By John Knebels
Videos/Photos by: John Knebels & Donna Eckert
The joyous shouting from inside the locker room literally could be heard from the opposite end of the hallway. The tears during the post-game interviews were plentiful.
But if defeating Cardinal O’Hara, 57-49, in the Catholic League semifinals on Feb. 20 at Thomas Jefferson University turns out to be as good as it gets, the Archbishop Wood girls’ basketball team would be severely disappointed.
“After last year, we had Palestra in our minds,” said Wood junior Kaitlin Orihel, referring to a brutal overtime defeat against Archbishop Carroll in the final. “From the minute we lost, it was honestly the worst feeling ever. We’ve been working every single day to be able to get this win and get back to the Palestra.”
Wood vs. O'Hara PCL Semifinal Highlights by John Knebels:
Behind junior Amaris Baker’s 28 points, O’Hara stayed close. But there was never a sense that Archbishop Wood’s ultimate fate – an 11th championship final in the past 12 years – was in true danger. Seeking their first title since 2016 and fourth in school history, the top-seed Vikings will face red-hot, three-seed West Catholic, winners of seven straight, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Palestra.
The double-teamed Orihel finished with 15 points, with seven coming in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Ryanne Allen – like Orihel a first-team All-Catholic – tallied a game-high 18 points, 11 in the third. Senior Lindsay Tretter offered two key three pointers in the first half. Senior Izzy Larsen and sophomore Bri Bowen both grabbed seven rebounds. Junior Dana Kiefer added four boards and two blocks.
Allen, one of the league’s top shooters, fired three of her four treys in the third quarter.
“The past two games when we played O’Hara, they were my two worst games,” said Allen. “I knew that I would do anything I could to help my team. Once I got those open shots, I trusted it and I knocked them down when I had to.”
Kaitlyn Orihel knew beating O'Hara a third straight time would be tough
Ryanne Allen wanted the Vikings to remain aggressive throughout the game
Izzy Larsen and Lindsay Tretter want to make the most of their high school careers
Wood’s only seniors – Larsen and Tretter – don’t have the advantage of waiting for another opportunity to secure a championship plaque. For them, the time is now.
“Four years for me,” said Tretter. “To get there my senior year is awesome. I just wanna win it.”
Larsen lauded the Vikings’ opponent.
“We all wanted it so badly,” she said. “We didn’t take them lightly at all. We knew it’s so hard to beat a team three times. They’re great. They’re super talented. We came out so composed and understanding that they’re a great team.”
The Vikings lost at West Catholic, 66-56, on Feb. 4. It was Wood’s only league loss against 11 victories.
But the regular season – or the concept of revenge – truly doesn’t matter at this stage.
“It’s not really the opponent,” said Orihel. “It’s the plaque that we are playing for.”
That said, having already lost to the three-seed Burrs might ultimately prove to be an advantage.
“They were able to do it once, they are able to do it again,” said Larsen. “We don’t want to let them.”
Like Orihel, Allen referred to the bitter taste of last year’s loss in the final.
“Getting back there and trying to redeem ourselves this time,” said Allen. “It means the world.”
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.
