Photos/Videos: Colleen Claggett, Donna Eckert, Rachel Macauley, Lennie Malmgren, Mike Nance, Ryan Nix, Angelise Stuhl, Kee Vandaway & Krystal Williams
By: John Knebels
PHILADELPHIA – While cameras and videos recorded her marquee personal achievement, a smiling Gabby Casey stood against a wall and held a huge rectangular poster that displayed the Lansdale Catholic junior in full uniform holding a basketball with the oversized numbers 1000 emblazoned right to left.
Above her floated four balloons – a gold number “one” followed by three blue zeroes.
But even though the celebration of reaching 1,000 career points provided better sentiment Sunday night, the more important numbers were on the scoreboard in the Spring-Ford High School gymnasium.
Lansdale Catholic 49, Allentown Central Catholic 41.
Lansdale Catholic junior Gabby Casey makes career milestone 1000 pt. (video/Colleen Claggett for PSD)
Lansdale Catholic junior Gabby Casey honored after scoring her 1,000th point in PIAA 4A victory vs. Allentown Central Catholic - PSD Photo by Colleen Claggett
The PIAA Class 4A victory puts the Crusaders into the quarterfinal round against Delone Catholic 7:00 Wednesday at Lancaster County’s Garden Spot High School.
“My 1,000th was everything I had ever imagined,” said Casey. “It was a surreal feeling being able to share it with my teammates and family. Reaching my 1,000th as a junior was one of my personal goals for this season and it feels like all the work I have been putting in has been paying off.”
Needing nine points to reach quadruple digits, Casey attained the mark on a baseline drive early in the second quarter. While becoming the third Crusader to score 1,000 career points in five years (Lauren Crim in 2018; Timaya Lewis-Eutsey in 2020), Casey would finish with 25 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
“The fact that we got the playoff win was more important than reaching my 1,000th,” said Casey, “because I knew there would be more games to come.”
Lansdale Catholic junior Gabby Casey Talks about her milestone achievement and goals going forward. (Video/Colleen Claggett for PSD)
Lansdale Catholic head coach Eric Gidney talks about Gabby's team mentality and heading into the Quarterfinals. (Video/Colleen Claggett)
Freshman Sanyiah Littlejohn held high-scoring Molly Driscoll of Allentown Central Catholic to two points in the second half after she had led all scorers with 14 points in the first half. Freshman Nadia Yemola supplied a huge 11 points that included three treys.
LC coach Eric Gidney, who made a point of lauding both Littlejohn and Yemola, was asked about Casey.
“It was so great to watch Gabby be celebrated by her teammates while still being able to take another step in what has really been an incredible season for this team,” said Gidney. “To have Gabby reach this milestone in her junior year after only playing in 13 games her sophomore year is quite remarkable. And to get this win and return to the state quarterfinals for the second time in three years – and after a 2-11 season last year . . . I’m just so proud of this team.”
Lansdale Catholic vs. Lancaster Catholic - PIAA 4A 1st Round - PSD Photos by Mike Nance
Lansdale Catholic vs. Allentown Cen. Cath. -PIAA 4A 2nd Round- PSD Gallery by Colleen Claggett
Tonight at Archbishop Carroll, a pair of Catholic League opponents will battle in the Class 3A quarterfinals.
District 12 top-seed Neumann-Goretti faces three-seed Conwell-Egan. The Saints advanced by defeating Bloomsburg, 61-39, and the Eagles moved on following nail-biting 58-55 victory over Western Wayne.
“We started off slow in the first quarter,” said N-G coach Andrea Peterson. “Once we were able to settle in, we started making shots and moved the ball well. We had everyone contribute on both ends of the floor.”
In the Saints’ two tournament games, Mihjae Hayes (49), freshman Carryn Easley (25), and senior D’Ayzha Atkinson (21) have sparked the offense. In the second-round win, Hayes added four steals and Atkinson grabbed seven rebounds.
In a Catholic League meeting on Feb. 7, Neumann-Goretti overwhelmed Conwell-Egan, 80-44.
In Conwell-Egan’s win over Western Wayne, sophomore Brooke McFadden collected 14 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Freshman Lily Milewski scored a game-high 16 points and sophomore Mya Aizen tallied 13. Sophomore Saniyah Spell dished six assists and grabbed five boards.
Neumann-Goretti defeated Bloomsburg 61-39 in the PIAA 3A second round - Video by Kee Vandaway:
In a 52-44 first-round win over York Catholic, McFadden scored 18 while Milewski contributed 13 rebounds and five blocks. Spell added 10 points and five rebounds. Junior Kyliyah Carmichael produced eight 8 rebounds and seven assists.
“We mitigated some of issues that we had against York Catholic in the first round,” said C-E coach Chris Brennan. “The girls simply just played better, smarter and more composed against a really good Western Wayne team. The girls’ maturity and overall level of play has been rising in each of the two rounds.”
