Former Farrell High School basketball coach Eddie McCluskey, who guided the Steelers to seven state championship during his legendary tenure, would be pleased for one of his most prized pupils, Joe Votino.

Votino's Kennedy Christian High School basketball team successfully defended its PIAA Class A crown Friday afternoon via a 78-51 victory over Bishop Hannan at Hersheypark Arena, Hershey, Pa.

The Commonwealth crown was Kennedy's second straight and fourth overall during Votino's 17-year tenure.

Votino served a one-year apprenticeship under McCluskey's tutelage during the 1981-82 campaign at Kennedy before assuming the reins the following season. His teams have compiled a composite 364-130 record under his direction and appeared in five state finals.

Kennedy Coach Joe Votino congratulates John Reimold after Friday's championship victory in Hershey. (David E. Dale/Herald)

"Yea, I think he would be (proud), yes,'' Votino, his raspy voice dropping an octave to a reverent tone, said of McCluskey. "I work hard. (He and his assistant coaches watched film of Bishop Hannan until 3 a.m. following Tuesday's western regional win over Duquesne). I wouldn't say I'm the most knowledgeable coach around but I know I work pretty hard -- that's the way my parents raised me."

Reflecting their coach's persona, the Golden Eagles garnered the win with a yeoman-like performance, outre- bounding Bishop Hannan 33-25, coercing the Lancers into a 21-for-52 (40.3 percent) shooting performance, and converting 23 of 28 free throws, led by Ryan McElhinny's 11-for-12 marksmanship.

Kennedy (24-6), which led 13-6 at the end of the first quarter, 28-21 at intermission and 47-36 at the third-quarter turn, was led by junior John Reimold's game-high 28-points, seven-rebounds performance and classmate McElhinny's 13 markers.

Freshman Gerry McNamara led the District 2 titlist Lancers (29-3) with 21 points, but he was Bishop Hannan's lone double-digit scorer.

Kennedy Christian also won PIAA Class A crowns in 1986, '87 and '98, and this year defeated a handful of state playoff opponents by an aggregate 358-227 margin, an average of 71.7-45.5 points per game en route to its title.

13-6 at the end of the first quarter, 28-21 at intermission and 47-36 at the third-quarter turn, was led by junior John Reimold's game-high 28-points, seven-rebounds performance and classmate McElhinny's 13 markers.

Freshman Gerry McNamara led the District 2 titlist Lancers (29-3) with 21 points, but he was Bishop Hannan's lone double-digit scorer.

Kennedy Christian also won PIAA Class A crowns in 1986, '87 and '98, and this year defeated a handful of state playoff opponents by an aggregate 358-227 margin, an average of 71.7-45.5 points per game en route to its title.

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Updated March 27, 1999
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