Mahanoy Area's Jace Yedsena shoots free throws during Saturday's PIAA Class 3A boys' basketball first-round game against Audenried Charter in Philadelphia. Yedsena scored 32 points, but the Bears lost 80-66 (Photo by Matt Freiler).

By Matt Freiler

PHILADELPHIA — A Saturday afternoon trip to the city marked the final time Mahanoy Area’s nine seniors will suit up together on the hardwood.

Jace Yedsena scratched and clawed his way to a game-high 32 points as the Golden Bears fell to Audenried Charter 80-66 in a PIAA Class 3A boys’ basketball first-round game Saturday in South Philadelphia.

From tip-off, Mahanoy Area was immediately tasked with breaking the Rockets’ intense full-court pressure. A couple of Golden Bears’ turnovers in the backcourt led to a Ted Styka timeout as Mahanoy trailed by seven early in the first quarter.

The timeout worked wonders, as Mahanoy put together an 11-2 run highlighted by a thrilling Yedsena slam to lead 16-14 with three minutes to play in the opening period.

Unfortunately for the Bears, despite several more inspired runs, they wouldn’t see the lead again.

Over the next five minutes, Audenried clamped down on defense, holding the Bears to just one field goal and reclaiming a six-point lead. Fouls became a byproduct of the Rockets’ aggressiveness, as Mahanoy entered the bonus midway through the second quarter.

Audenried went to its size advantage early and often, but 5-foot-10 senior Mike Oblas held his own against 6-foot-7 All-Philadelphia Public League first-teamer Issac Cole. Oblas collected four rebounds off the bench, with three leading to second chance opportunities.

Audenried freshman Zykei Kelly-Postell answered Yedsena’s four-pack of first half triples with a massive corner trey of his own, and the Rockets led 40-34 at the break.

On the first possession of the third quarter, 6-5 senior Qaudi’air Smith brought the Audenried faithful to their feet with a nasty two-handed slam that set the tone for the rest of the period. The Rockets launched out to their largest lead of the game, 58-44, late in the third quarter.

Early in the final frame, it became obvious that Audenried’s double-digit lead wouldn’t last with several starters in foul trouble. Tanner Zawada attacked the basket and powered for a lay-in with contact, drawing the Rockets’ fifth team foul just 90 seconds into the quarter. This pulled the Bears within 10, planting the seed for a final push over the next several minutes.

First, Yedsena canned his fifth 3-pointer of the afternoon through contact to cut Audenried’s lead to seven. After a Rockets’ bucket, William Mayberry buried a trifecta of his own to pull the Bears within six. After a Zawada pair from the charity stripe, the Bears were back within four, 68-64, with 1:27 remaining.

However, that’s as close as Mahanoy would get.

Shots stopped falling for the Bears and Audenried capitalized, closing the game on a 12-2 run.

The size was the story for Audenried, with 6-4 Abraham Kennah, 6-6 Nathan Lee, the 6-5 Smith and 6-7 Cole all scoring in double figures. Smith led the group with 22 points, while Kennah had 15, Cole tallied 13 and Lee netted 12. The Rockets out rebounded Mahanoy 30-21, adding six blocks.

For Mahanoy, Yedsena and Zawada (19) combined for 51 of the Bears’ 66 total points. Zawada was 8-of-13 from the line, while Yedsena shot 6-for-10.

The loss ends Mahanoy Area’s season at 21-5 overall. Of the 12 players who made Saturday’s trip to the city, nine were seniors in their final game as Golden Bears. The storied class led by Yedsena and Zawada went 72-11 the past three seasons under the guidance of Styka, winning the 2024 Schuylkill League championship.

Game Summary

PIAA Boys’ Basketball

Class 3A First Round

At Universal Audenried, Philadelphia 

MAHANOY AREA (66) — Sendatch 0 0-0 0, Mayberry 3 0-0 9, Yedsena 10 6-10 32, Zawada 4 8-13 19, Rhoades 0 0-0 0, A. Bowman 0 0-0 0, Oblas 0 0-0 0, Green 0 0-0 0, Zilker 2 0-4 4, C. Bowman 0 0-0 0, Gallagher 0 2-2 2. Totals 19 16-29 66.

AUDENRIED CHARTER (80) — Cole 6 0-1 13, Clarke 2 0-0 5, Smith 8 6-7 22, Daniels 0 1-2 1, Kelly-Postell 1 4-4 7, Warren-Jones 1 1-2 3, Fane 0 0-0 0, Lee 6 0-0 12, Holmes-Mateo 1 0-0 2, Kennah 6 1-2 15, Rose 0 0-0 0, Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 31 13-18 80.

Mah (21-5)      18 … 16 … 14 …18 — 66

Aud (12-14)    22 … 18 … 18 … 22 — 80

3-Point FG: Yedsena 6, Zawada 3, Mayberry 3, Kennah 2, Cole, Clarke, Kelly-Postell