GIRLS' BASKETBALL: Almost at Halftime, Limited Drama Envelops Catholic League Girls' Basketball (1/17)

By: John Knebels

Photos/Videos: John Knebels, Donna Eckert, Kathy Leister & Geneva Heffernan

SPRINGFIELD, PA – Catholic League girls’ basketball has a number of “stories within the big story” brewing. As of now, however, the only truly intriguing drama surrounds two teams from the Catholic League Red Division.

With nearly half of the regular season complete, Archbishop Wood (6-0) and Neumann-Goretti (5-0) remain undefeated. While many of the other division foes have certainly displayed impressive moments, it’s looking like the Saints and the Vikings are the toast of the entire league. The first of two regular-season showdowns takes place January 21 at Wood.

Might want to get there early for that one.

In a key Catholic Red contest on January 14, Archbishop Wood outscored host Cardinal O’Hara in every quarter for a convincing 66-43 triumph.

Contributors were everywhere. Junior Kaitlyn Orihel scored in every quarter – including 10 points in the second – and finished with 20 points thanks in part to 8-of-9 shooting from the foul line.

Senior Izzy Larsen scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds. Senior Lindsay Tretter dropped 12 points on four three-pointers. Junior Dana Kiefer chipped in with 10 points and four assists. Sophomore Ryanne Allen scored eight. Sophomore Bri Bowen corralled six rebounds and scored all six of her points in a fourth quarter that saw Wood ice the contest on a 20-5 run.

O'Hara vs. Wood Highlights by Donna Eckert:

“We shot well and did some good things on the offensive end,” said Wood coach Mike McDonald. “There were some things I wasn’t too crazy about that we did on the defensive end. I thought in the second half we clamped down. We limited their offensive rebounds.

“Anytime you can come in and beat a team like O’Hara, it’s a great win. We have to play everybody twice, so it’s hard to get too excited knowing that you’re going to have to play them again, and maybe even three times in the playoffs, or in the case of Carroll and the state playoffs, maybe four times.”

In a previous 72-49 win over visiting West Catholic four nights earlier Orihel (17 points, four defensive rebounds), Larsen (16 points, seven rebounds), junior Noelle Baxter (four assists), and sophomore Shannon Morgan (four assists) paced another balanced attack.

Larsen, a senior whose family moved from Georgia and settled in the area, is a first-year player at Wood after an impressive stint at perennial powerhouse Wesleyan School. The Vikings’ key rebounder and a steady scorer, Larsen already has fully embraced the Catholic League.

“I love it,” said Larsen. “It has some special tradition in it that you can’t really find anywhere else, so when it comes to crunch time with these girls, everyone is so passionate about it. It’s been great.

Wood vs. West Catholic PSD Photos by Donna Eckert:

“We are playing teams that really sharpen us. I think as the year goes on, we are more confident knowing that we can beat these great teams; a team like O’Hara, that’s great competition. The fact that we can beat them means that we are really capable of doing a lot this year.”

The Vikings have benefitted from their ability to score from both the inside and the outside.

“My teammates really help me get open,” said Tretter. “They drive the ball, they set good screens, or give good handoffs. It opens the inside a lot because the defenders start to come out and play us more so we can get our bigger girls open on the inside.

“Sometimes if only two or three girls are scoring, the other girls think, ‘Oh, let me get them the ball.’ But when everyone is scoring, it makes the other team defend all of us, which makes it really hard for them.”

The Vikings made it six straight last night at Archbishop Ryan. Although Allen (12), Kiefer (10), and Baxter (10) reached double figures, this was the ultimate team effort.

Each of Wood’s 12 players scored a basket, highlighted by freshman Campbell McCloskey’s dazzling spin move that provided her first-ever varsity points.

Eight different players accounted for at least one rebound, eight dished at least one assist, and five recorded at least one steal. Orihel played sparingly and finished with five points, increasing her career total to 958.

