NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA – The Lady Lions of Cardinal O’Hara (5-2 PCL) fought back to secure a crucial 48-46 road victory last night against the Archbishop Ryan Ragdolls (7-1 PCL).
The game came down to harnessing the simple fundamentals of basketball. O’Hara managed to prevail through a 34-28 third quarter deficit by focusing on playing tough defense and sinking free shots. In the fourth quarter, the Lady Lions went 10 of 11 from the foul line, which accounted for half of O’Hara’s 20 points in the final stanza of play.
Ryan vs. O'Hara Highlight Video:
“At halftime we realized that none of our shots were really going in and that we needed to drive to the basket more and really box out on defense. Ryan is a lot bigger and they were making all of their shots, so the ones that they missed we needed to box out and get the rebound,” said O’Hara senior, Maura Hendrixson.
During the first half of the game, the Ragdolls controlled the offensive tempo. Junior Monee Moore led Ryan on offense, scoring 7 of her 17 total points in the opening two quarters.
O’Hara senior Kenzie Gardler shifted the momentum for her team in the third quarter, hitting two key three-point baskets. Gardler ended the night with 24 points for the Lady Lions. O’Hara seniors Molly Paolino and Hendrixson were quick to credit their co-captain with leading the team to victory.
“Everyone contributed a little bit tonight. Mackenzie (Gardler) stepped up in the third quarter when no one else’s shots were going in,” said O’Hara senior Molly Paolino, who went three-for-three from the foul line in the fourth quarter.
“Kenzie has stepped up every game for us so far and especially tonight,” said Hendrixson, who ended the game with 11 points.
O’Hara’s Molly Paolino talks about the importance of this win as a momentum shift
O’Hara’s Maura Hendrixson discusses her team’s game plan and execution
Coming into the game, the Ragdolls made school history by winning 17 consecutive games. The team will use this game as a learning experience in order to rally through their upcoming games against two more tough Catholic League opponents, Neumann-Goretti (6-0 PCL) and Archbishop Carroll (5-2 PCL).
“We have to close out our games more,” said Ryan senior, Annie Cashman. “We were ahead the entire time. In the fourth quarter, O’Hara started to bring more pressure and we kind of panicked a little bit. We have to keep our composure. Definitely closing out games is important and if we can get that done I think we should win these next few games.”
Archbishop Ryan seniors Caela Russell & Danielle McCurdy and junior Taliyah Rahman talk about team improvements for their upcoming games:
Looking Ahead: Archbishop Ryan will travel to play an undefeated Neumann-Goretti squad in South Philadelphia at 6:00p.m. tomorrow evening. Cardinal O’Hara will host Bonner-Prendie (7-2 PCL) tomorrow night at 7:00p.m.
O’Hara Stats:
Kenzie Gardler – 24 points
Maura Hendrixson – 11 points
Molly Paolino – 5 points
Stephanie Huseby – 4 points
Kerry Patterson – 2 points
Siobhan Boylan – 2 points
Ryan Stats:
Monee Moore – 17 points
Taliyah Rahman – 10 points
Caela Russell – 8 points
Danielle McCurdy – 8 points
Shayne Glenn – 3 points
Box Score
O’Hara: 8, 8, 12, 20 – 48
Ryan: 9, 10, 15, 12 – 46