WESTERN PA. Kennedy Catholic gets big lead, downs Farrell

The defending Class A state champion seized a 20-2 and went on to a 58-47 win.
By BILL ALBRIGHT
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
FARRELL -- It is a whole new season, there are a lot of new faces in the lineup, but the results were much the same for Kennedy Catholic's girls basketball team.
Coming off a year that saw them win a PIAA Class A state title, the Golden Eagles kept things rolling Monday when they jumped out to a huge first-quarter lead and cruised to a 58-47 win over Farrell.
During the first eight minutes, Kennedy Catholic (2-0), paced by 10 points from Becca Gasiewicz, out-scored the Steelers 20-2.
Gasiewicz led all scorers with 19 points.
Strategy: "We had talked about coming out strong in the beginning of the game," Kennedy coach Pat Mastrian said. "In the last game we played, we didn't do that.
"We played a good third and fourth quarter in Friday's game, so I looked at our strong start as a big improvement because we came out of the blocks playing hard."
The Steelers opened the second period with an 11-point run to get their deficit back to under 10 points.
From that point on, the teams traded points over the final 3:49 of the first half, and Kennedy Catholic took a 33-22 lead at the break.
"We were able to get the big lead, but then they hit a few shots and we missed some lay-ups," said Mastrian. "Missing the lay-ups let them back in the game, and that got their adrenaline up.
"Their emotions got them back in the game and sort of calmed us down and it turned into a good game."
Liked team play: Although disappointed with the loss, Farrell coach Ed Turosky wasn't disappointed with his team's play.
"Getting that far behind early in the game is a tough way to play the game, but I am just extremely proud of the way our girls fought back," Turosky said.
"They could have quit after that first quarter, but they were able to hit a couple of shots and that kept them going," Turosky said.
"Once they got that little bit of confidence, it seemed to turn things around for them. They started playing harder on the defensive end."
Turosky was quick to point out that the experience his girls picked up in other sports helped them keep their composure to make the comeback.
"These kids have been a part of state championship teams in volleyball as well as a good softball program and they are real tough competitors," Turosky said. "The kids are starting to believe in themselves."
With Farrell still in the contest in the final period, the Eagles went back to running the patient offense, and as a result, got some easy buckets.
New experience: "That is what I mean when I say that tonight's game was a real learning experience for us," Mastrian said. "The freeze at the end of the game was something new for us, and I thought the girls did a good job of protecting the ball and running the offense."
Joining Gasiewicz in doubles for the Eagles were Leanne Madden with 18 and Lauren Friedrich with 10.
For Farrell, Maria Ross paced the offensive attack with 15 points.