CRANBERRY 43, KANE 30

D9Sports.com powered by the RRR Roadhouse

Feb. 27, 2009 - District 9 Class AA Girls' Championship Game

Photo by Eric Elliott 

2009 District 9 Class AA Girls' Championship Game Photo Gallery

By Andy Close

CLARION – Sophomore Sarah Lutz scored 17 points to lead Cranberry to the District 9 Class AA girls’ basketball championship with a 43-30 win over Kane Friday at Clarion University’s Tippin Gym.     

 “This has been a goal the girls have set since the beginning of the season,” said Cranberry head coach Chrissy Shumaker.  “They have worked hard for it. It wasn’t our prettiest game tonight but we got the job done.”

Leading 29-23 going into the fourth quarter, the Berries (21-4) went on a 10-3 run to go up 39-26 with just over four minutes to play effectively putting the game away.  Lutz scored seven of her game-high 17 during the run and capped it with a layup with 4:18 remaining.

“She’s done this off and on for us all year,” said Shumaker.  “The fact that she is so young makes it even better.”

Kane cut the deficit to nine on an Andrea Saquin jumper with 1:54 to play but got no closer, as the Berries were able to hit their free throws down the stretch.

“I’m proud of my girls, they played hard,” said Kane head coach Dave Kiehl.  “We’ve had a good season, and we’re not done yet.”

The Berries stifling defense forced Kane into 23 turnovers and limited Kane’s leading scorer Bree Bergman to five points on just 1 of 10 shooting.

“Our defense saved the day for us,” said Shumaker.  “Our 2-3 extended zone forced them into a lot of turnovers.”

It was a back-and-forth affair for much of the first half with Cranberry leading 13-8 after the first quarter. Lutz had the hot hand early scoring the first five points of the game for the Berries.

Saquin and Natalie Kossack kept the Lady Wolves in the game in the early going scoring 11 of Kane’s 13 first-half points.

Cranberry went on an 8-3 run to close the half to go up 21-13 at intermission.

Heeter had a solid all around game for the Berries scoring eight points to go along with 11 rebounds six blocks and four assists.

“Kane’s game plan was to keep the ball out of her hands,” Shumaker said.  “Hannah did so many other things tonight.  She may not have put the points up, but in my eyes she was just as effective for us tonight.”

Kossack finished with 12 points and eight rebounds for the Lady Wolves, while Saquin added nine points.

With the win the Berries will now face the five seed out of District 7, either Riverside or Washington, in the first round of the PIAA playoffs next weekend. Kane will also be in the PIAA playoffs playing a midweek preliminary round game against the eighth seed out of the WPIAL, either Jeannette or Beaver.

NOTES – This is Cranberry’s second District 9 Class AA title since joining District 9 in 2005. The Berries also won the 2005 title. Cranberry lost to Karns City in last year’s title game … Kane is in the PIAA playoffs for the first time since 1996.

CRANBERRY 43, KANE 30

Score By Quarters

Cranberry 13 8 8 14 – 43

Kane 8 5 10 7 – 30

Kane – 30

Tina Mosier 0 0-0 0, Anna Wismar 0 0-0 0, Ashley Wilson 1 0-0 2, Chelsea Mague 0 0-2 0, Natalie Kossack 6 0-0 12, Andrea Saquin 3 3-6 9, Emily Carlson 0 0-0 0, Chanda Paup 0 0-0 0, Bree Bergman 1 3-6 5, Kalie Walter 1 0-0 2, Drew Victory 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 6-14 30. 

Cranberry – 43

Kylie Mason 1 0-0 2, Laura Heineman 0 0-1 0, Cassie Groner 0 0-0 0, Lindsay Burneisen 3 0-0 7, Chyanne Shuffstall 1 1-2 3, Sarah Lutz 7 0-1 17, Maggie O'Neil 0 5-6 5, Kirsten Neidich 0 0-0 0, Hannah Heeter 4 0-0 8, Alyssa Craft 0 1-2 1, Lauren Hogue 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 7-12 43. 

Three-Pointers:  Cranberry 4 (Lutz 3, Burneisen 1) Kane: None.