Both Garrie Davis and Bill Minear hoped that their respective teams would have had a game at Duquesne University's A.J. Palumbo Center under their belts by now.

But they'll settle for a state quarterfinal playoff matchup just the same.

Davies' Freeport Yellowjackets and Minear's Sto-Rox Vikings each had their eyes set on a WPIAL championship game appearance but lost on the way to the Class AA title game.

The two teams will face off at the Palumbo Center at 4:30 p.m. Saturday with a trip to the PIAA Western Finals at stake.

"After losing at WPIALs, coming back in states is like getting a second life," said Minear, whose team lost to Beaver Falls in the district playoffs. "Losing at states is more disappointing because it's final. You lose now and your season is over."

Sto-Rox (23-3) is coming off a 58-53 PIAA win over Aliquippa, the same team that knocked off Freeport in the district quarterfinals Feb. 21.

"We don't think about the Aliquippa game," said Davies. "We are focusing on what's next, taking it one day and one game at a time.

"But I do think that our team might have an extra bit of incentive to do well in the state tournament following that loss," added Davies.

Sto-Rox features three players who have reached the 1,000-point mark in their careers.

Senior point guard Adam DiMichele, senior guard John Geiger and senior forward Davon Huger hope to cause havoc for Freeport come Saturday.

"Those guys have a lot of varsity playing experience," said Minear. "Adam has played in 117 games and John and Davon have both played in 90 games."

The Vikings will definitely have a size advantage, a fact not lost on Davies.

"They've got a kid at 6-feet-7 (Huger) and two others at 6-4 (Geiger and senior forward Mike Harper)," Davies said. "It's going to be challenging. We've got to stay physical with rebounding and boxing out."

Freeport (18-6) defeated Shenango 85-70 for the right to face Sto-Rox.

Senior Brent Ferko scored 26 points in the win, a game after he poured in 25 against-North Star in an opening round win.

"He's a difficult person to guard," said Davies. "He surprises a lot of people because he can hurt you inside and outside."

Senior guard David Bauman scored 33 points in the first two PIAA games.

"They shoot the ball very well," said Minear of the Yellowjackets. "And they are relentless on defense."

Freeport has scored at least 65 points in 16 games this year, but the Yellowjackets will face a Vikings defense that gives up just 45 per game.

"We would like to control the tempo of the game to the point where we are getting off shots before they have a chance to set up defensively," Davies said.

While Davies said he believes this is the furthest any Freeport boys team has gone in the state playoffs, Sto-Rox is no stranger to playing this time of the year. The Vikings have lost the last two Class AA state title games.

"I think it helps the kids have confidence in each other and in the program," said Minear. "But it's just one game we're talking about, and anything's possible."