The Herald, Sharon,
PA Published Friday, March 14, 1997

WINTER SPORTS Boys basketball

PLAYOFFS AT A GLANCE

Kennedy Christian (21-8) vs. Saegertown (25-4)

By Brad Isles
and Ed Farrell

Herald Sports Writers

  • What: PIAA Class A Western Regional semifinals.

  • When: 6:30 p.m. today.

  • Where: Grove City College.

  • How qualified: Kennedy, as the District 10 3rd-place finisher, coming off a 64-31 victory over Homer Center; Saegertown, as the District 10 champion, coming off a 70-55 victory over Geibel.

  • Top players:

    Kennedy Christian _ Carlos Oatis, 5-7 jr. point guard, 7.5 ppg.; Lamar Jefferson, 5-8 jr. guard, 5.5; Erik Hemsing, 6-0 sr. swingman, 12.7; Damon Clayton, 6-4 jr. forward, 11.6; Justin Green, 6-3 jr. forward, 9.2; Mike Scullin, 6-0 sr. forward; Ryan McElhinny, 5-8 fr. point guard; John Reimold, 6-4 fr. forward; Bill Merrifield, 5-10 sr. forward;

    Saegertown _ Keith Grubbs, 5-10 sr. forward, 7.8; Jason Shea, 5-9 jr. point guard, 12.3, 4.5 apg., Dave Hart 6-2, sr. forward, 11.6; Justin Johnson, 6-2 sr. forward, 15.0; T.J. Sisley, 5-10 sr. guard, 5.6; Dave Stainbrook, 5-8 sr. guard; Jason Edge, 6-3 jr. center, 4.6.

  • Winner will play: Tuesday against the Bishop Guilfoyle (18-11)-Sewickley Academy (21-8) winner in the PIAA Class A Western Regional finals.

  • Bonus shots: Second-year head coach Randy White's Panthers are enjoying a banner season in Saegertown cage annals, with the D-10 title and the state playoff win over Western Beaver (68-49) being the first such accomplishments in the history of the boys' program.

    ... White served as girls' coach at Cambridge Springs before moving to Saegertown, where he was Chuck Swick's assistant for three years before being promoted. In White's initial season at the helm, Saegertown ended 10-14. A couple of summers ago, White served as a Keystone State Games' coach of a Junior Division team that included Kennedy's Lamar Jefferson, Ryan McElhinny and Jason Monsman, and White and his Kennedy Christian counterpart, Joe Votino, have worked together at team camps in the past.

    ... In the postseason, Saegertown is averaging 66.4 ppg., while allowing 50 ppg. Its win over Geibel was, ``the best game we've played all year,'' according to White, who added regarding his club's postseason spree, ``We've gained confidence since that time (the D-10 win over Kennedy)''.

    ... Shea is averaging 15.8 ppg. in the postseason, and he and Johnson have connected on 24 and 36 3-point field goals, respectively.

    ... Grubbs has posted a pair of double-digit postseason games, including 14 in the win over Geibel, while Edge added an 11-point, 6-rebound performance in that outing, and Hart tallied respective 20- and 23-point performances against West Middlesex and Western Beaver.

    ... Saegertown finished 8-3 against AA competition this season, including wins over playoff qualifiers Vision Quest and West Middlesex. Its lone game against AAA competition resulted in a setback to Titusville (72-66).

    ... During Votino's tenure, Kennedy and Saegertown have met only twice: Kennedy claimed a victory in the '93-94 D-10 quarterfinals (49-37), while the Panthers rallied from an 8-point fourth-quarter deficit to post a 56-53 triumph in the D-10 semifinals 21/2 weeks ago.

    ... ``I expect both teams will play hard and well, but I think it will come down to execution: who can get the best shots the most times,'' White said of tonight's rematch.

    ... This is the fifth consecutive season and 10th time in the last dozen years Kennedy Christian has advanced at least as far as the PIAA quarterfinals. ... In its five postseason games, Kennedy is permitting 43.2 ppg., while averaging 65.8.

    ... The Golden Eagles have won 12 of their last 14 games, with the lone losses occurring to D-10 finalists West Middlesex and Saegertown.
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    Updated March 14, 1997
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