2018 Philadelphia Catholic League PIAA State Tournament Round-Up
First Round :
Nyah Garrison’s ninth and final point with eight seconds remaining secured Bonner-Prendergast’s 41-37 victory over Northern Lebanon in the first round of this weekend’s PIAA girls’ state basketball tournament.
Teammates Alexis Gleason and Dakota McCaughan tallied 10 points apiece. The Class 4A Pandas used a 12-5 third quarter to turn a 19-17 halftime deficit into a 29-24 lead heading into the final stanza.
“That was a big win for us,” said senior Emily Monaghan. “We knew in order to win it would be important to make sure everyone was involved, and luckily we were able to make a few big plays together as a team at the end.”
Monaghan and the Pandas are not strangers to their next opponent, Bethlehem Catholic.
“We know what a good team they are,” said Monaghan. “We have seen them before. It’s important for us to keep playing like a team and focus on our defense.”
Bonner-Prendie vs. Northern Lebanon - PSD Highlight Video by Brittany Doney
MBAP Photo Gallery by Brittany Doney
MBAP vs. Northern Lebanon - photos by Brittany Doney
In other first-round action, Class 5A Archbishop Wood opened up a 13-4 first-quarter lead and then employed a stifling defense to thwart Springfield-Delco, 46-25.
Bridget Arcidiacono scored 13 and Katie May added nine in a foul-plagued scrum that included a combined 42 whistles.
“It was a hard-fought defensive battle,” said Wood coach Mike McDonald. “The fouls made it hard to get in a rhythm. Our defensive pressure seemed to take them out of what they wanted to run. Offensively we were able to take advantage of our size down low and Bridget Arcidiacono did an awesome job attacking the rim. Katie May requires extra attention down low and was able to find shooters open on the perimeter. I’m very happy with our performance.”
PSD Wood vs. Springfield Gallery by Kevin Murphy
The Vikings now face Twin Valley in the second round.
“They’re pretty big and strong,” said McDonald. “We have to be aware of where Peyton McDaniel is all the time and have to keep Taylor Blunt in front of us. Additionally we have to hit a body for rebounds every time and make sure we have weak side help to defend their pick and rolls.”
Class 2A West Catholic whipped Steelton-Highspire, 76-45. The Burrs outscored their opponents in every quarter.
“The team showed up with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm,” said West Catholic coach Beulah Osueke. “This is the most fun I’ve seen them have all season.”
Additional highlights from local teams included Catholic League MVP Jabria Ingram netting 19 points as Class 3A Neumann-Goretti more than doubled Pine Grove, 69-32 . . . Molly Masciantonio spearheaded Class 5A Archbishop Carroll to a 46-37 win over Villa Maria Academy by scoring a game-high 23 points. The Patriots had trailed by double digits midway through the third quarter but finished with a 28-9 blitz.
Catholic League champion and Class 6A Cardinal O’Hara was stunned by Upper Dublin, 42-35, in double overtime. The brilliant career of Kenzie Gardler and Maura Hendrixson, bound for Villanova and Drexel, respectively, came to an anti-climatic close.
Hendrixson led the Lions with 17 points and drilled three straight free throws with seven seconds remaining to send the game into a first overtime, which went scoreless for both teams. Gardler added 15 points.
“It was a tough loss,” said Hendrixson. “It was definitely not the outcome we wanted. Our shots weren’t falling in the second half and we wish we could have won the game for Coach (Linus) McGinty.”
West Catholic vs. Steelton Highspire - PSD Highlight Video by Chip Frenette
Neumann-Goretti vs. Pine Grove - Highlight Video by Zamani Feelings
Maura Hendrixson hits a 3-pointer for O'Hara
The PIAA tournament resumes Tuesday, March 13 with a pair of 6 PM contests as 2A West Catholic meets Southern Columbia at Hamburg High School and 3A Neumann-Goretti faces Loyalsock Township at Central Dauphin East High School. On Wednesday, 5A Archbishop Carroll plays Lower Dauphin 6 PM at Governor Mifflin High. A pair of games begin at 7:30 as 5A Archbishop Wood battles Twin Valley at Harriton High School while 4A Bonner-Prendergast takes on Bethlehem Catholic at Spring-Ford High School.