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

WINTER SPORTS Girls basketball

PLAYOFFS AT A GLANCE

Kennedy Christian (24-5) vs. Bishop Carroll (25-5)

By Brad Isles
and Ed Farrell

Herald Sports Writers

  • What: PIAA Class A Western Regional semifinals.

  • When: Noon Saturday.

  • Where: Butler High School.

  • How qualified: Kennedy, as the District 10 champion, and defeating Vincentian in the second round, 50-41; Bishop Carroll as the District 6 No. 2 seed, after defeating Mount Alvernia in the second round, 56-49.

  • Top players: Kennedy Christian _ Melanie Giordano, 5-0 sr. guard, 6.1; Colleen Hough, 5-2 sr. guard, 6.0; Jamie Cicuto, 5-11 so. center, 14.1 ppg., 11.5 rpg.; Katie Meier, 5-2 jr. guard, 4.9; Tara Stevens, 5-8 so. forward, 2.9; Sara Laslow, 5-6 so. forward, 6.6; Bishop Carroll _ Natalie Dumm, 5-11 jr. forward; Jill Knapic, 5-8 so. guard; Nicolette Sherwin, 5-6 sr. guard; Amy Smithmyer, 5-6 jr. forward; Bridgette Tremel, 5-6 so. swingman.

  • Winner will play: Saturday against the Williamsburg-Southern Huntingdon winner in PIAA A Western Finals.

  • Bonus shots: Bishop Carroll is the returning state runner-up, losing to Elkland in the Class A final a year ago. Dumm and Knapic are the only two returning starters from last year's team, but five other lettermen returned from that squad.

    ... Tremel is replacing 5-7 sophomore guard Jolene Golden, who tore an anterior cruciate ligament prior to the playoffs.

    ... coach Bob Gongloff is in his seventh year and led his team to its third-straight Appalachian Conference championship.

    ... Carroll lost to Williamsburg (29-0), 53-25, in the D-6 championship game. Kennedy lost to Williamsburg, 53-37, in last year's PIAA second round. ... Kennedy is 7-0 against Class A teams in 1996-97.

    ... Vincentian's 41 are the most points the Lady Golden Eagles' defense has given up since the 60 it surrendered to Slippery Rock in the regular-season finale. Kennedy has allowed more than 41 points only six times all season.

    ... The Lady Royals gave Kennedy its first real scare of the playoffs, leading by four points as late as three minutes left in the game.

    ... Foul shooting has been a problem for the Lady Eagles in the post-season. They are shooting 41 percent (39-for-94) from the first D-10 game through the Vincentian game.

    ... This is the first meeting between Bishop Carroll and Kennedy in Father Rick Tomasone's 12-year tenure.

    ... Kennedy's ``D'' has forced 32 and 16 turnovers, respectively, in its first two PIAA playoff games.

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    Updated March 14, 1997
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