Izzy Larsen has been enjoying herself as a key member of Archbishop Wood:

Dana Kiefer talks about teamwork after scoring 10pts in Wood's victory vs. O'Hara:

Lindsay Tretter scored four 3-pointers in Wood's victory vs. O'Hara on Tuesday:

Neumann-Goretti’s 67-52 victory over Bonner-Prendergast on Jan. 14 wasn’t easy. The host Pandas forged a surprising 33-23 halftime lead, and the crowd buzzed as an upset brewed. Once inside the locker room, N-G coach Andrea Peterson reminded her troops that there was plenty of time to regain momentum.

“They didn’t miss in that first half,” said Peterson, referring to torrid shooting by Bonner-Prendergast. “Give them credit. They made most of their shots.”

Compared with the first two quarters, the next two were a study in contrast.

Behind five three pointers and a full-court defense, the Saints quickly snared the lead and kept building. Star senior Diamond Johnson (26 points, six assists, six rebounds, three steals), junior Sierra Bermudez (17 points), junior Christa Ricks (eight rebounds), and sophomore Mihjae Hayes (four assists) helped pace the comeback.

Peterson considered the halftime deficit a blessing in disguise.

“Dealing with adversity is not a bad thing,” said Peterson. “In the Catholic League, you’re going to have games like this. We didn’t bat an eye. They didn’t miss in the first half, and we didn’t miss in the second half.”

For Prendergast, sophomore Bridie McCann scored 15 points, followed by junior Alexis Eagan (11), and junior Reagan Dolan (11).

Neumann-Goretti senior Diamond Johnson scored 26 points in the Saint's close match-up vs. Bonner-Prendie - PSD Photo by Zamani Feelings

West Catholic enjoyed a thorough win at Archbishop Ryan. Junior Destiney McPhaul (23 points, three assists, three blocks) was a force. Senior Tamiah Robinson and junior Daizy Wilson both had 14 points. Robinson added 10 nine rebounds.

“We’re working to identify who we are as a team and committing to the traits that will bring us success,” said West Catholic coach Beulah Osueke. “We’re getting back to playing our brand of basketball for the second half of the season with the postseason in mind.”

Fresh off a heartbreaking 54-51 defeat at Neumann-Goretti on January 10, Archbishop Carroll notched a much-needed 51-40 win at Bonner-Prendergast last night.

With such strong parity in the division and the loss of a few top players to graduation, it hasn’t been easy for defending champion Carroll. The Patriots, however, are way too strong to be counted out despite their tepid start.

“Being the defending champs, we know that other teams will come out with an edge and really want to beat us,” said standout senior Erin Sweeney. “We have to come out with the same edge and intensity and leave it all out on the floor.”

Archbishop Carroll senior Erin Sweeney #22 helped lift the Patriots past local rival Bonner-Prendergast - PSD Photo by Donna Eckert

Carroll coach Renie Shields assessed her team.

“One challenge for us this year has been to find an identity -what is it that we do well,” said Shields. “Sometimes we defend well and can not score, or we score and do not defend. That leads to close contests that have not yielded favorable outcomes, i.e., wins.”

In the Blue Division, Conwell-Egan junior Gia Brennan supported the adage that great basketball performances don’t necessarily have to do with scoring a lot of points.

In the Eagles’ 49-29 win at Bishop McDevitt on Jan. 10,Brennan contributed seven assists, seven steals, five rebounds, and a block. For good measure, she also added seven points.

“Gia’s defense was the remedy for an overall less-than-stellar shooting performance,” said Conwell-Egan coach Chris Brennan. “When we needed a stop, Gia supported the cause.

“We had some key players get into foul trouble early, and some young players stepped right in to fill the void offensively. Kiyann Peterson stepped up offensively and had her season high in points.”

Peterson, a senior, finished with a game-best 14 points and added five rebounds. Freshman Kyliyah Carmichael collected six points and six rebounds.

