Portland Cruises into the Quarterfinals

The game was expected to be a blow out and it was.

Portland took about 5:30 to shake off a few cobwebs and then went on an exhibition of how to play team basketball on both ends of the floor as they blasted Kaynor Tech out of the gym 64-31 Thursday night.

The first game of a tournament for any favorite can sometimes spell doom as Portland had a scare wth that scenario last year.  Fortunately for the Lady Highlanders, most of the 2010 team is back and were determined to not repeat that drama.

With starting forward Sarah Bierly beginning the game on the bench due to discomfort in her legs, the game was fast paced, but not much was going in the basket by either team. Bierly (20 points) scored Portland's first field goal with 2:58 left in the quarter to put Portland up 7-2.

"Sarah had been banged up a little in the conference finals so we decided to have her start off the bench tonight and we'd just play her a couple of minutes at a time," coach Nick Chaconis said.  "She said she feels fine, so we went with it and she went out and had a very good night scoring 20."

Senior Lindsey Dionne (10 points) got herself to the free-throw line by working hard driving to the basket and grabbing offensive rebounds, where Kaynor Tech fouled her. Dionne hit 5 of 6 free throws to give Portland an early 5-2 lead.

Portland (20-4) proceeded to go on a 30-9 run to finish the half with a 37-11 lead.

Kaynor Tech's quick and darting Sheanna James (18 points) pushed the ball up the floor doing whatever she could to keep her team in the game, and keeping Portland hustling.

"We're going to lose a 1,000 point scorer but we have a young team and play in a good conference, so we hope to do even better next year," Kaynor Tech assistant coach Jen Stango said.

Senior Kelly Coleman (22 points) and Bierly scored score 26 of Portland's 37 first-half points. They scored from down low, behind the arc, in transition and converting a steal off an inbounds pass. Alyssa Unikewicz and Meaghan Rodgers again dished out several assists apiece while Portland used its spread offense to near perfection. 

By the time Chaconis pulled Kelly Coleman out of the game with just under 4:00 minutes left, Portland had built a 60-19 lead.  As each starter came out in succession to appreciative applause, Chaconis was able to get his bench players some valuable tournament minutes. 

Portland's last basket of the game was executed with some fine passing from Katie Coleman to Jill McGrath to Madison Heil, who took care of scoring the hoop.

Portland's final home game will be Monday against Thomaston at 7 p.m. in a quarterfinal rematch from last season, won by the Highlanders, 46-39.

Kaynor Tech, out of Waterbury, finished its season with a 13-8 record.