ST. MARYS, Pa. – After five consecutive losses over a six-year span in the AML Title Game, the Kane girls’ basketball team is back on top of the conference after a 40-33 win over defending champion Elk County Catholic Saturday night at St. Marys High School.
(Photo by Tessa Boschert. Check out more of Boschert’s work here)
“It was a great team win,” Kane head coach Dave Kiehl said. “All 10 players who played contributed. It wasn’t easy, as I knew it wouldn’t be playing our archrival, ECC. It’s very tough to beat a quality team three times. Our girls rose to the challenge and prevailed. I’m so proud of them. This is another goal and step that the girls have talked about since last summer. We still have more goals/steps to take care of.”
Kane started fast and led 11-6 after one quarter before ECC got back into the game at halftime down two, 18-16.
The Lady Crusaders (15-9) then clawed back within a point, 22-21, midway through the third quarter before the Lady Wolves expanded the lead to three, 27-24, going to the fourth.
Kane then started the fourth quarter on a 9-4 run to take an eight-point lead, 36-28, with 3:37 to play.
ECC didn’t go away without a fight and close to within five, 38-33, with less than 30 seconds left. But a missed free throw followed by two foul shots by the Lady Wolves put the game on ice.
Ella Marconi had another double-double for Kane with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Hannah Buhl added eight points and six assists, Trinity Clark had seven points and five rebounds and Audri Marconi chipped in four points and five boards.
Five different ECC players each scored six points including Sady VanAlstine, Makenzie Cashmer, Josie Smith, Taylor Newton and Gabbi Rohr.
NOTES: ECC beat Kane 40-34 in last year’s title game after DuBois Central Catholic knocked off the Lady Wolves, 51-46, in 2016. ECC also topped Kane in three straight seasons from 2012-2014 winning 38-25 in 2012, 42-39 in 2013 and 51-37 in 2014 … The Lady Crusaders had won five of the last six titles also beating DCC, 49-30, in 2015 … Kane’s last title came in 2011 when it topped ECC 40-39. The Lady Wolves also beat ECC, 40-37, in 2010 for the championship.
KANE 40, ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 33
Score by Quarters
ECC 6 10 8 9 – 33
Kane 11 7 9 13 – 40
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC – 33
Sady VanAlstine 2 0-0 6, Makenzie Cashmer 2 0-0 6, Josie Smith 1 4-12 6, Taylor Newton 3 0-0 6, McKayla Wilson 1 1-4 3, Gabbi Rohr 2 1-2 6. Totals 11 6-18 33.
KANE – 40
Trinity Clark 2 3-6 7, Rachael Morgan 4 1-1 9, Caitlin O’Hara 1 0-0 2, Hannah Buhl 3 0-1 8, Ella Marconi 4 2-6 10, Emily Bucheit 0 0-0 0, Sierra Hillman 0 0-0 0, Audri Marconi 2 0-0 4, Sarri Swanson 0 0-0 0, Ainsley Saf 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 6-14 40.
Three-pointers: ECC 5 (VanAlstine 2, Cashmer 2, Rohr). Kane 2 (Buhl 2)
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