KENNEDY CATHOLIC 58, ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 44

D9Sports.com powered by the RRR Roadhouse

March 17, 2009 - PIAA Boys' Class A Semifinals at Clarion University

PIAA Playoff Home Page

By Chris Rossetti

CLARION – Elk County Catholic’s magic ran out Tuesday night, as the Crusaders fell to Kennedy Catholic 58-44 in the PIAA Class A semifinals Tuesday night at Clarion University’s Tippin Gym.

“They out toughed us tonight,” ECC head coach Aaron Straub said. “They were better than we were. They were stronger. They guarded the ball better.”

Kennedy Catholic (26-2), which won in the Western Finals after losing the last two seasons in the game, used runs of 11-1 in the second quarter and 14-5 at the start of the third quarter to build a 42-29 lead after three quarters.

“We didn’t start the second half very well or very smart,” Straub said. “We gave the ball way, and instead of running our stuff, we just got away from what got us here.”

ECC (23-8) had no real answers for Kennedy Catholic senior guard Kyle Randall and senior forward Audra Jones. Randall, who came into the game averaging 25.4 ppg scored a game-high 29 on the Crusaders while adding four assists and three rebounds. Jones, meanwhile, netted 16 points, nearly seven above his season average, while completing a double-double with 10 rebounds including five offensive boards.

“We knew they had two very good players,” Straub said. “Randall is a great guard and Jones is a really solid post player.”

The Crusaders offense also struggled connecting on just 39.5 percent (15 of 38) of its shots including 31.8 percent (7 of 22) in the second half.

“We were just disorganized on offense,” Straub said. “In retrospect, we needed to win this game 42-40 or something like that. We had a really difficult time scoring. I’m not quite sure why that was.”

Kennedy Catholic struggled some on offense in the first half shooting 37.5 percent (9 of 24), but the Golden Eagles heated up in the second half hitting 52.6 percent (10 of 19) of their shots.

“The (game) plan wasn’t as solid as it could have been,” Straub said. “We scouted (them) and watched team play matchup zones. We felt we were good enough to come out and play man against them. That’s what we are and what we are all about. In retrospect, maybe it would have been better to come out and play a matchup and take our chances that way. But Randall made shots. That’s the way that is.”

ECC started strong and led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter.

“I thought our start was really good,” Straub said. “I thought we were very much prepared for the game.”

Things started to change for the Crusaders in the second quarter when Kennedy Catholic scored the first nine points of the quarter to take a 20-15 lead that eventually grew to 22-15 before ECC was able to get back within five, 24-19, at halftime.  

But any thought of a Crusader comeback in the third quarter vanished when the Golden Eagles started the second half with the 14-5 run to take a 38-24 lead midway through the third quarter. That lead eventually grew to 15 points, 46-31, three minutes into the fourth quarter.

“They just thrived on the lead,” Straub said. “We knew they were very good with the lead. This was a game that we had to play with the lead. The pressure they put on us was just a little bit too much tonight.”

ECC, though, wasn’t quite down, as the Crusaders went on a 7-1 run to cut the lead to nine, 47-38, with 3:46 to play invoking thoughts of DuBois Central Catholic’s rally from 18 down against Kennedy Catholic in the semifinals two years ago. ECC then nearly had got it down to seven when Robby Wortman came oh so close to picking off an inbounds pass. The ball, however, ended up in Kennedy’s possession.

“I don’t know if it would have made a difference if we had come up with that steal,” Straub said. “They are so good with the lead, and they make their free throws. I’m not sure (the steal) would have helped. But it would have been interesting to see what would have happened.”

Robby Wortman led ECC with 19 points and nine rebounds, with Higgins adding eight points and nine boards.

“We were playing the last week of the season,” Straub said. “That is a real accomplishment. The only thing we didn’t do was play in the last game of the year. We fell two practices and one game short. That’s what this team did.

“Obviously, to get to where we were took us playing our best basketball at the right time. I’m proud of that. I’m proud of our seniors. I’m proud of how hard they played and what they gave two our program. I’m certainly going to miss them.”

Kennedy Catholic will now play Girard College in the PIAA Title game at 2 p.m. Friday at the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University in State College.

KENNEDY CATHOLIC 58, ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 44

Score by Quarters

Elk Co. Catholic 14 5 10 15 – 44

Kennedy Catholic 11 13 18 16 – 58

Elk County Catholic – 44

Matt Bauer 2 2-2 6, Tyler Herzing 1 0-0 2, Joe Jacob 2 0-0 5, Robby Wortman 7 4-7 19, Nate Higgins 2 4-7 8, Tony Chiodo 1 2-3 4, David Rupprecht 0 0-0 0, Adam Buchheit 0 0-0 0, Tyler Healy 0 0-2 0, Michael Wachter 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 12-21 44.

Kennedy Catholic – 58

Philip Kaikis 1 0-0 2, Kyle Randall 10 7-10 29, Jake Penn 0 0-0 0, Michael Klaric 1 4-8 7, Audra Jones 6 4-5 16, Jesse Hardin 0 0-0 0, Jake Yatsko 1 1-2 4, Dante Vetica 0 0-0 0, Jimmy Hawley 0 0-0 0, Kenny Fill 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 16-25 58.

Three-pointers – ECC 2 (Jacob, Wortman). Kennedy Catholic 4 (Randall 2, Klaric, Yatsko).