IMPERIAL — The Summit Academy boys basketball team put itself in excellent position Wednesday night to earn the program’s third bid to the PIAA state playoffs.

Behind 29 points from Dasonte White and 24 from Devin Montgomery, the eighth-seeded Knights beat ninth-seeded Washington 75-65 in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs at West Allegheny High School.

That sets up two scenarios for Summit Academy to advance. The Knights (16-5) would earn a bid by upsetting top-seeded Seton-LaSalle in the quarterfinals Saturday at a location to be determined.

With a loss to the Rebels (22-1), Summit Academy’s quest for their first state playoff bid since 2011 would be in Seton-LaSalle’s hands.

Montgomery isn’t ready to follow the winner just yet. He thinks they can give the Rebels a game if they continue to play hard.

“We’re very confident. We’ve been playing good all season, especially toward the end of the season,” Montgomery said. “We’ve been getting better and better. I think we can go far in the playoffs.”

Against Washington, the Knights’ defense appeared especially confident in the first quarter.

Summit Academy coach Adam Petrosky switched his defense, coming out in a 2-1-2 zone instead of a 3-2.

With Donte Tyson, who finished with 10 points and six rebounds, in the middle for Summit Academy, Washington (17-7) struggled to get the ball inside.

The Little Prexies turned the ball over five times in the first three minutes, falling behind 12-2.

Montgomery’s driving layup with 6:05 left in the first quarter put Summit Academy ahead for good, 4-2.

“We were just putting pressure on them,” Montgomery said. “Jumping their passes and reading their eyes before they pass it so we could get a steal.”

What impressed Petrosky most was what happened before halftime. After the Little Prexies cut the lead to six points, all five Summit Academy starters scored during an 11-4 run to close the half that put the Knights ahead 40-27.

“Toward the end of the second quarter we went on a flurry where all five guys scored in a variety of ways,” Petrosky said. “It wasn’t one guy. That’s what makes us a tough team. We all play together and we don’t quit.”

White and Montgomery both put in impressive performances, scoring in just about every way. After gathering an offensive rebound in the fourth quarter, White spun 180 degrees and laid it in while in midair.

“I thought it was going in,” said White, who shot 68 percent (13 of 19) from the field. “I try that a lot in practice.”

Washington cut the lead to four points twice in the final four minutes, but couldn’t get any closer. Quorteze Levy scored on a layup for Washington with 2:10 remaining to make the score 65-51.

White responded with a layup and the Knights closed out the game with free throws.

“I had to get their heads together and get them focused,” White said. “We had to keep striving and striving. We couldn’t let up tonight.”

DeQuay Isbell had a big night for the Little Prexies, scoring 14 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.

“Offensively, against the zone, we were stagnant, stationary and turned the ball over,” Little Prexies coach Mark Gaither said. “That was tough. We got it going a little bit too late.”

WASHINGTON 65

Quorteze Levy 4 2-5 10, Nate Swart 6 5-8 19, Jon Sping 3 0-0 6, Jordan West 1 0-0 2, DeQuay Isbell 7 0-1 14, Matt Popeck 6 0-0 14, Del Bredniak 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27 7-14 65.

SUMMIT ACADEMY 75

Devin Montgomery 11 0-0 24, Dasonte White 13 2-3 29, Donte Tyson 4 1-2 10, Lemuel McFadden 3 0-0 6, Micheon Anderson-Meade 3 0-5 6, Shaquan Cole 0 0-0 0. Totals: 34 3-8 75.

Washington 19 8 17 21 — 65

Summit Academy21 19 13 22 — 75

3-point goals: Washington 4 (Popeck 2, Swart 2); Summit Academy 4 (Montgomery 2, White, Tyson)

Saturday: Summit Academy vs. Seton-LaSalle WPIAL Class AA quarterfinals place to be determined.