Lake Fong, Post-Gazette Fox Chapel's Ahmed Abu-Elmagd had 13 points to help the Foxes advance to the Class AAA semifinals. Click photo for larger image. More high school sports: Boys' playoff: Defensive effort produces an easy victory Boys' playoff roundup: Albert Gallatin upsets top-seeded Moon Girls' playoff roundup: Making a solid return Panthers Wrestling Championships: Derry's Dolan notches fourth WPIAL title Swimming: Upper St. Clair girl gets 2nd diving title

Fox Chapel opened a nine-point lead with three minutes left in the game, but there was no chance of these Foxes running away and hiding.

This was Fox Chapel-Central Catholic.

These two teams are so close you need a shoehorn to get them apart. Two previous games this season were decided by four points and one was an overtime contest. That made yesterday's game a close encounter of the third kind.

Fox Chapel hung on for a 54-51 victory against Central Catholic in a WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinal at a packed North Allegheny gymnasium. Fox Chapel (20-6) won all three meetings against Central Catholic and now moves on to the semifinals for only the fifth time in school history.

"Obviously, you'd like to win by 15, but you know when you play Central Catholic it's coming down to the last minute," Fox Chapel senior guard John Hastings said.

Fox Chapel coach Ben O'Connor was still perspiring 15 minutes after the game. Central Catholic (19-7) had the ball trailing by two with less than 30 seconds left to play.

"These were three of the best basketball games I've been involved in my whole life," O'Connor said.

It was hard to pinpoint a turning point to the contest. No player stood out. Maybe that 7-0 run by Fox Chapel in the fourth quarter was the key. Or maybe it was Central Catholic's lack of marksmanship.

"I really don't think there was a turning point," Central Catholic coach Chuck Crummie said. "I think it was just that we didn't shoot it very well."

Central Catholic made only 23 percent (6 of 26) from 3-point range. It took 19 more shots than Fox Chapel, but Fox Chapel was more efficient, making 47 percent (18 of 38) from the field and 36 percent (4 of 11) of its 3-point attempts.

"Coach always tells us that whoever makes the most two-pointers in a game and shoots more free throws is going to win the game," Hastings said. "It's not about 3-pointers."

Central Catholic senior guard Joe Berenato scored a game-high 15 points, but was only 3 of 11 from 3-point range. Berenato attempted one 3-pointer from 27 feet with Central Catholic trailing, 50-46, and one minute remaining. It was an airball.

Chris Saltzman scored 13 points for Central Catholic. Hastings and senior forward Tiph Harner scored 14 points apiece to lead Fox Chapel. Senior Ahmed Abu-Elmagd was a key player for Fox Chapel scoring 13 points and making 6 of 10 shots.

Despite its shooting woes, Central Catholic came back and made it an exciting finish. Central Catholic had a chance to tie, but threw the ball away with 17.8 seconds remaining and Fox Chapel leading, 51-49.

Fox Chapel's Seth Eisner made one free throw with 13.5 remaining to give Fox Chapel a three-point lead before the Foxes called a timeout. A 3-pointer would have tied the score, so Fox Chapel guarded players outside the 3-point line and let Lucas Mickens make a layup with six seconds left.

Kevin Crummie was called for an intentional foul with 3.3 remaining. Terry Hartford made one free throw, Fox Chapel got the ball out of bounds and Eisner made one last free throw with .8 second left.

"I think this game was real simple," Crummie said. "I think they just played a little harder than we did."