WEXFORD — One bad quarter, one tough exit.

Freeport was outscored 18-4 in the second quarter Saturday afternoon and never threatened to take the lead again in suffering a 57-47 WPIAL Class AA boys basketball playoff loss to Northgate at North Allegheny High School.

A short jumper by Robbie Miller had given the Yellowjackets (10-10) a 12-8 lead with 7:42 left before halftime. But the Flames (13-10) went on a 15-0 run at that point to assume control of the game.

“There's always a feeling out period early in these playoff games,” Northgate coach Perry Harrop said. “I'm sure our guys were a bit nervous, too. We went out in the opening round last year.”

The Yellowjackets had a 6-0 lead less than two minutes into the game, then managed just two field goals the rest of the half.

Freeport sank 2 of 14 shots in the second period and shot just under 50 percent (16 of 34) in the other three quarters.

“They got a transition game going against us,” Freeport coach Mike Beale said. “They were beating us down the floor. I didn't think that would happen because we like to get out and run, too.”

Northgate took its first lead at 15-12 with 5:45 left in the half on the first of four Dave Natale treys. The Flames never surrendered the lead once they got it.

Freeport pulled within 28-22 on a Ryan Dunn free throw with 4:58 left in the third quarter, but got no closer.

“I was happy with our half-court sets. We ran those well,” Beale said. “And I thought we did a decent job on their big guy.”

Jon Girvin, Northgate's 6-foot-5 senior center, averaged 18.5 points per game. He scored 17 points and snared nine rebounds Saturday.

Girvin is headed to Edinboro University as a quarterback.

“That's why he passes the ball so well as a big man,” Harrop said.

Senior point guard Matt Lee had 10 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals for Northgate. Justin Parra added 10 points and six rebounds.

“They have a nice one-two punch there with the point guard and center,” Beale said. “We have three guys averaging 13 or 14 points per game. That balance wasn't there for us today.”

Dunn, a senior point guard, paced the Yellowjackets with 17 points, including a pair of treys. Tony DeVivo had 11 rebounds, Robbie Miller nine points and five boards.

Northgate had a 37-32 edge in rebounds. Freeport had 15 turnovers to the Flames' 10.

While the Yellowjackets ended the season on a three-game losing streak, Northgate will carry a five-game winning streak into Wednesday's matchup with Summit Academy.

“We had four juniors and one senior in our starting lineup last year. Now we're seasoned with four senior starters,” Harrop said. “Freeport had three junior starters in this game, so they may bounce back a year later like we did.

“We are the 13th seed and we're supposed to beat the 20-seed. Now we're going up against the 4-seed that's a sleeper to win it all. It will be a challenge for our guys, but we'll be there.”

FREEPORT 47Rob Palko 0-1 0-0 0, Brendan Lynch 3-11 0-2 6, Ryan Dunn 4-11 7-8 17, Robbie Miller 4-10 0-1 9, Zane Geist 0-0 0-0 0, Tony DeVivo 3-5 0-0 6, Sean Carson 3-5 0-2 6, Jordan Ziemanski 1-5 0-0 3.

Totals: 18-48 7-13 47.

NORTHGATE 57Matt Lee 4-16 2-3 10, Dan Bistrican 3-5 0-0 6, Justin Parra 5-6 0-0 10, Dave Natale 4-12 0-0 12, Dylan Muller 0-2 0-0 0, Mackenzie Quinn 1-4 0-3 2, Jon Girvin 8-12 1-4 17.

Totals: 25-57 3-11 57.

Freeport 10 4 16 17—47Northgate 8 18 18 13—573-point goals: Freeport 4 (Dunn 2, Miller, Ziemanski); Northgate 4 (Natale 4).

Wednesday: Northgate vs. Summit Academy, site and time TBA