`Kennedy Christian (25-5) vs. Williamsburg (30-0)`

By Ed Farrell
Herald Sports Writer

GIRLS= Who:

What: PIAA Class A Western Regional Finals.

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday. (3/19)

Where: Indiana University of Pa.

How qualified: Kennedy, as the District 10 champion, coming off a 34-29 victory over Bishop Carroll; Williamsburg, as the District 6 champion, coming off a 54-39 victory over Southern Huntingdon.

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; Williamsburg _ Jess Gordon, 6-0 sr. center, 15.8; Becky Metzler, 5-5 sr. guard, 10.1; Carrie Hoy, 5-3 jr. guard, 8.9; Annie Parks, 5-6 sr. forward, 6.5; Trisha Lower, 5-7 jr. forward, 9.8; Jess Lilly, 5-11 so. center, 9.8. Carrie Hileman, 5-6 jr. guard, 4.2.

Winner will play: Marian Catholic (26-2)-Columbia (28-2) winner for the PIAA championship, 1 p.m. Saturday, at HersheyPark Arena.

Bonus shots: Kennedy Christian claimed its ninth D-10 title this season, having also won the crown in '75-76, '76-77, '82-83, '83-84, '86-87, '88-89 and '89-90. The Lady Golden Eagles have won six straight since a regular-season finale setback to Class AAA Slippery Rock (60-58) and have won 16 of their last 17 outings. In the D-10 and PIAA playoffs, the Lady Golden Eagles are averaging 51.4 ppg., while yielding 32.0. Kennedy has outscored its opponents by an aggregate 1,596 (53.2 ppg.) to 1,243 (41.4) margin, and has held 11 foes to 30 points or less.

... A year ago, Williamsburg ousted Kennedy in the second round (53-37), rallying from a 14-4 deficit, as Williamsburg head coach Jeff Appleman (15th year, 331-82) gained his 300th career win. He has led his club to the Western Regional finals for the fifth consecutive season. The Lady Blue Pirates also have won the Juniata Valley League the last 5 seasons, amassing 74 consecutive victories.

... Gordon, with a 27-point performance against Southern Huntingdon, has exactly 1,000 career points and is headed to Towson (Md.) State.

... Two years ago W-burg lost to Lebanon Catholic in the PIAA title tilt. Two members of that club, Jill Tate and Abby Hoy, have younger sisters on this year's team, Julie and Carrie. Jill Tate had been a starter at Duquesne, and Abby Hoy, after setting a school standard (1,967 points) at Williamsburg, matriculated at Akron, but sustained a preseason knee injury.

... Williamsburg (population 1,200, located about 18 miles southeast of Altoona with an annual graduating class of approximately 50) lost last year in the western finals to Bishop Carroll (43-40).

... Appleman said, ``We really pride ourselves on our defense (allowing 30.5 ppg.), and I know Kennedy is very similar to us. They're the best defensive team I've seen all year. It will definitely be each team trying to impose one person's will on the other.

... We like to pressure full court and half court to try to get an up-tempo game. I'd imagine their goal is to keep the game in the 30s and our goal is to get it in the 50s so, like I said, it's gonna be a struggle of wills.''

... Williamsburg is 141-9 in the last five years, prompting Appleman to note, ``We're, pretty much, accustomed to playing in this game (west finals).

... I think our experience will pay off, but we'll see. They're a young team,'' he said of Kennedy, ``but they play hard

... and it looks to me they're here because they deserve to be here, so it should be an interesting game.''

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Updated March 18, 1997
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