what we wanted to do on the first play,” Greiser said. “Got a layup and that might have been the last shot we made in a long time and they made a whole bunch after that.”

Ringgold (14-9) was 11 of 13 from the floor in the third quarter to swat away the Yellowjackets (11-10).

Luke Wyvratt scored eight of his 22 points in the third. Chris Peccon also scored eight of his game-high 24 points in the frame as the duo combined to go 8-for-8 shooting.

“I think they could have been looking at the other hoop and thrown it over their head and it would have gone in during that run,” Greiser said.

“It's been our M.O. all season — one bad quarter. Unfortunately that was the third quarter tonight. I don't know, maybe my halftime speeches aren't the most rousing.”

Ringgold coach Phil Pergola didn't say much to his team at the half, up by just one.

Instead, he tried to get his team to forget about an overinflated basketball in the first quarter that rattled them.

“They were all upset in the first quarter because the ball had too much air in it,” Pergola said. The ball was bouncing over players' heads on the dribble and hit the rim on one shot, bounced over the backboard and then bounced and hit the top of the backboard again. “Freeport was using the same ball. Once we got that out of our heads, we played well.”

The ball was swapped out at the start of the second quarter and it seemed to actually help Freeport, which went on a quick 7-0 run for an 18-16 lead.

But Ringgold regrouped and routed Freeport in the second half.

“The second half was probably the best half we've played all year,” Pergola said. “Just tremendous.”

Freeport was playing again without Nolan Plocki, who has been out for several weeks with a shoulder injury.

At 6-foot-2, Plocki is one of the bigger Yellowjackets and his absence was felt inside against Ringgold.

“We don't have too many big bodies, so when you lose one it hurts,” Greiser said.

Ringgold outrebounded Freeport and was also the more physical team.

In addition to his 22 points, Wyvratt added 15 rebounds.

“We just didn't have an answer for them,” Greiser said.

Ringgold's reward for its win over Freeport is a date with top-seeded New Castle Saturday in the quarterfinals.

Freeport must go home after another disappointing short playoff existence.

Senior Jalen Brown scored 19 points to lead the Yellowjackets, which started two freshmen against Rinngold.

“We haven't won a playoff game since 2010 and we wanted to change that tonight for Jalen and the seniors,” Greiser said. “Jalen has been to the playoffs three straight years — not many can say that — and we wanted to get one for him.”

RINGGOLD 76

Chris Peccon 9-15 6-9 24, Demetrius Butler 3-7 0-0 6, Jaden Taylor 5-11 3-3 14, Ben Lawrence 2-5 0-0 5, Luke Wyvratt 9-14 4-4 22, Kevin Feld 2-2 1-2 5. Totals: 30 14-20 76.

FREEPORT 47

Vinnie Clark 3-6 0-0 8, Jalen Brown 7-16 4-5 19, Garret Schaffhauser 4-10 0-0 8, Aiden Skradski 1-8 1-2 4, Matt Aulicino 3-6 1-2 7, Colin Gaspersic 0-0 1-2 1, Dan Lynch 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 18 8-15 47.

Ringgold 16 13 26 21 — 76

Freeport11 17 8 11 — 47

3-point goals: Chris Peccon, Jaden Taylor, Ben Lawrence; Vinnie Clark 2, Aiden Skradski.