Kennedy Catholic spoils Indians' celebration

Senior Nolan Reimold scored 20 points.
By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
INDIANA, Pa. -- Kennedy Catholic senior Nolan Reimold was stewing, a defensive storm was brewing and an early celebration proved to be Conemaugh's undoing.
Reimold picked up his third foul with 2:40 left in the first quarter and had to sit for the rest of the first half in Friday's PIAA Class A quarterfinal against Conemaugh Township.
By the time Reimold headed to the locker room, the Indians had a 24-22 halftime lead -- and started celebrating.
"They fueled our energy for the second half with their end of the half celebrating," Reimold, who had just six points in the first half, said. "I knew I had to do something to spark us.
"The spirit took over for me and I just kept going to the hoop."
Reimold scored 14 points in the second half, including six during a key 7-0 third-quarter run, as Kennedy blitzed Conemaugh in the second half to rally for a 60-33 victory at the Indiana University Memorial Fieldhouse.
The Golden Eagles (26-4) advance to Tuesday's semifinal against Monessen at a site to be determined.
Better defense: "At the half I told the kids we need to pick up the defensive tempo," Kennedy coach Tim Loomis said. "When we did, we created turnovers, didn't allow any second shots and continually pushed the ball down the court."
Reimold, who has played on three state title teams, finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and four steals and did not commit a foul in the second half.
Eagle senior Dan McElhinny added 17 points, five assists and four steals. Phil Doyle added six points and seven rebounds.
"We were a little nervous in the first half, but in the second half we let our man defense take over and that was the difference," McElhinny said.
Kennedy went on the 7-0 run to make it 29-24 with 4:30 left in the third quarter. The Eagles, who forced 12 turnovers in the third, never trailed again.
Kennedy outscored the Indians 20-6 in the fourth quarter to turn the game into a rout.
"Kennedy picked up their defensive pressure and extended it to the wings," said 18-year Indian coach Scott Cable, who won his 300th game on Tuesday. "They got hot and Reimold and Doyle just wore us out on the boards."
Conemaugh freshman Andy Byer scored 16 points and his brother, Jeff, added eight points.
"We wanted to keep the ball out of Andy Byer's hands," Loomis said. "He's one of the best freshmen I've seen in a long time."
Kennedy out-rebounded Conemaugh 40-27 and held a 22-10 turnover advantage.
The Eagles shot 43 percent from the field (22-of-51) and were 14-of-22 from the line. Conemaugh (20-10) shot just 27 percent from the field (13-of-48) and was 5-of-10 from the line.