Photos/Videos: James Quinn
By: John Knebels
GLEN MILLS, PA – Ugly. Confusing.
Those two adjectives were the recurring description of Archbishop Carroll’s 31-30 win over Cardinal O’Hara in a PIAA Class 6A state tournament semifinal battle Monday night at Garnet Valley High School.
The reason the two words made sense? For most of the game, it took a full-fledge tackle before a foul was called, hence the ugly. But in the end, whistles became more frequent, hence the confusion.
Fitting, therefore, that the margin of victory was provided from the foul line with 5.3 seconds remaining in regulation when senior Taylor Wilson, facing the most important shots of her scholastic career, calmly turned a 30-29 deficit into a 31-30 victory with her 11th and 12th points of the night.
Archbishop Carroll defeats PCL rival Cardinal O'Hara 31-30 to advance to the PIAA 6A state championship - PSD Photo by James Quinn
For the sake of off-the-record confidences, direct quotes about officiating will remain omitted. Then again, both teams were forced to endure the same annoyances.
“We knew we were in for a tough game versus O’Hara,” said Carroll coach Renie Shields, whose Patriots face undefeated 30-0 District 3 champ Cedar Cliff 6 PM Friday at the GIANT Center in Hershey. “O’Hara’s defense has been solid all year and it did not change last night. Both teams showed a lot of grit and will.”
Defending state champion Cardinal O’Hara, which edged Carroll, 40-36, during the regular season, lost an 8-4 lead in the first quarter when the Patriots outscored the Lions by 16-8 in the second. Trailing by seven in the fourth, the Lions rode the offense of sophomore Molly Rullo (15 points), whose two free throws inside the final minute gave O’Hara a 30-28 lead.
When Carroll junior Brooke Wilson – like her sister Taylor a first-team All-Catholic – fouled out with Carroll trailing 30-29 and 16.2 seconds remaining after contributing a mighty 15 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and three steals – Carroll appeared destined for heartbreak.
But somehow, Taylor Wilson had a chance to win the game less than 11 seconds later, and she did just that.
“It was not a pretty game, but it was a great ending,” said Brooke Wilson. “We came together as a team in the last minutes and got huge stops and made some plays when it mattered. I’m so proud of the way we have been playing.”
Watching her sister be celebrated as the heroine made that ending almost surreal.
“Taylor had a great game, and for her to make the game-winning free throws was awesome,” said Brooke. “I’m so proud of her, and to have the moment and opportunity to win a state championship with her and the team is so great.
“We worked so hard all season and our work is starting to pay off. Everyone is playing great basketball right now, clicking when they need to. I’m really proud of this team.”
PIAA 6A semifinal highlights - Archbishop Carroll vs. Cardinal O'Hara - PSD Video by James Quinn
Senior Meg Sheridan, who labeled the contest “definitely one of the most nerve-racking games I’ve ever played,” agrees.
“Our season was definitely a little rocky at the beginning, but I’m so proud of how each one of us still showed up to practice and competed each and every day to get us to this point,” said Sheridan. “I think it is well-deserved after all our hard work and determination to get better at the little things. We’re so excited to have this opportunity and to really come back after all the setbacks this year.”
Comparing their last two scorebooks supplies a clear example of what makes Carroll so dangerous.
In the Patriots’ 55-43 quarterfinal win over Abington, freshman Alexis Eberz led the team with 24 points. In the victory over O’Hara, however, Carroll’s only three scorers were the Taylor sisters and senior Courtland Schumacher, with four points.
“Different players stepped up in various ways, either with clutch baskets, timely rebounds or defense,” said Shields. “Last night, although Lex was not in the books for points, she showed a tenacity that was needed. Against Abington, her teammates fed her the ball at opportune times, and she scored. Last night, they needed her to defend and rebound, and she did.”
PIAA 6A Semifinal Gallery - Carroll vs. O'Hara - PSD Photos by James Quinn
Brooke Wilson stressed the same point.
“It shows that it doesn’t matter who scores as long as we score as a team,” she said. “We had 31 points last night. Lex had some of the biggest stops of the game last night. Without her defense and facilitation on offense, we wouldn’t have scored as many.
“No matter who scores, we always stay in the game as a team, and that’s how we win games.”
(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)
2023 PCL PIAA Girls Basketball Match-ups:
Friday 6 p.m. – PIAA 6A Championship – Archbishop Carroll vs. Cedar Cliff
Saturday Noon – PIAA 4A Championship – Lansdale Catholic vs. Blackhawk
Saturday 6 p.m. – PIAA 5A Championship – Archbishop Wood vs. South Fayette
(All games televised on PCN)