Last night, the Eagles stretched their winning streak to three with a 34-28 win at stubborn Little Flower. Brennan (eight points, five rebounds), Carmichael (seven points, five rebounds), Peterson (five rebounds, five assists, four steals), junior Maddie Chapman (eight points), and freshman Katey Brennan (seven points) put the Eagles ahead by 19-7 after one quarter and held on.

Bishop McDevitt vs. Conwell-Egan Photos by Kathy Leister:

*Click here to see & purchase additional photos from CEC vs. McDevitt*

“The ladies are starting to believe in themselves and finding a different way to win over this four-game run,” said coach Brennan. “We struggled again shooting tonight, but we played a good defensive game and cut our turnovers in half.”

Little Flower coach Maureen Buchter was understandably encouraged by her team’s fight. Despite gnawing injuries throughout the lineup, the Sentinels were able to withstand C-E’s first-quarter punch and outscore the Eagles by 21-15 over the last three quarters, highlighted by a 12-7 spurt that closed out the game.

“It was a tight game,” said Buchter. “The bench players worked hard to make it a game in the fourth quarter. We did not shoot well from the foul line and missed a lot of easy layups. Conwell-Egan shot well from the outside.”

Little Flower senior Natalie O’Neill led the Sentinels with 11 points.

“I think our team’s mindset is to get better every day,” said O’Neill. “We support each other through it all, helping each other improve. We have become like a family and work together. Our motto this year is ‘five become one,’ and I would say I am proud of this team for doing just that.

“Even with all the injuries we have suffered, there are a lot of girls stepping up, and I can say that everyone contributes in their own way.”

A week earlier, Little Flower senior Kelly Bauer’s 20 points lifted the visiting Sentinels past John W. Hallahan, 53-45. Bauer connected on 14 of her free throws while senior Amylynn Owen added four more.

“I preach to the girls that foul shooting wins games,” said Buchter.

Her Sentinels obviously listened.

Little Flower vs. Hallahan Photos by Geneva Heffernan:

Hallahan vs. Little Flower Game Highlights by Geneva Heffernan:

In a game covered by PhiladelphiaSportsDigest on January 10, Lansdale Catholic upended host St. Hubert 72-58. While Lansdale Catholic improved to a division best 3-0, Hubert fell to 3-1.

Although the Bambies were disappointed with the loss, they remained confident, and for good reason.

Outside of the second quarter – a stanza that has haunted them on several occasions this year – the Bambies proved that they are among the Blue Division’s top squads. Five players scored seven or more points and three – senior Cassidy Ruk (12), junior Sarah Spaeth (12), and junior Payton Pugh (11) – reached double digits.

MacKenzie Pugh, whose sisters Payton (junior) and Charlotte (sophomore) are also on varsity, joins Ruk as the only two Hubert seniors.

“Compared with our game last year with Lansdale, as a team, we played so much better,” said Pugh. “As our coach (Dave Schafer) said in the locker room, we put together three quarters; we have to get that last quarter. The second quarter kills us.”

Ruk agreed.

“This game was really important obviously,” said Ruk. “Right now it’s a learning thing. Now we know how to come out differently and know what to expect. I think we handled it well in some ways, but we had some weaknesses throughout the game and that really hurt us. This shows how much we’ve improved.”

Saint Hubert captains Mackenzie Pugh and Cassidy Ruk maintain perspective in defeat:

Standings (Through January 16)

Red Division

6-0 Archbishop Wood

5-0 Neumann-Goretti

4-2 Cardinal O’Hara

3-3 West Catholic

3-4 Archbishop Carroll

1-6 Bonner-Prendergast

0-7 Archbishop Ryan

Blue Division

3-0 Lansdale Catholic

3-1 St. Hubert

3-2 Conwell-Egan

2-2 Little Flower

1-3 John W. Hallahan

0-4 Bishop McDevitt

(Contact John Knebels at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)