Kaynor Tech girls eye spot in CSC title game

BY ADAM BAKER The Kaynor Tech girls basketball team has been on quite the roll this season, earning the No. 2 seed in the Constitution State Conference tournament. The Panthers will host sixth-seeded Windham Tech (15-6) tonight at 6 in the tournament semifinals.
Kaynor Tech finished the regular season 11-0 against conference opponents, and 8-0 in the CSC West division, before defeating Prince Tech, 56-53, in the quarterfinals.
“We’re going to go out, play our game and do what we need to do,” said Kaynor Tech coach Brian Stasaitis. “At this point in the season, it’s about tweaking what we have, and improving on what we didn’t do so well the game before.”
The Panthers (15-6) have been led by Cassie Couture and Egypt Santos. Couture is averaging 12.4 points per game, 4.1 assists and 4.3 steals, while Santos averages 11.4 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.7 blocks and 3.8 steals. The two have been particularly strong down the stretch, Couture with 15 points per game and Santos with 14.2 points and 15.6 boards, over the course of the last five games.
“The two seniors, Cassie and Egypt, have been steady influences throughout the season. Those two have been the ones to really carry us, this year,” explained Stasaitis. “Sarah Wisniewski has also been a pleasant surprise, as a sophomore.”
Wisniewski averages 10.6 points per game.
Windham Tech defeated Parish Hill, 56-52, in the quarterfinals, on Friday, to advance to the semis.
The tournament’s top-seed, and four-time defending state champions, Capital Prep, will host No. 4 Bassick in the other semifinal matchup.
“We’ve put ourselves in position to be one of the two best teams (in the CSC), and (tonight) we need to go out and put ourselves in a good position to possibly win a conference championship,” added Stasaitis. “We’re at the point where any little slip-up can cost us the game, and it’s the time of season where how many games we have left is determined by how well we play. It’s win-or-go-home.”
The tournament final will be Saturday at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford at 5 p.m.