Published Saturday, March 20, 1999 
"I thought our kids showed great character,'' Kennedy Christian High School head coach Joe Votino said following his Golden Eagles' 65-51 PIAA Class A win over Homer Center Friday night.
By virture of the victory, Kennedy (22-6) will take on WPIAL District 7 titlist Duquesne -- a 50-49 winner over Elk County Christian -- Tuesday at a site and time to be announced for the Western Regional championship.
Votino was heartened by how his club answered the bell in the final round because, " ... when we were only up six (48-42 with 5:04 remaining), we were able to win a close game, which we sometimes didn't get done early in the year.''
The veteran mentor was referring to a mid-season non-league loss at Campbell Memorial that has served as the impetus for a resurgence in his club, which has won a dozen straight and 19 of its last 20.
"There was a point in time there that we stopped playing,'' Votino said in reference to an 11-3 Homer Center spree that trimmed a 45-31 Kennedy lead with 42 seconds remaining in the third period to six during the opening three minutes of the fourth frame.
"Great game for our kids, we needed a close game. And I have the utmost respect for this Homer Center team; they very well could have beaten us tonight,'' Votino emphasized. " ... we needed a close game because we haven't had one for, probably, the past six or seven games and I thought our kids showed great character, when we were only up six and we were able to win a close game.
"That's why it was so important that we needed to win a close game like that, because that definitely put aside that Campbell Memorial game. I think that's been in the back of our mind, even though it was quite a while ago.''
Marcus Oatis' 9-point, 5-rebound first frame staked Kennedy to a 15-10 first-quarter lead. Then after missing the entire second stanza owing to two quick personal fouls, he finished what he started by scoring 7 points during the decisive fourth frame as the Golden Eagles outscored Homer Center, 17-9, during the game's final 4:46. Oatis fueled that spurt with a traditional 3-point play.
"When you expend a lot of energy, you know what happens in those circumstances -- a lot of times you come up short -- and we didn't come out with that type of intensity and energy in the first half or I thought we would've been in better position in the second half,'' summarized Homer Center head coach George Sulkosky.
He was referring to the game's first 16 minutes, during which time his club connected on only 7 of 20 floor shots -- compared with Kennedy's 15-for-28 marksmanship -- and was outrebounded by a 20-8 margin.
Whereas Oatis orchestrated the quick start, Gary Satterwhite keyed Kennedy during the second stanza with a 10-point, 5-rebound performance that enabled the Golden Eagles to earn a 32-18 halftime margin.
With Keenan Christiansen and John Reimold tallying five and four points, respectively, Kennedy gradually garnered a 45-31 bulge with 42 ticks remaining in the third period. However, the Wildcats posted the first six points of the fourth frame before Christiansen emerged from Kennedy's initial timeout by launching a trey that re-established a 10-point margin.
But Matt Fabin's baseline drive and a Mike Hilliard banked bucket drew Homer Center within six with 5:04 left, though that was as close as the 'Cats would come.
Five quick Oatis points, coupled with 11-for-15 fourth-quarter free-throw marksmanship, proved decisive as the Golden Eagles advanced to the Western Regional final for the third consecutive campaign.
"Marcus Oatis was unbelievable tonight; he's been doing that for the past 12 games,'' Votino gushed. "He definitely set tempo on the defensive pressure. ... He was really upset when he got his second foul (with 1:54 remaining in the first quarter), 'cause he doesn't like to sit, but he also made the play of the game when Homer Center cut it to six, and he took the ball to the rack, got fouled and hit a shot.''
On the horizon awaits Duquesne.
"Very athletic, very talented. ... They have two 6-5 kids inside,'' Votino related. "At one point in time, I thought Duquesne was definitely the team to beat, but then Elk County Christian caught my eye.''
But his own club is the focal point of his attention at this juncture.
"Great team effort tonight, great defensive effort. ... The whole team played very well,'' Votino summarized.
Notes: Kennedy connected on exactly half of its 50 floor shots, compared with a 19-for-45 effort for Homer Center (20-9). ... Oatis and Christiansen each bucketed 16 points, while Reimold added a 15-point, 7-rebound outing and Satterwhite a 10-point, 8-rebound performance. ... the Golden Eagles enjoyed a 33-22 edge on the glass. ... Fabin and Hilliard led Homer Center with 15 and 11 points. ... Kennedy committed eight turnovers, one more than the Wildcats.
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PIAA WESTERN REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
KENNEDY CHRISTIAN 15 17 13 20 65
HOMER CENTER 10 8 14 19 51
KENNEDY CHRISTIAN -- Oatis 5-6-10-16; R. McElhinny 1-2-2-4; J. Reimold 6-2-2-15; Christiansen 6-2-2-16; Hurl 1-0-0-2; Satterwhite 5-0-2-10; D. McElhinny 1-0-0-2; Hockett 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Christiansen 2, J. Reimold 1. Totals: 25-12-18-65.
HOMER CENTER -- Hilliard 4-2-2-11; Fabin 7-12-15; Radakovich 2-0-0-6; Skultety 2-1-2-6; Yanoschick 3-0-0-7; Crozier 1-3-4-5; Kotzur 0-1-2-1; Ross 0-0-0-0; Bradley 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Radakovich 2, Hilliard 1, Skultety 1. Totals: 19-8-12-51.
