PAISAA GIRLS TOURNAMENT ROUND-UP
Each of the seven teams that comprise the girls’ Inter-Academic League competed in the Pennsylvania Invitational Tournament that has now reached the semifinal stage.
Unfortunately, the results included a major local shocker.
Top-seeded Germantown Academy entered with a 24-2 overall record, a 16-game winning streak, and a first-round bye. However, eighth-seeded Shipley played the game of its life and shocked the three-time tournament champ Patriots, 56-50.
The upset-minded visitors seized a 19-8 lead after one quarter and led by 27-23 at halftime. The Patriots, who won the Independent tournament 2009 through 2011, closed to within 43-40 after three quarters and grabbed a late lead, but Shipley closed the deal to improve its record to 15-9 and move onto the tournament semifinals.
This marks the third straight season that GA has been thwarted by Shipley, the past two occurring in the final. The Patriots lost last year, 53-49, as Shipley won its third title in four years.
Germantown Academy's Girls' Basketball Team 2015-16 Inter-Ac Champs -photo courtesy GA Athletics
In defeat, however, the Patriots proved they are winners, responding to interview requests with promptness, class, and earnestness.
Senior Erin Lindahl, a three-year starter who will play at Emory University next season, kept the Patriots close by scoring 20 points, but a better-balanced effort by Shipley – three players scored in double digits – was too much to overcome.
“It was disappointing, but as coach (Sherri Retif) told us afterwards, we can’t let this loss make us lose sight of all the great things we were able to accomplish,” said Lindahl. “We had the second best season in GA history and we can’t let one loss take that away. It’s important to view it that way, especially for the seniors.”
In defeat, Retif extolled her players’ effort and commitment.
“It's unfortunate for our season to end abruptly,” said Retif. “Shipley played like defending state champions and we struggled without (injured) Lauren Oeth. They were the better team in that game.
“I felt we showed composure getting back in the game and taking the lead in the closing minutes, but it wasn't enough to win. I'm so proud of our team and how they defended the league championship.”
4th seeded Irish beat 5th seed Episcopal Academy in PAISAA quarterfinals
Notre Dame – In the first round, the fourth-seeded Irish upended 13th-seeded Westtown, 48-36, behind brilliant efforts by both Caitlin Clark – 11 points, five steals, a perfect 8 for 8 from the foul line in a pivotal fourth quarter – and Kristen Rogers (12 points, nine rebounds). Trailing 21-20 at halftime, Notre Dame engineered a 13-3 third quarter and never trailed again.
The Irish then faced Inter-Ac foe Episcopal Academy, the fifth seed, in the quarterfinals. With Rogers nailing five three-point shots for 15 points and Katie Mayock nabbing eight boards, Notre Dame jumped to a 14-6, first-quarter lead and triumphed, 43-36. EA’s Katie Weaver scored eight points, The Irish will face Shipley in the semifinals, 6:30 PM February 26, at Penn Charter High School.
Episcopal Academy – Before the aforementioned quarterfinal loss to Notre Dame, the Churchmen rolled past 12th-seeded Solebury, 59-21. With 10 different players contributing on offense, Shannon Gillespie’s 11 points led the way. Lily Kuntz hoarded 10 rebounds for Episcopal, which led by 22-0 after one quarter and 38-6 at halftime.
Penn Charter – After receiving a first-round bye and automatically moving into the quarterfinals, the second-seeded Quakers sped to a 17-4 lead but uncharacteristically fell apart offensively in their 43-36 loss to seventh-seeded Abington Friends. Senior Hannah Fox’s sensational career came to a close, and she finished with an astonishing 1,813 points.
Baldwin, seeded 11th, lost to sixth-seeded Mercersburg Academy, 64-54. The tight contest included a combined 39 points from Danielle Hammond (27) and Kejohna Hammond (12).
Springside-Chestnut Hill, seeded ninth, struggled with rebounding and was outscored in each quarter, falling to eighth-seeded Shipley, 63-41. Essence Walden netted 16 points in defeat.
Agnes Irwin, seeded 10th, got 14 points from Alex Blomstrom and nine from Lyndsey Lane, but it wasn’t enough in a 52-41 loss to Abington Friends. After trailing by 13-3 after one quarter and 29-8 at halftime, AI outscored Friends by 23-4 in the fourth quarter.
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.)