The title?

“I Gotta Feeling.”

Ethan Weingart already did.

And, yes, the 6-foot-1 senior was on his way to a “good, good night.”

Pine Valley’s Bryce Sercu (1) puts up a shot while being defended by Westfield’s Wyatt Schuster during Tuesday’s Section VI Class D semifinal at Jamestown Community College. OBSERVER Photo by Scott Kindberg

Weingart scored a career-high 16 points, including eight in critical moments of the third quarter, to lead the Wolverines (21-1) to a 64-50 victory over the Panthers (14-5).

The win advances Westfield into the sectional title game at 6 p.m. Friday against No. 3 Sherman, which knocked off No. 2 Clymer 39-32 in the other semifinal.

Weingart’s effort — he scored seven of his eight field goals on drives to the basket or putbacks — also included seven rebounds and was a perfect complement to the Swanson brothers. Senior Darien finished with 26 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks, and freshman Carson added 14 points and four steals, helping Westfield continue its bid for the program’s first sectional crown since 1999.

The Wolverines wouldn’t have the opportunity to play for the title, however, without Weingart’s performance.

Because as hot as Westfield was to start the game — it shot 11 of 17 in the first quarter to build 24-11 lead — the Panthers didn’t panic. In fact, despite trailing 36-23 at halftime and 38-23 a minute into the third quarter, they clawed their way back, cutting the lead to 40-34 following a jumper by senior Bryce Sercu (24 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals) with about two minutes remaining in the period.

Keeping the game from getting even closer was Weingart, whose 8 points in the period helped offset a Pine Valley rally that was capped by Kordell Oakes’ 3-pointer at the buzzer to keep the Panthers within striking distance, 49-41.

Then Darien Swanson made sure that the one-loss Wolverines would extend their season at least one more game, scoring 11 points in the final period. Pine Valley closed to within six points, 49-43, one final time when Sercu made a steal that he converted into a layup with 7¢ minutes remaining. But that was as close as the Panthers would get as the Wolverines went on a 15-4 run over the next six minutes to secure their title date with Sherman.

NOTES: Carson Swanson scored 10 points in the first quarter to help Westfield build the early lead, but Sercu’s 14 first-half points kept Pine Valley within striking distance until it went on its third-quarter run. … Wyatt Schuster grabbed eight rebounds for the winners. … The Wolverines were playing without Cole Holland, who came up ill earlier Tuesday. … Oakes finished with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Miles Volk chipped in 9 points and 10 boards.

PINE VALLEY (50)

Sercu 11 2 24, Butcher 0 0 0, Gugliemi 0 0 0, Libby 1 0 2, Volk 3 3 9, KoOakes 6 0 15. Totals 21 5 50.

WESTFIELD (64)

Weingart 8 0 16, Barresi 1 0 2, Tuah 0 0 0, DSwanson 8 7 26, CSwanson 6 0 14, Quagliana 0 0 0, HRotunda 0 0 0, Schuster 2 0 4, CRotunda 1 0 2, Whitesell 0 0 0. Totals 26 7 64.

3-point goals–DSwanson 3, KoOakes 3, CSwanson 2.

Pine Valley 11 12 18 9 — 50

Westfield 24 12 13 15 — 64