GIRLS BASKETBALL: Catholic League Girls’ Championship Set, Top Seed Archbishop Wood Versus Two-Seed Cardinal O’Hara

By: John Knebels

Photos: Donna Eckert & Mike Nance

PHILADELPHIA – Statistics don’t always tell the full story. Or even half the story.

In Archbishop Wood’s 38-37 Catholic League semifinal playoff victory over visiting four-seed Archbishop Carroll last night, junior Ryanne “Ice Water” Allen won the game on two beyond-clutch free throws with 1.3 seconds remaining after senior Kaitlyn Orihel had tallied seven pivotal points in the fourth quarter.

As for junior Shannon Morgan, she did not score a single point. Yet, without her contribution, the top-seed Lady Vikings would not be heading for their 12th championship final in 13 years and 13th in the past 15.

“She was awesome,” said Orihel, the Villanova University-bound quad-captain who is a cinch to be named a first-team All-Catholic for the fourth consecutive season. “She just wants to win. She doesn’t care what it takes, whether it shows up in the stat sheet or not. Coach Mike (McDonald) always harps on that – what wins championships is what doesn’t always show up. Her will to win is bigger than anything.”

Morgan finished with three steals, two assists, and a rebound. Not gaudy numbers, but the timing of most were infectious. When the Lady Vikings needed a spark – and they needed several throughout a contest in which they trailed by 16-8 with 1:42 left in second quarter and were whistled for 16 fouls – Morgan delivered.

After Carroll junior guard Grace O’Neill, who almost singlehandedly willed the Lady Patriots to victory after scoring 18 points, canning 11 of 13 free throws, and grabbing five rebounds, tied the game on a pair of freebies with 3:03 left, a Morgan steal led to a key free throw by Allen. Minutes earlier, a Morgan theft had precipitated the second of two straight Orihel buckets that provided Wood a 32-27 lead and some uncommon breathing room.

Ryanne Allen explains her approach with the game on the line as she sinks two foul shots to give Wood a 38-37 victory - Videos by John Knebels

“We gave her props in the locker room,” said Wood coach Mike McDonald. “She stepped up. We’ve talked about it. We need different bench kids depending on who we’re playing. They play a different style. We might need different kids in different moments.”

Morgan appreciated the plaudits. In typical form, she downplayed her importance.

“Whenever I get an opportunity to come in the game, I help my team in any way I can,” said Morgan. “It doesn’t have to be scoring.”

Morgan preferred to talk about Allen’s game-winning marksmanship.

“She’s always making them,” said Morgan. “She’s clutch all the time.”

With four-seed Carroll trailing 36-35 and eight seconds left, O’Neill calmly drained two free throws to give the Lady Pats a 37-36 edge. After a Wood timeout, the Lady Vikings needed to go the length of the floor.

With junior Bri Bowen (four rebounds, three assists, two points) on the bench nursing what appeared to be a scary ankle sprain (she practiced Saturday and labeled herself healthy and ready go), senior Noelle Baxter (four points, two rebounds, one block) inbounded to Allen.

Closely guarded by Carroll senior Karli Dougherty (four rebounds), Allen avoided being distracted by a falling Orihel – who had been accidentally tripped as she raced up the floor – used a behind-the back dribble to avoid a hawking O’Neill, took two dribbles to the hoop, and drew contact as she attempted a layup.

Shannon Morgan’s three steals and two assists off the bench proved pivotal for the Lady Vikings.

Wood senior Kaitlyn Orihel was not surprised the game hung in the balance until the final seconds.

Wood coach Mike McDonald said he and his players had no complaints about playing a semifinal.

With 1.3 seconds remaining, the season was literally on the line.

“Nothing really came to my head, it was just kind of blank,” said Allen. “I shoot foul shots after every practice. I just had to step up and make them, and that’s what I did.”

The masked crowd remained silent as Allen approached the charity stripe. Two perfect free-throw strokes later, Carroll – out of timeouts – watched helplessly as a desperation heave by O’Neill from center court bounced off the top scoreboard.

The Lady Vikings, who had originally clinched a berth in the final based on their regular-season record before Catholic League officials changed course and instituted a pair of semifinals, had officially stamped their passport for tomorrow’s 4 PM Catholic League championship versus two-seed Cardinal O’Hara at Archbishop Carroll High School.

“Once I saw it was off to the right, it was like a huge wave lifted off my shoulders,” said Orihel. “I was so stressed, but we’re really excited to play for the championship on Sunday and hopefully win.”

Hounded by double teams and a brilliant game-long strategy by Carroll coach Renie Shields, Orihel had to work extremely hard for her 13 points – none more integral than her three-point play with 18.8 seconds that turned a 35-33 deficit into a 36-35 lead.

Orihel and Allen (19 points; 7 of 8 from the line, two treys) combined for 84 percent of Wood’s scoring, which is not exactly the easiest way to forge success. With Wood leading 28-27 after three stanzas, Orihel scored seven of Wood’s 10 fourth-quarter points and Allen the other three.

Wood vs. Carroll - 2021 PCL Semifinal Photos by Donna Eckert for PSD

Though immense, the duet’s heroics wouldn’t have been enough without the play of Morgan.

“She stepped up huge defensively, and then offensively, she helped facilitate,” said McDonald. “She was excellent.”

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The other Catholic League finalist, Cardinal O’Hara, had a significantly less anxious semifinal victory. With junior Maggie Doogan (15 points), junior Sydni Scott (14), and senior Siobhan Boylan (13) all reaching double figures, the two-seed Lady Lions defeated three-seed West Catholic, 57-40, despite 25 points by Lady Burr senior Destiney McPhaul.

At 4:00 tomorrow, the Lady Lions will meet Archbishop Wood in the Catholic League championship at Archbishop Carroll High School. The teams split their regular-season contests.

“It’s such an amazing feeling,” said Doogan. “We played as a team, shared the ball, and locked down on defense. We worked so hard, and we’re ready for Sunday.”

Boylan, who has saved her best basketball for the home stretch with a series of excellent performances, has been waiting for this chance for three years.

“I’m very excited; the whole team is,” said Boylan. “Being there my freshman year was the best feeling, so I really can’t wait for that feeling again.”

Midway through the season, O’Hara seemed like a long shot to reach the final.

After defeating Neumann-Goretti in their opener, the Lady Lions lost consecutive one-possession games at Carroll (42-40) and Wood (43-40). After two wins, they lost a 63-62 heartbreaker at West Catholic. Since then, O’Hara has captured nine straight by an average margin of 63-36, including must-wins over defending champion West Catholic (74-60 and 57-40).

Cardinal O'Hara junior Maggie Doogan led the Lady Lions with 15 points to propel O'Hara to the 2021 PCL Championship - PSD Photo by Mike Nance

“Things began to come together for us after losing two games back to back,” said senior Amaris Baker. “We came together and discussed what we needed to do in order to get back on track because we wanted it so badly. We got our chemistry and game plans together. We shared the ball and gained confidence in ourselves and with each other, and that’s when things started going.

“We are in the position we always wanted to be in. Just one more win needed.”

The toughest win yet. For both teams.

That’s what championships should be all about.

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