Conwell Egan vs. Western Wayne - PIAA 2nd Round. (photos/Conwell Egan Athletics)
Neumann-Goretti vs. Brandywine Heights - PIAA 3 A 1st Round - PSD Photos by Krystal Williams
With junior Deja Evans’ 13 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks pacing the victory, defending state champion Archbishop Wood defeated Scranton Prep, 44-21, and will take on undefeated Gwynedd-Mercy Academy (26-0) 7:00 Wednesday at Wissahickon High School.
The Vikings placed eight players in the scoring column.
“We really did a tremendous job defensively executing the game plan to limit their primary scorers and take away open threes for their shooters,” said Wood coach Mike McDonald. “The team as a whole was outstanding defensively. (Junior) Delaney Finnegan and (senior) Bri Bowen were the leaders in that regard, as they held (Scranton standout Lizzie Neville) scoreless through three quarters and two points for the game.
“We needed to be great defensively, because we were not offensively. We will look to get a better rhythm going Wednesday, but defense and rebounding will ultimately be what gets us back to Hershey.”
Bowen, who scored 11 points, agreed.
“Scranton Prep was well-coached and slowed us down a bit on offense, but we pulled it together and turned it on after the first quarter,” said Bowen. “Our defense won us the game.
“We are really excited to try and win back-to-back state titles. It won’t be easy, but we have been in this situation before and know what it takes to win because we are Wood. The competition will be tough like it always is in states, but we are ready for the challenge. We need to play relentless defense, play as a team, and have fun.”
Archbishop Wood vs. Scranton Prep. (video/Donna Eckert for PSD)
Wood vs. Scranton Prep - PIAA 4A second round Gallery by Donna Eckert for PSD
Another defending champ maintained momentum as Cardinal O’Hara pushed aside Greencastle-Antrim, 57-29.
Freshman Molly Rullo scored a career-high 22 points and snared six rebounds. Senior Maggie Doogan amassed 13 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Senior Annie Welde notched a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.
“Before the game we talked about defense and composure with their pressure, and I thought we did a great job with both,” said O’Hara coach Chrissie Doogan. “I thought we did a great job sharing the ball and taking away their strengths. Excited to play another day.”
Cardinal O'Hara vs. Bishop Shanahan - PIAA 5A first round. (Video/Ryan Nix for PSD)
Unfortunately for Archbishop Carroll, a 47-44 second-round loss to Cedar Cliff ended its season.
After falling behind by double digits, the Patriots clawed back to within two points but couldn’t take that last step.
Junior Taylor Wilson (16 points, eight rebounds), senior Grace O’Neill (12 points, four assists, three steals), and senior Maggie Grant (11 points, five rebounds) supplied almost all of the offense. Injured standout sophomore Brooke Wilson was limited to a brief stint in the third quarter.
“I couldn’t do much,” said a disappointed Wilson, a second-team All-Catholic.
For O’Neill, an outstanding scholastic career came to a close.
A field hockey stalwart whose two goals – including the double-overtime winner – led Carroll to the PCL field hockey title in the fall, O’Neill scored 364 points this winter while eclipsing the career 1,000-point plateau. She was a main factor in Carroll’s 2019 PCL championship.
After the loss, O’Neill was joined by her freshman sister Kate O’Neill and spoke with PSD’s Angelise Stuhl about what these past four years have meant to her.
“This is obviously not the outcome that we wanted,” said O’Neill, displaying her veteran skills by first analyzing the defeat. “We didn’t box out in the first half, and defensively we’re a better team than that. Second-chance opportunities let them score, and we had problems scoring in the first quarter.
“I played on a great team and I could not have asked for a better coaching staff. They do everything for us. They’re the best people. I could not have asked for better role models. As a team, we’re best friends . . . going out for breakfast on Saturday mornings and hanging out every day after school.”
Grace’s advice to Kate was to “stay close as a team.” Kate intends to follow that mandate, both in basketball and in lacrosse.
Carroll vs. Neshaminy - PIAA 1st Round Highlights by Lennie Malmgrem:
Carroll vs. Neshaminy - PIAA 6A 1st round photos by Lennie Malmgren for PSD
Carroll vs. Cedar Cliff - PIAA 2nd Round Highlights by Angelise Stuhl:
“It was really special having such positive role models,” said Kate. “The upperclassmen that I look up to – I see their focus and determination, always in the gym shooting.
“I want to carry that over to lacrosse – make sure your teammates are your friends – not just your teammates.”
Although senior Gianna Grassifulli managed a tough 10 points despite being prioritized by her opponent, St. Hubert dropped a first-round Class 5A decision to visiting Marple-Newtown, 48-27.
The Bambies fell behind, 11-0, but true to their style, they maintained their feisty approach and tightened the gap to 22-13.
St. Hubert’s kept the score close at 30-20, but a dominant fourth quarter by the Tigers sealed the deal.
St. Hubert vs. marple Newtown. (video/Rachel Macauley for PSD)
(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)