HAMPTON TWP — Freeport hung around for a while — until Greensburg Central Catholic decided it didn't want any company.

The Centurions (17-4) outscored the Yellowjackets 41-6 in the final 12 minutes of the first half in rolling to a 68-28 WPIAL Class AAgirls basketball playoff victory Friday night at Hampton High School.

The loss ended Freeport's season at 9-13. The Yellowjackets were the only team with a sub-.500 record in the Class AAgirls tournament.

"We knew we were in for a challenge tonight,"Freeport coach Bill Burkart said. "But our girls never stopped competing for 32 minutes.

"That's how it can be in sports. When things aren't going your way, you still have to compete."

When freshman guard Jessica McFadden sank a pair of free throws with 4:18 left in the first quarter, the Yellowjackets trailed 10-8.

Greensburg Central took over from there, however, outscoring the 'Jackets 13-3 for the remainder of the period and 28-3 in the second quarter.

When Tess Zufall drained her fourth 3-pointer of the night with 6:40 left in the third quarter, the Centurions' lead reached 56-14 and the mercy rule began.

The mercy rule starts when a team gets a 40-point lead by halftime or thereafter. The clock stops only for timeouts and free throws.

"I'm happy for Freeport that they stayed in the game early,"Greensburg Centralcoach Don Favero said. "Everybody knew this was the type of game that could get out of hand.

"We're not out here to embarrass anyone. I congratulate Freeport for making the playoffs and playing hard. They weren't intimidated by us at all."

Freeport averaged 31 points per game this season. Greensburg Central averages 66, with three players averaging in double figures.

Four scored in double figures Friday, led by Zufall's 16 points. Lauren DePalma added 15, Megan DiPrimio had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Laura McCauley had 10 points and five boards.

The Centurions sank nine of 13 shots in the second quarter, including five 3-pointers.

Cortney Chelecki paced Freeport with eight points and five rebounds. McFadden had eight points as well.

Chelecki and Andrea Ferko were senior starters this season along with two sophomores and a freshman. Sixteen of Freeport's 20 players are freshmen and sophomores.

"Cortney and Andrea did an incredible job leading a group this young to the playoffs,"Burkart said. "Our program will benefit from this experience."

Freeport suffered 24 turnovers Friday, 17 in the first half.

"We lost to a great team,"Burkart said. "They have a tremendous inside-outside game. When we came out on their shooters, they burned us inside"

FREEPORT 28Nicolette Blake 1-3 0-0 2, Anna Christy 2-3 0-0 5, Jessica McFadden 3-11 2-2 8, Cortney Chelecki 4-13 0-0 8, Andrea Ferko 1-6 1-5 4, Taylor Schrecengost 0-1 0-0 0, Erica Carnahan 0-1 1-2 1, Hope Thompson 0-0 0-0 0, Jennifer Hawk 0-2 0-0 0, Samantha Angely 0-0 0-0 0, Lynsey Gugino 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-40 4-9 28

GREENSBURG CENTRAL 68Lauren DePalma 3-8 7-10 15, Megan DiPrimio 6-14 0-0 12, Abby Weaver 2-3 0-0 4, Laura McCauley 3-4 4-5 10, Tess Zufall 6-9 0-0 16, Alex Meyer 2-4 2-4 6, Rebecca Keyes 0-1 0-0 0, Marissa Muffie 1-3 0-0 3, Lauren Oldham 1-3 0-0 2, Ashlee Magda 0-1 0-0 0, Dakota Bocan 0-0 0-0 0, Alex Hess 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 24-52 13-19 68

Freeport 11 3 9 5—28Greensburg CC 23 28 11 6—683-point goals: Christy, Ferko; DePalma 2, Zufall 4, Muffie