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GIRLS BASKETBALL: Record-Setting Day for Still Thriving Catholic League Teams, As Wood, O’Hara and West Catholic Vie for Seats in State Title Games

By John Knebels Photos: James Williamson, Mike Nance, Kathy Leister, 03/22/21, 11:45AM EDT

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By: John Knebels

Photos/Videos: John Knebels, Kathy Leister, Mike Nance & James Williamson

 

WARMINSTER, PA – Team goals always come first; individual objectives always come second. 

So the most important development on Saturday afternoon for Archbishop Wood was that the host Lady Vikings advanced to the PIAA Class 4A semifinals with a 60-38 victory over stubborn Gwynedd-Mercy Academy

In the meantime, senior Kaitlyn Orihel became the school’s all-time female scorer. Recognizing priorities, more on that later.

“We came together,” said junior Ryanne Allen, who scored 18 points. “We knew what we had to do. Our thing is, ‘Just one game at a time.’ We found open shots and we knocked them down. Now we’re moving on.”

A star in her own right, Ryanne Allen lauds teammate Kaitlyn Orihel

Mike McDonald talks about another big win & his all-time leading scorer

The Lady Vikings’ next challenge will be a doozy when they take on Scranton Prep at 7 PM Tuesday. Though it will help to again play at home, Wood will face a District 2 Classics’ squad that enters with an 18-1 record and a 74-35 blowout of Central Columbia in the quarters. 

If Wood plays with the same defensive intensity as they did against GMA, though, Scranton Prep would face a major challenge of their own.

Buoyed by Orihel’s 24 and Allen’s 18, the Lady Vikings (15-2) seized a 14-6 lead after one quarter and meticulously distanced themselves from the never-say-die Monarchs. At the third-quarter buzzer, a vintage Orihel trey upped Wood’s lead to 46-32 and pretty much eliminated any ultimate-victor suspense.   

Wood coach Mike McDonald talked about Wood’s ability to defend all over the court. He also specifically extolled key contributions from junior Bri Bowen (seven points; four-for-four from the line), senior Dana Kiefer (two three-pointers), sophomore Delaney Finnegan (a trey and a rebound/put back), and senior Noelle Baxter (constant disrupter of GMA’s set offense). 

“Gwynedd is very patient,” said McDonald. “We wanted to up the tempo. Our pressure made some of their shots a little short. We’re doing a lot of things well. We have that sense of urgency. If you defend, rebound, and go after loose balls, the offense takes care of itself."

With this basket, Kaitlyn Orihel became the all-time leading scorer for Wood Girls Basketball, eclipsing the previous mark set by Pam Rosanio:

All-time Archbishop Wood point scorer Kaitlyn Orihel talks about her record and moving onto state semifinals.

Pam Rosanio sits down for an exclusive interview with John Knebels to reminisce about her playing career as a Viking, and congratulate Kaitlyn Orihel for breaking her all-time scoring record!

Orihel’s three-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer gave the four-time, first-team All-Catholic 1,415 career points, which tied 2004 graduate Pam Rosanio’s all-time girls’ mark. (Current boys’ senior Rahsool Diggins, whose Vikings also advanced to the state semis, set the school record earlier this season.)

After a Gwynedd basket on the first possession of the fourth quarter, Bowen avoided GMA’s press and inbounded to Orihel, who immediately passed back to Bowen, who in turn found Baxter to the left of center court.  One of the Catholic League’s most adept passers, Bowen saw Orihel waving for the ball as she sped up the court. 

Despite a nearby defender anxious to intercept, Baxter dished a perfect bounce pass to Orihel. Despite efforts from three Monarchs, Orihel took one dribble and as she has done hundreds of times, banked in a layup.

With 7:30 remaining in the fourth quarter of a state quarterfinal played at home in front of a mask wearing, socially distanced crowd, Kaitlyn Orihel had catapulted herself into the record books.  

“After I scored my 1000th point (last year), it was definitely the next goal of mine,” said Orihel. “But coming into the season knowing we had limited games, I knew it was going to be less likely, but still possible. 

“I tried not to get too much into my head about it, but I knew it was still achievable. To be able to do it at states, especially at home . . . it’s great.”

After the game, public address announcer extraordinaire John McBride informed the crowd what had occurred about 20 minutes earlier. Orihel’s teammates and coaches embraced the Villanova-bound guard, who has now scored 1,426 career points, with, hopefully, two games remaining.

“I actually did not know how far she was,” said Allen, a first-team All-Catholic. “I knew she was somewhere around there. I knew she was just going to play her game. I’m really happy for her. That’s awesome. Everyone coming together to help her reach her goal and for us to reach our own goal is pretty awesome.”

It was appropriate that Baxter assisted on Orihel’s record breaker. The two have been close friends and teammates since . . . forever.

“I am super proud of her and everything that she has accomplished here at Wood,” said Baxter. “Kaitlyn has worked so hard for this, and no one deserves it more. I can’t wait to see what she does at ’Nova.”

McDonald recalled the first time he saw her in a Wood uniform.

“I knew she was going to be a special player when she showed up at our first workout and she was battling our seniors,” said McDonald. “She’s not afraid. She wants the big moment . . . wants the big game. When everything is on the line, that’s when Kaitlyn Orihel steps up and plays her best. 

“I appreciate not so much the player, but the person. The way she treats her teammates, she makes it fun. It’s a joy to be around her. She’s been an awesome person, and any accolades she gets is deserving and I couldn’t be happier for her.”

