KANE 46, MONITEAU 27

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March 2, 2010 - District 9 Class AA Girls' Semifinals

By Chris Rossetti

CLARION – Kane moved into the District 9 Class AA girls’ championship game for the second time in as many years thanks to a 46-27 win over Moniteau in the semifinals Tuesday night at Clarion High School.

The Lady Wolves (21-4) allowed Moniteau (14-10) only eight first-half points including none in the first quarter while building a 20-8 halftime lead.

“Defense, defense, defense,” Kane head coach Dave Kiehl said. “The girls played terrific defense again tonight. They are listening and playing their best basketball the last couple of weeks. Andrea (Saquin) held their leading scorer (Jenna) McCorry to no field goals and just one point. Natalie (Kossack) did a great job on their second-leading scorer (Alex) Guercio, holding her to only three field goals. Everyone played tough defense, and we controlled the boards.”

Leading by 12 at the break, Kane played Moniteau even throughout the third quarter before the Lady Warriors got within 11, 32-21, late in the quarter. Emily Carlson, though, made sure Moniteau didn’t get any thoughts of a fourth-quarter comeback by hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Lady Wolves a 35-21 lead going to the final eight minutes. Kane then outscored Moniteau 11-6 in the final quarter.

“That was a big 3-pointer,” Kiehl said. “Moniteau made a run at us in the third quarter and that took the wind out of their sails.”

Kaila Jamerson led Kane with 13 points with Saquin adding eight and Kossack, Ashley Wilson and Kalie Walter six each.

“We had balanced scoring again,” Kiehl said. “Kaila and Emily came off the bench to score 18 points.”

Kossack added five rebounds for Kane, while Walter had five rebounds and three assists. Saquin chipped in with seven rebounds, six steals and four assists, Wilson added five helpers, Jamerson eight rebounds and two blocks and Drew Victory four rebounds and two blocks to go with two points.

Amanda Sloan paced Moniteau with nine points, while Guercio had seven.

Kane will now rematch with Cranberry in the District 9 title game at 6 p.m. Friday at Clarion University’s Tippin Gym. The Lady Berries beat Kane  43-30 in last year’s title game.

NOTES – This is the fourth District 9 Class AA playoff appearance for Kane. The Lady Wolves are looking for their first title having been runner-ups in 1981, 1996 and 2009 … Kane beat Moniteau 41-38 in the semifinals … With the win, Kane qualifies for the PIAA playoffs. The Lady Wolves would have to play a play-in game Tuesday if they lose the title game Friday. If they win the title contest, they would get a first-round game next weekend (March 12-13).

KANE 46, MONITEAU 27

Score by Quarters

Moniteau 0 8 13 6 – 27

Kane 12 8 15 11 – 46

Moniteau – 27

A. Brehm 0 6-6 6, McCorry 0 1-4 1, Sloan 4 0-0 9, Guercio 3 1-4 7, Harding 0 2-2 2, K. Brehm 1 0-0 2. Totals 8 10-16 27.

Kane – 46

Jamerson 6 1-1 13, Perry 0 0-0 0, Carlson 2 0-0 5, Kossack 3 0-0 6, Walter 3 0-0 6, D. Saquin 0 0-0 0, Mosier 0 0-0 0, A. Saquin 3 2-2 8, Wilson 1 4-5 6, Paup 0 0-0 0, Victory 1 0-1 2. Totals 19 7-9 46.

Three-pointers – Moniteau 1 (Sloan). Kane 1 (Carlson).