By: John Knebels
Photos by: Kathy Leister
PHILADELPHIA – Talk about nailing the grand finale.
With each of their 10 players contributing Thursday afternoon, John W. Hallahan defeated visiting Little Flower, 49-29, prompting a gleeful but subdued celebration after the hosts’ last-ever home basketball game.
As his players gathered their belongings and headed to the adjacent cafeteria for a team meal and special festivities, Hallahan third-year head coach Mike Gallagher stood proudly tall in victory.
“This was the best win, the best game, that they’ve ever played, the best Catholic League win we’ve had in my time here,” said Gallagher, who also assisted in 2017-18. “So we are kind of riding really high. I can only imagine over the next couple of days, it’s really going to sink in. The legacy that we left was that we got a win in the last game ever on Hallahan’s court, which I think is pretty cool.”
With the season in serious jeopardy because of the global coronavirus, compounded by a series of snowstorms, Hallahan’s schedule fluctuated, thus necessitating that they finish the season with three straight games, including yesterday (Friday) at St. Hubert’s and then today (Saturday) at Bishop McDevitt, which is also closing its doors in June.
Because they would never again play inside the super tight, but adorably sentimental, Hallahan gym affectionately known as the “Mouse Trap” (the Disney character Mickey Mouse has been the school’s mascot since the mid-30’s, the only high school in the country that could make such a unique claim), Hallahan viewed the game as a pseudo playoff.
“It was really important,” said Hallahan senior Brianna Scott. “It meant a lot to us. Bringing a win home today was the best thing we could ever have done.”
Hallahan's final home game vs. Little Flower highlights by Kathy Leister - Including "Mouse Trap" Tribute (at the end) by John Knebels:
Hallahan (3-6 overall record) started early, building a 19-6 lead after one quarter and expanding it to 30-11 at halftime. They put the game away with a 13-5 third quarter before Little Flower (2-8) cut the deficit with a 13-6 fourth.
Hallahan’s four seniors were most responsible for the romp, combining for 33 points, 31 rebounds, 15 steals, and three blocks. Ashiah Milburn (12 points, eight rebounds, six steals, three blocks, one assist) electrified the small crowd with a series of spectacular scoring drives. Scott collected eight points, 11 rebounds, a steal, and an assist. Logan Tomaszewski finished with nine points, six rebounds, and three steals, and Katie McCole added four points, six boards, and five steals.
Hallahan senior players, Ashiah Milburn, Logan Tomaszewski, Katie McCole and Brianna Scott are honored before the game. (photo by Kathy Leister for PSD)
Hallahan senior players celebrate with their families. ( photo by Kathy Leister for PSD)
Other contributions came from sophomore Faith Scally (five points, four rebounds, two steals, block, assist), sophomore Brynne Tomaszewski (four points, three rebounds, steal), junior Mya Sulimay (four points, five rebounds, two steals, block , assist), junior Kaitlin Banning (four points, five rebounds, two blocks), sophomore Lucy Donahue (three steals, two rebounds), and junior Carly Strange (three rebounds, block).
“I came into the game ready to win because it was my senior night and I wanted to put a show on and go out with a bang since it’s our last home game ever,” said Milburn. “We usually let our emotions get the best of us during the games, but we didn’t do that this time. We kept our head in the game and kept playing hard the whole time.”
Hallahan senior Brianna Scott looked forward to coming back and visiting her alma mater. (video by John Knebels)
Hallahan senior Ashiah Milburn wishes she had more home games to look forward too. (video by John Knebels)
Despite losing by a wide margin, youthful Little Flower battled.
Freshman Kaidence McCormac was relentless under the basket, finishing with a career-high 18 rebounds while adding seven points and three blocks. Sophomore Gabby Dever garnered 10 rebounds, four steals, and three points. Freshman Megan Colfer offered seven points, eight rebounds, and two steals. In her last scholastic contest, senior Hailey Bickel amassed six points, five rebounds, and a steal. Sophomore Ciara Corcoran supplied five points, three rebounds, three steals, and a block.
The Sentinels’ trademark feistiness didn’t surprise Gallagher.
“After beating them on their home court (44-39 on March 2), we knew they were going to come for us,” said Gallagher. “We knew they were going to play the hardest they’ve ever played, because that’s just what you do.
“It’s the competitive nature of the rivalry. I know they wanted it. Our girls kind of sensed that if they were going to give us their best game, we were going to have to give them our best game, too, so we were ready to go from the tip.”
Hallahan head coach Mike Gallagher lauds his team's best performance. (video by John Knebels)
Little Flower coach and 1976 graduate Maureen Buchter lauded Hallahan’s performance. Visibly disappointed for those associated with Hallahan’s program, Buchter described competing in the historic event as “absolutely special.”
“Hat’s off to them,” said Buchter, nee Kane, who competed against Hallahan on numerous occasions as a four-year Little Flower player. “They won it outright, and they outplayed my kids.
“I’m sad for them. I really am. He (Hallahan coach Mike Gallagher) put a nice program together.”
In true city basketball form, neither team took any plays off. With bodies flying all over the court, the two adversaries combined for 100 rebounds, 36 steals, and 15 blocks while being whistled for 40 violations
Regardless of what it said on the scoreboard or how many bruises they had acquired, players from both sides appeared in no hurry to hear the final horn.
“That’s always been our competition with Hallahan, and vice versa,” said Buchter. “Everybody gives 100 percent. It’s never easy.”
Little Flower head coach Maureen Buchter said the Catholic League will not be the same without Hallahan. (video by John Knebels)
Next year’s standings figure to look extremely odd without Hallahan and McDevitt among the competitors.
“It will be a big difference,” said Buchter. “We look forward to these competitive games. We can’t hold a candle to these elite teams, and we respect that, but we will miss this, and I’m sure that Hallahan and McDevitt will miss this as well.”
Perhaps Scott best summarized the emotions of all Hallahan students.
“I didn’t realize how much Hallahan meant to me until they said that they were closing,” said Scott. “I kind of had the mentality of, ‘I’m a senior. I’m getting out of here.’ But now since Hallahan is closing, I’m not going to have anywhere to come back to and visit when I leave.”
Scott feels particularly badly for her Hallahan underclassmen.
“Going through Hallahan these past four years and getting the full experience is great,” said Scott. “I wish they could have had the full four-year experience.”
Scott isn’t alone.
(Contact John Knebels at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)
(Game day photos by Kathy Leister for PSD)
