PHILADELPHIA –They did it with defense.
When you hold a team to a composite nine points during the second and third quarters, you’re going to win most of the time. So it was that Archbishop Carroll defeated Bonner-Prendergast, 49-36, in a Catholic League semifinal February 19 at Jefferson University.
The victory put top-seed Carroll into the Catholic League championship against three-seed Archbishop Wood February 25 at the Palestra.
Carroll vs. MBAP Game Highlights by Zamani Feelings:
Carroll vs. MBAP - photos by Zamani Feelings
Carroll vs. MBAP - photos by Zamani Feelings
“There was a lot of preparation for what they run,” said junior Erin Sweeney. “We were focusing on the main concepts, breaking it down and practicing.”
Sweeney played like the first-team All-Catholic like she is. She scored six, six, four, and seven points from quarters one through four. Along with her 23 points, Sweeney added seven rebounds, three steals, and a block.
Any time the five-seed Pandas starting inching back, Sweeney and freshman second-team guard Grace O’Neill thwarted the momentum.
“All the games we have played,” said Sweeney, explaining why the Patriots seem so poised during strife. “Just trusting each other that we will be able to bounce back.”
Along with three rebounds and two steals, O’Neill tallied 15 points and was eight for 10 from the line.
O’Neill admitted that there was a revenge factor because B-P had dealt Carroll its only league loss.
“We came together as a team,” said O’Neill. “It helped with motivation We wanted to go to the Palestra They’re a rival. We have friends on that team.”
Senior second-teamer Harlem Jennings, who scored nine points and grabbed three boards, was asked to assess how Carroll has been so successful since the beginning of the season.
“We definitely grew a lot from the beginning games,” said Jennings. “We are definitely more mature and have a better team chemistry. We are like best friends. Every we are together for like three hours of practice every day.”
Erin Sweeney, Grace O'Neill & Harlem Jennings can't wait to go to the Palestra:
Harlem Jennings fires a perfect in-bound pass to Erin Sweeney for a layup - discussed in above video:
Carroll head coach Renie Shields says her team takes things one game at a time:
Varsity water girls, freshmen Rose Henry, Mary Finley & Katie Koroly, are equally as excited to keep the team hydrated at the Palestra:
Eight lead changes in the first quarter portended a back-and-forth contest, but the Patriots outscored the Pandas by 10-5 in the second and 13-4 in the third. Thanks mostly to senior Ariana McGeary (14 points, seven rebounds), junior Dakota McCaughan (11 points), senior Maeve McCann (nine points), and sophomore Alexis Eagan (four steals), the Pandas reduced a 37-22 deficit to 38-33 in a span of three minutes.
But the Patriots regained control and finished the game on an 11-3 run.
“Tonight we were tested really well defensively,” said Carroll coach Renie Shields. “Prendie came after us.”
(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.comor on Twitter @johnknebels.)
2019 PCL Championship at the Palestra, Monday, Feb. 25
No. 1 Archbishop Carroll vs. No. 3 Archbishop Wood - 6:30 PM
*Boys' championship to follow*