By Bill Beckner Jr.

Published: Saturday, March 2, 2013, 3:09 p.m.
Updated: Friday, March 29, 2013

Burrell High School's underdog quest to win the WPIAL Class AA boys basketball title ended badly Saturday.

The Buccaneers got off to a slow start and never recovered, losing to defending champion Beaver Falls, 61-33, on Saturday afternoon at Duquesne University's A.J. Palumbo Center.

Burrell (19-7), making its first championship-game appearance in 34 years, fell behind 32-8 by halftime. The Bucs played the fast-paced Tiger even in the fourth quarter, at 18-18, but trailed by as many as 30 in the third quarter.

Beaver Falls, which ran over every other playoff opponent by more than 30 points, won its ninth WPIAL basketball title. The top-seeded Tigers (23-3) took a 15-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.

Senior guard Drew Cook led Beaver Falls with 20 points, while Elijah Cottrill added 14 and Dan Stratton 13.

Burrell was going for its first WPIAL basketball title in the school's 49-year existence.

The Bucs were led by Cole Bush and Pete Spagnolo with 14 point each.

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