Sports

The Trojanettes earned a trip to Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center for the PIAA Class A girls championship by knocking off Claysburg-Kimmel, 52-37, on Wednesday night in Pitt-Johnstown's Sports Center.

In years past, when state title games were played in Hershey, North Catholic's reign as western champion and advancement to the championship venue would have been celebrated by a rain of Hershey Kisses.

On this night, coach Molly Rottmann and her players had to settle for hugs and congratulations.

"There's nothing to throw, but it doesn't matter where it is, we're happy to be going," Rottmann said. "As a coach, I've never been here. I'm lucky to be here, and we're not done yet by any means."

This was the closest contest the WPIAL champs had in their four-game march through the brackets. Although North Catholic never was able to bury Claysburg, it did keep a working margin all the way, after breaking away from an 8-8 tie in the first quarter. North Catholic went on to lead, 14-8, after one quarter.

Amy Longo, a 5-foot-11 junior forward, had 10 points in the first half as North Catholic pulled out to a 21-13 edge at the break. She equaled that production in the third quarter alone, posting up with deadly proficiency against the smaller Claysburg defenders and finishing with a game-high 20 points.

"We were just trying to find the open person," Longo said. "I kept posting up, and they found me."

There was more to it than that. Rottmann's film study of Claysburg showed a 2-3 zone that had a habit of getting extended.

"We said we could get someone on the block open," Rottmann said. "When we found Amy on the block one on one, she really finished it off for us."

North Catholic guard April Austin helped finish off the win with seven fourth-quarter points, giving her 12.

Claysburg (25-6), the third seed from District 6, was led by Lacey Claar's 18 points.

North Catholic (28-4) will meet District 6 champion Bishop Guilfoyle at noon Saturday for the state championship.

"It means so much to get there," Longo said. "I'm so excited."

By contrast, part of what got North Catholic a win on this night was calm, patient play. Guards Erika Cottle and Austin controlled the tempo well, with Austin particularly effective at feeding Longo for layups at crucial junctures.

"We did a better job of that. Sometimes we're not patient," Rottmann said. "We were running things and knowing where to look. You would hope at this time of the year you'd be doing that, and we are."

Rottmann repeated that, for all the success to date, unfinished business remains for this season.

"It is a golden opportunity that you couldn't have expected," she said of the chance to play for a state title. "I don't think you can expect anything in high school girls basketball."

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