GIRLS BASKETBALL: At Long Last, Basketball Excellence Abounds

By: John Knebels

Photos: Donna Eckert, John Knebels & Mike Nance

PCL Girls Basketball Round-Up

PHILADELPHIA – With the Catholic League postseason relegated to a one-game championship between the first- and second-place finishers this winter, every game basically elevates to a regular-season playoff tilt.

With only three games completed thanks to the ubiquitous global coronavirus and this week’s snowstorm that swept through the Delaware Valley, enough evidence already exists to warrant a perusal of the Red Division schedule to see when Archbishop Wood and Cardinal O’Hara face each other.

February 9 at Wood . . . February 16 at O’Hara . . . get that streaming app prepared.

Stifling Defense Propels Cardinal O’Hara and Archbishop Wood

In simultaneous season openers on January 29, the Lions and Vikings shook off understandable early cobwebs before dominating their traditionally rugged competition. While the former defeated host Neumann-Goretti, 55-37, the latter upended visiting Archbishop Carroll, 63-41.

“We’ve been ready to play since March,” said O’Hara junior Maggie Doogan. “We were hungry to start playing again. We knew our opening game was going to be a tough one. I felt like we were all ready to play and came out with a lot of energy.

“We shared the ball and all contributed. I think our team has a lot of talented players and anyone can step up on any given night. That and our determination on the defensive end will lead to our success. We’re still working our way into game shape and getting used to playing with the masks on. Thankfully, we have players who come off the bench who can give us breaks and are capable of providing the energy we need to keep playing.”

Doogan scored 13 of her 17 points in the first half. When Neumann-Goretti locked down on Doogan, senior Amaris Baker took control, tallying 16 of her 18 over the final two quarters. For the Saints, junior Mihjae Hayes scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds.

“We started to take control of the game in the beginning of the second half,” said Baker. “Maggie did a lot of scoring for us down low. The game was too close at the end of the first half, so we had to put our foot on the gas and play. Coach asked who was going to step up and get us rolling, so I had to do what was needed to be done.”

Senior Amaris Baker scored 18 points in Cardinal O'Hara's first game vs. Neumann-Goretti - PSD Photo by Mike Nance

O’Hara coach Chrissie Doogan extolled the defense of junior Annie Welde.

“She did a terrific job limiting touches to their returning All-Catholic,” said Doogan, referring to senior Sierra Bermudez. “Defense was the key and is something we stress every day at practice. It was nice to see the team working together and hold a talented team like Neumann-Goretti to 37 points.”

When at First You Don’t Succeed . . . Play Again

Serendipity enveloped the Wood-Carroll bout. Last year, the two rivals were about to meet in the PIAA Class 5A quarterfinals before COVID ended the season. When competition finally resumed more than 10 months later, here they were again.

“To finally play again was amazing,” said Wood junior Ryanne Allen. “To just put on a uniform again and play alongside my teammates after how it ended last year was just something I missed. It was great to be back.

“I thought it took a second for us to settle in. We were all super excited and anxious, but once we did, we started to find our rhythm and found each other for open shots and just played as a team. With no fans, our bench’s energy and everyone cheering for each other kept us going to the final buzzer.”

Most of last year’s cast was back for both squads, and many didn’t seem to miss a dribble. Class 5A Player of the Year senior Kaitlyn Orihel led four Wood double-figure scorers with 19 points while adding four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. Allen amassed 17 points and nine rebounds.

Junior Bri Bowen added 12 points, four rebounds, and her trademark hustle and pesky defense. Senior Dana Kiefer combined 11 points with four rebounds and two blocks. Senior Noelle Baxter’s dossier consisted of five assists, three rebounds, and the provocation of a momentum-aiding offensive charge.

Coach Mike McDonald labeled the win “a complete team effort” and lauded sophomore Delaney Finnegan’s suffocating defense against first-team All-Catholic junior guard Grace O’Neill.

“It honestly didn’t take long at all to get going,” said Orihel. “We’ve been practicing for a while and our scrimmage earlier in the week helped a lot. The first half of the game was a little sloppy, but we definitely picked it up more as we played.

Wood vs. Carroll - PSD Photos by Donna Eckert

Wood vs. Carroll Game Highlights by Donna Eckert

“There was just the typical pregame nerves but once we started, it was all excitement. Playing with the mask was really annoying, but we’ll do whatever we have to do to be able to play.”

Carroll coach Renie Shields said the Patriots “came prepared to compete, but in the end there is more work to be done.”

Torrid Two Quarters Boost Archbishop Carroll

Five nights later – February 3 to be exact – the Patriots employed a suffocating defense in a thorough 55-31 win over visiting Bonner-Prendergast. Carroll surrendered only seven baskets; the Pandas hit 13 of 15 free-throw attempts. The Patriots dominated the middle quarters, outscoring B-P by 42-20.

Tenacious sophomore Taylor Wilson supplied 11 points, six rebounds, two steals, and two steals. Junior Grace O’Neill led all scorers with 14 points and, hounding B-P’s backcourt, added four steals.

Freshman Brooke Wilson (nine points, six rebounds, three steals), senior Karli Dougherty (seven points, three steals), junior Maggie Grant (eight points, three rebounds), and sophomore Courtland Schumacher (six points) maintained the pressure all game long.

“We played a really good team game,” said the elder Wilson. “We moved the ball really well and were very successful with our press, which helped fuel our offense. On the defensive end, we communicated really well and limited their field goals.”

Dougherty echoed her teammate.

“After a slow start in the first quarter, we locked and down and executed as a team,” she said. “Our pressure caused turnovers, which we were able to capitalize on.Defense is what makes our offense. We continually work on our defense every practice. If we have a strong connection on defense, a powerful offense will come out of it.”

The Patriots needed to move on from earlier disappointment.

“It was very important to get a win after the loss,” said Wilson. “We were right with Wood in the first half, but the second half got away from us defensively. It was important for us to bounce back defensively in this game, which we did.”

Carroll vs. MBAP Game Highlights by John Knebels

Carroll vs. MBAP Photos by John Knebels

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