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GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: Cardinal O’Hara Defends Catholic League Crown - Team Reflects on Epic Battle Against Neumann-Goretti

By John Knebels - Photos by Kathy Leister - Videos by Angelise Stuhl, 03/01/18, 11:00AM EST

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Cardinal O'Hara Repeats as Philadelphia Catholic League Champions in 54-39 Victory Over Neumann-Goretti - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister

PHILADELPHIA – As the players jostled for position to pose with yet another girls’ Catholic League basketball championship plaque amid a throng of photographers, Katie Curry Gardler did her best to take a few snaps before the sea of dark blue jerseys dispersed and took part in the traditional net-cutting ceremony.

Exactly 30 years ago, Gardler was finishing a stupendous career at St. Hubert’s and would go on to become a bona-fide star at St. Joseph’s University. On Monday night at an electrified Palestra, the mother of four, including O’Hara senior All-Catholic Kenzie Gardler, was part of a boisterous Palestra crowd that witnessed the Lions defeat Neumann-Goretti by a misleadingly distant 54-39.

“I played there many times in my four years in college, but never in front of 10,000 people,” said Curry Gardler. “I was overwhelmed with emotions for Kenzie and the team knowing that only a handful of people have ever experienced that.”

Sometime in the future, it is quite possible that a current O’Hara player will be taking pictures of her daughter doing precisely what she had done when the beauty and promise of youth seemed eternal.

Cardinal O'Hara vs. Neumann-Goretti 2018 PCL Highlight Video

“Time,” said Curry Gardler, “flies by in the blink of an eye.”  

For now, and for the rest of their lives, the Lions (20-4) will have a grand time reviewing film clips of their remarkable achievement – coming back from a 30-21 deficit with 3:26 left in the third quarter to outscore the undefeated, regular-season champ Saints (17-7) by a stunning 33-9 the rest of the way. 

Whether starting, entering as a substitute, or cheering from the bench, every Lion contributed to coach Linus McGinty capturing his 11th Catholic League title at Cardinal O’Hara.

The statistics included senior standout Maura “Clutch” Hendrixson drilling 11 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter and scoring a game-high 26 points; Gardler contributing 17 points and six rebounds and an outstanding floor game; senior Molly Paolino netting three points, stealing four passes, and holding league MVP Jabria Ingram to a season-low nine points; and junior Kerry Patterson, junior Erin Welde, and freshman Siobhan Boylan combining for eight points.

And while districts and states beckon, winning a second consecutive Catholic League championship remains O’Hara’s marquee accomplishment.

Each Lion was asked the same question: What specific memory of this year’s Catholic League championship will you remember most? Consistent with this program’s team-first approach, every varsity player responded.

Maura Hendrixson, senior: “Hugging Mr. McGinty as me, Molly, and Kenzie got subbed out in the fourth quarter knowing we won the Catholic League for the second year in a row.”

Siobhan Boylan, freshman: “The best memory from this year for me was probably the semifinals (a 39-35 victory over Archbishop Wood) when I was at the line with a few seconds left. I think I’ll always remember that.”

Emily Helms, senior: “My favorite memory about winning the Catholic League championship was when the buzzer went off and we all ran to hug each other. Being handed the plaque for the second year in a row was one of the best feelings and made our senior year one we will never forget.”

Kerry Patterson, junior: “The thing I will remember most about winning the Catholic League championship would have to be when there was a timeout called with about 30 seconds left in the game, and the first thing I did was run up to Erin Welde, give her a high five, and say, ‘Me, Katie, and Siobhan are running at you when we win this, so be ready!’ And that’s exactly what Katie, Siobhan, and I did when the buzzer went off, even though Katie and Siobhan may have taken down Mackenzie on their way to Erin.”

Erin Welde, junior: “My most specific memory and something I will never forget about this year is that me and my brother (Bonner-Prendergast freshman James) were both fortunate to be in the PCL final. Even though Bonner lost (to Roman Catholic in the Catholic League championship), it is something we will share forever, and I’m very happy to have experienced it with him.”
Molly Paolino, senior: “My favorite part was probably celebrating afterwards with my best friends. Nothing can beat that.”

O'Hara's Molly Paolino talks about her team's strategy, Kenzie Gardler reacts to winning a second straight PCL title & Kerry Patterson gives props to her senior leaders:

Post Game Press Conference with Cardinal O'Hara head coach Linus McGinty & seniors Molly Paolino, Maura Hendrixson & Kenzie Gardler

Cardinal O'Hara's Coaches, Managers and 2018 Squad Celebrate While Cutting Down the Net:

Steph Huseby, sophomore: “One specific thing I remember was Maura Hendrixson shooting her foul shots at the end of the game. As that was happening, my smile grew with each swish as I realized we were going to become Catholic League champions. I remember looking at the clock after the foul shots and telling my teammates, 'Bring out the ladder. We’re cutting down this net!'"

2018 Championship Photo Gallery by PSD Photographer Kathy Leister

Katie Shallow, sophomore: “My favorite memory is definitely knocking over Mackenzie Gardler while storming the court and celebrating our PCL win against Neumann Goretti. Now we can always look back and laugh at that moment.”

Meg Ricker, senior: “My favorite memory happened under a minute left in the game, the moment everyone realized we will be holding another plaque in just a few short minutes. You could look around and see everyone smiling not able to contain their excitement.”

Jasmin Miller, senior: “I’ll remember the last thirty seconds of the game, when Mr. McGinty subbed me, Emily, and Meghan in. At that moment, it started to really kick in that we won the Catholic League championship again.”

Kenzie Gardler, senior: “Right after we won, we were all jumping and celebrating and I wiped out completely because Katie Shallow   accidentally pushed me because of all the hype. Now we always joke about it and that’s something I will remember because it was hilarious.”   

 

(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)