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The streak goes on

Vikings improve to 23-0 in KSAC championship

Venango Catholic's Maxx Rynd goes up for a shot over a Union defender during the Vikings' victory. Photos by Eric Elliott Going

Venango Catholic's Maxx Rynd
goes up for a shot over a Union
defender during the Vikings' victory.
Photos by Eric Elliott

Going 23-0 isn't a bad way to start your season.

It's not a bad way to finish up Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference play either.

Just ask the Venango Catholic Vikings which found out on Saturday when they won the KSAC championship over Union, 65-61, at Clarion High School.

"Union is a great team," Venango Catholic coach Ed McIntyre said. "For us, I'm really proud of the kids. They've worked awful hard . It's good for them and it's good for the school."

The Vikings took control of a back-and-fourth first quarter by winning the 14-10 scoring battle with the help of five points from Ben Guth and four from Maxx Rynd.

Venango Catholic's offense continued to roll in the second stanza and showed off its balance as six different Vikings reached the scoring column. Rynd led the way with six points during the 19-17 frame, which fell in favor of VC.

Union's Brody Pollock attempts to dribble past Garrett Hawkins on his way to scoring 27 points.

Union's Brody Pollock attempts to
dribble past Garrett Hawkins on
his way to scoring 27 points.

Union's offense stepped up in the second as well with 10 points from Brody Pollock before ending the half trailing 33-26.

After the intermission, the two KSAC foes traded blows throughout the third quarter with Rynd scoring eight points in the frame for the Vikings while Trent Corle scored nine and Pollock deposited six for the Golden Knights.

The third ended 19-17 with the advantage going to the Vikings against to set the score at 52-43 heading into crunch time.

Union made its charge in the fourth by opening up with a 6-2 run, courtesy of a pair of field goals by Pollock and another by Corle.

But Venango Catholic fired back with a 7-2 charge that pushed the lead up to 10 with just over four minutes to play.

The Vikings offense stalled over the next three minutes with Rynd fouling out in the process, but Union was only able to trim its deficit to six with 1:12 to play on a pair of buckets from Pollock and Smith.

The Knights were then forced to foul to extend the game and the Vikings converted on four of eight attempts from the line while Union was only able to retaliate with three free throws and a three-pointer at the buzzer to set the final score at 65-61.

"Playing a really good team in Union can only get you better as you move forward," McIntyre said.

Moving forward for both teams means playing in the District 9 Class A playoffs.

Union will host Clarion in the first round on Wednesday while Venango Catholic earned itself a first-round bye and will host the winner of North Clarion and Clarion- Limestone on Friday.

Rynd led the Vikings with 18 points to go along with seven rebounds while Guth trailed with 14 points and six boards. A.J. Toy and Alec Thurau also deposited 10 points apiece.

Pollock tallied a gamehigh 27 points for the Knights while Corle dropped in 17. Pollock also hauled in seven rebounds.

Originally published in The Derrick February 21, 2011

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