Paul Orihel reminisces about daughter Kaitlyn’s early basketball days.

Carla Orihel couldn’t be prouder of her daughter Kaitlyn's accomplishment

Rosanio, who went on to have a stellar career at the University of Massachusetts – she started all but one game, averaged 15.9 points per contest while scoring 1,466, averaged five rebounds, and dealt 306 assists – and didn’t skip a beat while competing internationally, was a Wood assistant coach during Orihel’s sophomore season.

When McDonald reached out last year and asked about her career total, Rosanio knew that her record was in serious jeopardy of being overtaken. Now 34, she could not have been more pleased that, barring losing too many games because of the coronavirus, Orihel would probably be the new queen of scoring.

“It’s quite an accomplishment,” said Rosanio, who congratulated Orihel by phone. “She’s a great kid. I always say that it’s important to be a good basketball player, but be a great person, and she definitely defines that. I couldn’t be happier for her. 

“I loved coaching her. She’s a player you like to coach, you like to be her teammate, you like to watch her. She’s dynamic, and she has that personality that you wanna be around her, and you want good things for her.”

Those “good things” continue tomorrow night.

In Other Action . . . 

Archbishop Wood isn’t the only Catholic League team still vying for a state title.

With four players reaching double figures, Class 5A Cardinal O’Hara advanced to the semis after defeating District 11 champ Bethlehem Catholic, 64-55.

Junior Maggie Doogan (18 points, eight rebounds, four blocks), junior Sydni Scott (16 points, three assists, three steals), senior Siobhan Boylan (13 points), and senior Amaris Baker (12 points, four assists) paced the 13-4 Lady Lions, who fired eight three-pointers and converted 12 of 14 free throws.

Next up at 7 PM Tuesday is a semifinal trip to undefeated Springfield High School (Delaware County), the District 1 champion that sports a 19-0 record. A win there would send the Lady Lions into the state final four nights later.

“This was a great team win for us,” said O’Hara coach Chrissie Doogan. “The girls played together and did what it took to win. We were able to protect the ball and make foul shots down the stretch to come away with a good win against a very well-coached Bethlehem Catholic team.”

Boylan was relieved to garner a victory after having lost in the Catholic League final last week.

“We really wanted to get back to winning, especially on our home floor because this year we haven’t lost at home,” said Boylan, a second-team All-Catholic. “We knew we couldn’t dwell on the loss and we had to learn from it for states. 

“We all want to win to be the first O’Hara team to bring home a state title, especially the seniors because this is our last chance.”

Class 3A West Catholic also took care of business. Ignited by the three-headed monster of seniors Destiney McPhaul (19 points, 12 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 blocks), Ciani Montgomery (game-high 21 points, 4 assists), and Daziy Wilson (12 points, 4 assists), the Lady Burrs dispelled District 4 champ Loyalsock Township, 62-52.

Tonight at 6:30, West Catholic (9-4) will host District 11 champ Notre Dame-Green Pond (15-4).

“My team has spent the past several years learning how to win, despite how ugly it might look in the process,” said West Catholic’s Beulah Osueke, the reigning Class 3A state coach of the year. “I’m grateful that league play revealed the ills that contributed to us losing. 

“We are in ‘survive and advance’ mode and want to finish what we weren’t able to last season.”

The season has ended for two Catholic League representatives. 

Class 6A Archbishop Carroll fought to a 35-35 tie after three quarters, but they lost their accuracy and fell to and District 11 champ Nazareth Area High School, 50-35. 

Sophomore second-team All-Catholic Taylor Wilson scored 14 (12 in a blistering third quarter) and senior Maggie Grant hit three treys for the Lady Patriots (9-7).

“We were very fortunate to be able to get in a season with the pandemic,” said first-team All-Catholic junior Grace O’Neill. “My teammates and I are thankful to our coaching staff for all they did to make this season happen. 

“Obviously we are disappointed not to have ended with a win, but we saw great growth between our first game and our last game. We’ve grown a lot together over this past season and can’t wait to continue and develop in the off-season.”

West vs. Loyalsock PIAA 3A Game Highlights by James Williamson

After defeating Penn Treaty, 40-21, for the District 12 title behind junior Emma Obfenda (15 points), junior Messiah White (nine), junior Kelly Roache (seven), and senior Sianii Posey (five), Bishop McDevitt ran into Class 2 juggernaut Mahanoy Area High School and fell, 56-26. Obfenda scored nine, Posey eight, White six, and Roache three in a losing effort.

Still, the Lady Lancers finished their season on an up note following a devastating buzzer-beater loss to John W. Hallahan in a much-hyped contest since it had appeared that both squads were playing their final game.

“Winning districts was a great way to end the season,” said senior Kate McNally. “Being the last team in McDevitt history, I am so proud that we can call ourselves district champs.”

Coach Dan Greenberg echoed McNally’s enthusiasm.

“We went into the season with the mindset that we would enjoy every practice and game together,” said Greenberg. “We knew we would struggle, but we struggled as the Lady Lancer Basketball team. 

“The win against Penn Treaty in the D-12 championship game was a great team win and the perfect time to get our first win of the season. The loss in the state playoff game was did not impact this great group of girls one bit. On the bus ride home, they celebrated with each other like they just won the PCL championship.” 

In terms of a positive attitude, it doesn’t get too much better than that.

 

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