HERSHEY, Pa. -- Most people get a golden watch at their retirement party.
Kennedy Christian girls' basketball coach Father Rick Tomasone got a golden basketball.
Erin Frankovich made a layup with three seconds remaining in the PIAA Class A championship game at Hersheypark Arena to lift the Eagles to a 48-46 victory against two-time defending champion Pottsville Nativity BVM yesterday.
It was the Eagles' first PIAA championship in what was Tomasone's final game. He has been the Eagles' coach for 16 years and has won 371 games, but has been transferred to St. John's Parish in Erie. Kennedy Christian is located in Hermitage, near Sharon.
"It isn't my choice to leave because I still think I have some coaching left in me," Tomasone said. "But if ever there was a way to end my career, it doesn't get any better than this. I will say this, though, the storybook ending has everything to do with these kids who have played so hard for so long and little to do with an old coach who is quitting."
The Eagles trailed, 9-8, but made an 11-2 run to take a 19-11 lead into the second quarter. Nativity's Meggi Rothermez picked up her third foul early in the second quarter which enabled Kennedy Christian to maintain its lead and push it to 31-20 at the half.
With Rothermez back in the lineup after the half, Nativity began to make its move. The Golden Girls chipped away at the Eagles and got to within 46-43 with 35 seconds left. Jaime Williams then hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left to tie it, 46-46, setting up the winning play to Frankovich.
"During the timeout with nine seconds left, I told Erin she was going to win the game for us," Tomasone said. "I told the team you don't beat the champs without delivering a knockout blow and Erin delivered it for us."
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