Kennedy stifles East Forest, 52-25

Leah Mastrian scored 24 points for the Golden Eagles.
By BILL ALBRIGHT
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MEADVILLE -- It didn't take long on Wednesday to see that the Kennedy Catholic High girls basketball team was going to be too tall, too quick and too talented in its matchup with East Forest in the District 10 Class A semifinals .
While the offense struggled in the first half, Kennedy's defense was air-tight for the entire 32 minutes as the Golden Eagles defeated the Bears, 52-25.
Kennedy (23-3) next will meet the winner of the Saegertown-Iroquois game, most likely at Meadville on Saturday afternoon.
"Although we played a total game defensively, I wasn't pleased at all in the first half with our execution on offense," Golden Eagles coach Pat Mastrian said. "Our guards and forwards were like rubber bands. They were just so erratic with what they wanted to do.
"We wanted to push the ball up the court because we are a quick team, but for some reason, we just got out of sync," Mastrian said.
Mastrian adjusted the offense by putting Leah Mastrian inside.
"I told them to get the ball to her and let her dish it out or score from there," Pat Mastrian said. "I think that is what settled us down."
Mastrian scores 24
Leah Mastrian scored eight of her game-high 24 points in the first quarter. She made a couple of 3-pointers early and said a good start is important to her game.
"I usually start every game off really nervous," she said. "I don't know if anyone can notice it, but I am really nervous until I hit my first shot and then I get my confidence."
Kennedy's Teresa Piciotto had an outstanding defensive effort on East Forest's Gretchen Gregg, who will play at Cornell University. Gregg, averaging 22 points per game, was coming off a 33-point effort.
However, Piciotto held her to just one field goal and 11 points.
"We had a game plan coming in and we know Teresa can play defense," Pat Mastrian said. "She has successfully guarded some extremely tough basketball players this year.
"She doesn't say anything about her role in practice because she knows that is her responsibility and she has the quickness to get the job done. The thing that impressed me most was that she [Piciotto] didn't give her [Gregg] any outside shots."
Kendra Radkowski added seven points, nine rebounds and a pair of blocked shots for Kennedy.