By Ed Farrell
Herald Assistant Sports Editor
ERIE — Cassie Fill had a feeling, so she went with it. And that, in part, keyed Kennedy Catholic High girls basketball team to another District 10 title.
Fill fired in a 3-point field goal from the deep corner of Gannon University’s Hammermill Center with 16.7 seconds remaining in regulation Saturday afternoon, and the Lady Golden Eagles eventually edged Eisenhower 36-34 in triple-overtime.
Fill finished the regular season with 190 points and has added 12- and 13-point playoff games. But until Saturday she had not heaved a 3-point attempt, much less connected for one.
“I don’t think I’ve ever shot a ‘three’ in a game, but I’ve been working on them, just in case. So I guess ... I don’t know ... when the ball got passed to me (by Marina Wareham), why not try it? It went in. ... I just kind’ve saw the opportunity, and I took it,” the shy senior said, relating she was not one of the primary options on the play.
“I got the ball and I don’t know what possessed me to shoot it, but I just shot the ball and it went it. So I was lucky, I guess,” Fill related.
“Cassie Fill has been our workhorse all year long,” praised 2nd-year Kennedy coach Tom Burns. “She’s been that third-leading or second-leading high scorer every game, but she finally had her day. She hit a big three there. I don’t remember her hitting a three all year long,” Burns admitted, “but I can tell you right now, she was popping them in practice out on the arc, and I was like, ‘Man, we need to get Cassie Fill the ball.’ And sure enough, when we needed it most, she dropped one.” Tied at 29 at the end of regulation, the teams traded turnovers and times-out during the ensuing, extra 12 minutes.
Kennedy’s Marissa Carry connected for a triple with 2:44 remaining in the initial 4-minute session, but Eisenhower’s Stefanie Santo scored a putback with 10.4 ticks to play. Then in attempting to follow up a teammate’s miss at the buzzer, she was fouled by Fill and converted the back end of a 2-shot situation, drawing Eisenhower even at 32.
The 2nd OT ended in a scoreless stalemate. But approximately a minute into the 3rd overtime period Fill fired in a set shot from the wing and Caitlin Lenhart later added what proved to be the decisive digits with her 6th and 7th freebies of the game with 51 ticks to play. Lenhart lent flawless 7-for-7 free-throw shooting which was crucial to Kennedy, as Eisenhower ended 6 for 12.
Eisenhower’s Emma West’s left-wing shot eased Eisenhower within 36-34 with approximately 35 seconds left. With Kennedy clinging to that lead the Lady Golden Eagles committed their 21st miscue with 25.9 seconds, and Eisenhower head coach Dave Allenson summoned a timeout. But in the waning seconds West’s potential game-winning shot went awry and the long loose ball was recovered by Wareham at the buzzer, clinching Kennedy’s 16th D-10 Class A crown.
“It feels awesome!” Fill admitted. “I’ve been wanting District 10 since freshman year. ... The girls worked really hard. All the seniors really wanted it, and all the underclassmen really helped out getting us ready, and everyone was prepared, so we’re excited to win.”
“Last year, I just wasn’t prepared, I wasn’t as prepared as I was this year,” Burns recalled regarding his initial season at Kennedy’s helm when Eisenhower edged KC 41-31 in the semifinals. “But I took the time, we watched films together, team and coaches. ... This year, we came up here and executed.
“This is absolutely wonderful!” Burns continued. “For (school super intendent) Pete Iacino and Kennedy Catholic, I’m glad to give them what they’re used to seeing.”
Notes: Kennedy (18-5) connected on 13 of 36 (36.2 percent) floor shots, while Eisenhower ended 13 for 53 (24.5). ... With Fill, Lenhart and Wareham evenly dividing 21 rebounds, KC claimed a 34-27 edge on the glass. ... The Lady Knights (14-11) were led by Santo’s 10 tallies and game-high 9 caroms and West’s 11 points. ... Eisenhower ended with only 12 turnovers. ... KC’s Brittany Charsar and Eisenhower’s Meghan Stanton both dished out 6 assists. ... It was incorrectly reported in The Herald earlier this week that KC girls cagers did not win a playoff game during the ’06-07 season under former head coach Gloria Pacsi. In fact, KC claimed a 49-25 opening-round win over Cochranton, but bowed to Farrell 72-35 in the semifinals to finish 12-14.
———
DISTRICT 10
CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP
EISENHOWER 10 2 11 6 3 0 2 34
KENNEDY 10 7 6 6 3 0 4 36
EISENHOWER — Sanders 0-0-0-0, Lundmark 1-0-0-3, Santo 4-2-5-10, Hollabaugh 1-0-1-3, Stanton 1-0-1-3, Sherry 2-3-4-7, West 5-1-2-11. 3-pt. goals: Lundmark 1, Stanton 1. Totals: 13-6-12-34.
KENNEDY CATHOLIC — Wareham 4-0-0-9, Carry 2-0-0-5, Lenhart 1-7-7-9, Fill 6-0-0-13, Charsar 0-0-0-0, Hawley 0-0-0-0. 3-pt. goals: Wareham 1, Fill 1, Carry 1. Totals: 13-7-7-36.
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