PHILADELPHIA-- Neumann Goretti and Archbishop Wood are two of the best teams in the Philadelphia Catholic League for girls’ basketball. Last season, both teams met at the Palestra to play in the PCL Finals. Although Archbishop Wood received the victory last season, the game not only left fans wanting more, but it set up a great story line for the rematch.
Both teams entered the game Sunday undefeated in the PCL season.
This game did not disappoint. Wood (15-6 overall, 11-0 league) beat the Saints (16-4, overall, 10-1 league) 40-39 in overtime.
“It’s always a great game” said Archbishop Wood senior and Chestnut Hill Collge commit Cassie Sebold. “It’s always competitive, it’s always intense. Everyone’s adrenaline is pumping. I think, it’s whoever comes to play that day the game can go either way.”
With both teams equally skilled, it would not be an easy victory.
Meg Neher dives on a loose ball steal to end the game. Katie May and Erin Morgan were there to help her up - Photo courtesy of Wood parent, Donna Eckert
“We told our team they have to sprint back, have to box out and attack the ball on rebounds and have to take good shots,” said Vikings’ head coach Mike McDonald. “We also told them win or lose we are finishing 1st or 2nd in the league and heading into the playoffs, so just have fun.”
To get the true impact of how intense this matchup was, one just had to sit in the stands for a few moments. You could feel the intensity and passion permeating throughout the gym not only from the players but from the spectators, parents, officials and coaches as well.
“It was a pretty crazy game," said co-captain Shannon May, a Philadelphia University of the Sciences commit. “They had a lot of fans who were really loud and cheerleaders, so it was a very intense environment.”
Intense indeed and by the end of the contest, it was all about free throws.
“We were all in foul trouble,” said Sebold, who along with (Shannon) May fouled out of the game. Sebold finished with 10 points with 4-for-4 on free throws. Junior Katie May led the game board with 17 points on the day.
Neumann-Goretti turns the ball over late in the second half
NG's Jabria Ingram forces overtime with last minute shot
Crucial free throws made by Wood’s Katie May
Offensive foul called on NG on last chance game winner
Both teams were tied at 32 heading into the fourth quarter. Sebold hit for 2 giving Wood the lead with a little more than two minutes left. May responded with a one-and-one with about 19 seconds left but the Saints were right there with the tying field goal coming from junior Jabria Ingram whose driving basket sent the game into overtime.
With about 2:15 in left in overtime Sebold made another two from the foul line and then May again with another one-and-one giving the Vikings a 40-37 lead with 45 seconds left to play. It was Neumann-Goretti senior Ashley Jones (game high 17 points) who would answer back with a two-shot foul.
With about 16 seconds left on the clock, Wood gained possession of the ball after a missed free throw, the clock seemed to stall.
“The clock hadn't started for about 4.5 seconds (according to a stop watch against the film) of possession, so the official blew the play dead to fix the clock. I had thought a foul was called at the exact time the ref blew the whistle. I didn't notice the clock didn't start until after it was blow dead as I was watching the play. My assistants were yelling for the clock to start,” said McDonald.
Saints’ head coach Andrea Peterson thought the Vikings had called a time-out despite using their last two with about a minute left to play.
After a long discussion by the officials, a technical foul was not called and Wood kept possession of the ball.
“Officials don’t lose the game for you. We have to make more shots. We play for opportunities to win and you really can’t put it on them. We have to hold ourselves accountable and we have to make shots when we have the opportunity,” said Peterson.
With 3.2 seconds left, Wood senior Meg Neher fell on loose ball killing the clock.
“We played as a team and pulled it out,” said (Shannon) May. “It was hard to sit on the bench and watch the game unfold, but I believed in them and we pulled it out.”
“It was a great win. I'm extremely proud of how hard our girls fight to grind out wins like this,” said McDonald.
If you think this game was intense… playoffs are just around the corner!
The Lady Vikings will play their last PCL game tomorrow night away against St. Hubert’s. Game time is 7 p.m. Neumann-Goretti will play Hallahan on their home court, Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.