Exeter headed west again to face Erie Cathedral Prep in state semifinal

Exeter is headed west again to face Erie Cathedral Prep in a PIAA Class 5A semifinal Monday at 5:30 at Altoona High School.

The District 3 champion Eagles (26-6) advanced Friday with a thrilling 75-72 overtime win over Peters Township at Bellefonte. They rallied from an eight-point deficit in the fourth period and from a four-point hole in OT.

Cathedral Prep (24-3), the District 10 champ, advanced with a 68-54 win over District 7 champ Penn Hills.

This is Exeter’s first appearance in a state semifinal since 1974, when it set a program record with 30 wins and reached the PIAA championship game.

The winner Monday will play for the state championship Friday at 8 at Giant Center.

The other semifinal matches District 12 champ Imhotep Charter and District 12 runner-up Archbishop Ryan; they’ll play Monday at 7 at St. Joseph’s Prep.

Imhotep, the defending state champ, beat Muhlenberg 68-32 in the second round of the state tournament.

The Eagles have won seven straight games and 16 of their last 17.