IRISH EYES ARE SMILING AS LADY CATS WIN AND MACI THORNTON GETS 1,000TH (03/14/14)

Going into Thursday’s Clarion – Quigley Catholic playoff game, I couldn’t understand it being moved from Quad-A Fox Chapel’s Gym, to Karns City’s somewhat confined quarters, though KC is somewhat more centrally located for both schools.

But things couldn’t have worked out better. The Bobcat cheering section, which has been doing themes lately (food costumes for the D-9 Title Game; USA, Red, White and Blue for the first playoff game), came decked out wearin’ O the green for St. Patrick’s Day.

(Photo by Chris Ganoe)
Combined Bobcat and Gremlin Student Sections cheer on the Lady Cats

You would’ve guessed you were in Ireland. The section was much larger than usual. Leprechaun magic? Nope. Coach Wiser pointed out to me that the kids at the top of the section were from Karns City.

In a great show of sportsmanship and support, their student section came out en masse, in the mandatory green, to support their KSAC rivals. One Karns City football player Dalton Callihan, even wore a kilt and caubeen (Irish beret). But what else would you expect from a young Irish lad named Callihan?

This huge, combined student section was a major factor in Clarion coming away with a HARD FOUGHT, 41-33 win. It was apparent from the start that the officials were going to let the teams play a tough, physical game, as physical as I may have ever witnessed for a girls game. And when there were times the girls could’ve retreated, the crowd came alive in support.

And did the team respond!

Down 3-0, Maci Thornton, who would go over the 1,000 career mark in the game, hit on a layup off a fast break, with just over a minute left in the first quarter. Grace Kroh, who was a force in the paint all game, followed with a layup with 14 seconds remaining. She was fouled and converted, giving the Lady Cats a 5-3 lead. But Lady Spartan, Kristen Jackson hit a buzzer beater to tie the game at 5-all after one. Kroh and Jackson each scored 13 points on the night, to lead all scorers.

The Bobcats found themselves down by four, 13-9, with under 30 seconds left in the half. But a long jump shot by Lauren Wiser and a layup by Kyla Miles, on a feed by Thornton, tied the game 13-13 going to halftime. Miles, like Kroh, had a strong inside game throughout.

1,000 Point Sorority Sisters – Maci Thornton and Kyla Miles

The 4-0 run extended to a 10-0 run as a Kroh layup, sandwiched between two jump shots by Thornton, gave the Cats a 19-13 lead, to open the second half. The Spartans responded with a 7-0 run to regain the lead, 20-19, their last lead of the game. With baskets by Laken Ganoe and Kroh, Clarion took the lead back at 23-20. Gabrielle Smith hit a free throw, for Quigley, cutting the Cats’ lead to two, 23-21, to close out the third.

Nicki Glenn opened the final period by draining a trey, giving Clarion a 26-21 lead, but an 8-3 run by Quigley tied the game 29-all. The Lady Cats ended the game on a 12-4 run to end the game. Three of the shots were from, where else, inside, by Kroh, Miles and Ganoe.

But in a fitting end to the game, Thornton hit the front end of a one on one, with 1:11 on the clock, giving her 1,000 for her career. The game was halted, Karns City graciously recognized the feat. Then for good measure, Thornton sunk the other free throw, for number 1,001 and the 41-33 victory.

After the game Thornton said, “Yeah, it’s an amazing feeling. I’m more happy that we won, to be honest. Like we really wanted to get back to where we were last year. But, of course, I’m so happy to get my 1,000th tonight. It was a goal of mine since I was little. And in my Junior Year, that’s awesome.”

Of attaining the goal in the same season as Miles, she said, “Oh Yeah, I’m so happy for Kyla, that she got it. It’s an awesome feeling us getting it, in the same year.”

Miles had this to say, “We definitely came out tonight strong. We were definitely determined to beat them and I think with Maci’s thousand points, it was definitely exciting. I’m so happy to be able to share it in one year, to be able to get 1,000 points with her. And all the way around, it was a great night, the fans and everybody playing strong defense, through all four quarters. We definitely came out and we stepped up.”

On the physicality of the game she said, “It was definitely tough down at the post, rebounding. So we definitely had to fight for every ball.” Myles gave a lot of credit to Kroh, “Grace did a really good job on that, rebounding, cleaning up. Altogether, we played a great game.”

(Chris Ganoe Photo)
Laken Ganoe and Grace Kroh making it tough inside

Coach Roger Walter, on refs letting the teams play physical ball, said, “This was a very physical game. It was great because, it was evenly called. It was physical on both ends. The entire game was, ‘Who’s going to play harder?’ We gritted our teeth and we played hard.

“There’s a lot of times in that game, where if things happened earlier in the season, we would have rolled our eyes and made faces and we’d kind of got weakened from. We got tough. Some calls went our way, some calls didn’t. But at the end of the day we kept fighting. Our guts, just the intensity and the feeling, we weren’t going to quit and we weren’t going to lose.”

And of Kroh’s tough play, “Grace Kroh is a perfect example. Played hurt. Took a couple hard hits, tonight. She was not quitting! And we were not losing this game!”

Coach Walter had this to say about the Karns City students cheering for the Cats, “We came in. I saw the sections sitting together, in front. For a second I thought they were going to split us. And all the sudden, they merged together. It’s awesome, to see. You got the gathering of the KSAC. You got the gathering of the public schools. You heard the chant as well as I did.” (Actually it was so loud, in there, I missed it. Coach Walter was referring to  the students cheering, “Public schools! Public schools!”)

Coach Walter added, “A lot of fans have become public school fans and rightly so.”

Thornton had this to say about the joint-student section effort, “Their fan section’s amazing! Our fan section is amazing! So put them together… It had a lot to do with our win tonight… I appreciate Karns City cheering for us and special thanks to our fans as well. We wouldn’t be where we are without them.”

For the Lady Cats Kroh had 13 points, Thornton 11 and Miles had eight. Ganoe chipped in with 4, Glenn addded 3 and Wiser had two points.

Following Jackson’s 13 points, for the Spartans, Liz Duer scored 8 and Kaitlyn Smith had seven.

In a rematch of last year’s State Quarter-Final Game,The Lady Cats will once again face Bishop Guilfoyle, in Indiana. Same town, different venue as this year’s contest will be held at Indiana High School.

Great job Lady Cats!!!! Beat the Marauders!!!!

(Thanks to Chris Ganoe for the Photos)

(Thank you to the Karns City student section for your great show of support and sportsmanship. Your teachers, coaches and parents should be very proud!!!!)