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Casey, Boccella leading Lansdale Catholic girls' resurgence

02/01/2022, 11:45pm EST
By Andrew Robinson

Andrew Robinson (@ADrobinson3)

LANSDALE — Every time Gabby Casey and Olivia Boccella got in the gym together this summer, two numbers drove them.

Two, as in the total number of wins their Lansdale Catholic team compiled in the 2020-21 season and 11, the number of losses the Crusaders absorbed in that same span. Despite some individual highlights and accolades, including second team all-state and third team all-PCL honors for Casey, both of them knew they could be better but more importantly, their team could be better.

A challenging finishing slate in the PCL looms, but behind Casey and Boccella, Lansdale Catholic has opened a lot of eyes so far this winter.


Casey (above) is a Division I recruit with offers from Delaware and Manhattan. (Photo: Andrew Robinson/CoBL)

"Liv and I were in the gym a lot together this summer at the rec center and I think it really helped us," Casey said. "When I'm driving, I'm trying to locate Liv all the time because she's our best shooter. She's getting really, really consistent and I trust her with the ball where when she shoots it, I know it's probably going in and I can run back on defense."

They don't wear capes, but the Crusaders' dynamic duo was in fine form during Tuesday's 68-37 win over visiting Conwell-Egan that improved LC's record to 6-0 in the league and 13-3 overall. Boccella hit that zone that shooters often only dream of, hitting a career-best 8-of-13 from 3-point range for 24 points with a couple assists while Casey just generally menaced her way to 22 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, six steals and a block.

Merely a sophomore, Boccella is no longer merely a shooter as she was often limited to during her freshman season. A two-year keystone player for Lansdale Catholic's soccer team, Boccella wanted to bring her versatility on the pitch to the hardwood and worked to find ways to continue to be a threat even as opponents started giving her more and more attention with each three she knocked down.

"I've been working on shot-fakes to try and get around people because they know I'm probably going to try and shoot it," Boccella said. "My teammates hype me up a lot, but I definitely feel a lot more confident than last year

With the way she was shooting on Tuesday, it probably wouldn't have mattered what Egan did. The 5-foot-5 guard knocked down five 3-pointers in the opening half then put on an absolute show in the third quarter shooting in front of the LC student section that included her brother Kevin.

Her first three of the quarter, several feet behind the line, was a second-chance hit off a Casey kick-out pass. The other two - her eighth and final hit also assisted by Casey - both came via step-back moves right in front of the student section, each one sending the LC students into total theatrics.

"It was crazy, I don't know, God was definitely on my side tonight," Boccella said. "It feels like all your hard work pays off and to do it for your team, it just feels so good. We haven't really had student sections due to COVID, so this was one of the first ones we've had and it was so exciting."

Making an all-state team as a sophomore, much less following a 2-11 season, is quite an accomplishment. Casey had the numbers, averaging 19.8 ppg, around 10 boards and also leading LC in assists, steals and blocks, but for her it was just motivation. She didn't want to be a stat-stuffer on a team that didn't perform and while her role with her Philly Belles AAU team is different from her role with the Crusaders, it was a good time to put her own work in.

"We really know when to look for each other and just play really well together," Casey, who holds offers from Manhattan and Delaware, said. "Before every game, I tell her 'you and me, you and me, we just have to do our thing.' If we score like we did tonight, I don't think many teams will be able to stop us."

The way they play, it'd be hard to find two players better suited to complement each other the way Boccella and Casey do. Strong, rangy, bouncy and athletic at 5-foot-10, Casey just powers her way toward the rim and usually leaves defenses no choice but to start collapsing on her and that's when she starts looking for Boccella.


Olivia Boccella (above) had 24 points as the Crusaders beat Conwell-Egan on Tuesday night. (Photo: Andrew Robinson/CoBL)

It's a game of attrition when Boccella is on, because with each shot she makes, it eventually forces the defense's hand and it has to come out on her, which then leaves Casey more room to attack and either finish or go to the line.

"They look for one another, especially in transition opportunities and they create good balance on the floor," LC coach Eric Gidney said. "Gabby knows where to find Liv and vice-versa. If teams start to key on Liv, then she knows where to look for Gabby in those situations.

"The funny thing is, we don't really run a lot of two-man stuff for them, they just tend to find each other through our floor spacing and our balance."

Boccella and Casey haven't had to do it all on their own, either. Freshman Sanyiah Littlejohn had 11 points on Tuesday and has been a solid addition while fellow freshman Nadia Yelona is entrenched as a starter, and senior co-captain Lauren Edwards is having her best season with LC. The bench is developing, but as a whole, the Crusaders are a stronger team than last year.

On top of individual and team pride, Boccella and Casey are also linked to LC by family.

Boccella, who resides right in the neighborhood in North Wales had older siblings Jimmy and Julia - a captain on LC's state champion soccer team in 2019 - go through the school, plus Kevin making all that noise in the student section. Casey, who resides in Quakertown, is following her older brother Jimmy, a standout football and basketball player who has joined Florida State's football team as a preferred walk-on tight end.

"I think we both look at it as keeping the legacy going," Boccella said.

Boccella's growth on offense has also funneled to the defensive side. Gidney has charged the sophomore to be the team's catalyst at the top of its matchup zone, which he did because of the way Boccella keeps her composure while expending so much energy and still finding ways to knock down shots.

"She really stepped up from last year," Casey said. "She provides energy and even leadership because we all know we can count on her. She's starting to talk more, which is just bringing her to another level."

"I do feel it a little more, but I still have great leaders this year with our seniors, Lauren and Erin (Clark) and Gabby," Boccella said. "I think I'm getting there a little more in terms of being a leader."

Coupled with the step forward their top two scorers have taken, LC hasn't just reversed trend in the PCL, it's picked up wins against District 1 6A teams including Souderton, Neshaminy and West Chester Rustin this season.

It's a long way from 2-11 but it's also a long way from over. LC finishes its league slate with Cardinal O'Hara, Neumann-Goretti, Archbishop Wood and Archbishop Carroll, four of the league's perennial powerhouses, and more than likely a rematch with one of them in the league quarterfinal round.

"I hope we can prove a point with these next few games," Casey said. "I think as a team, we know we can win but it's on us to really put it into action. I think I have to continue to bring the energy and get everyone involved so we're all on the same page. When we play as a team, I think we're really, really good."

Simply by value of being one of two unbeatens left in the PCL, LC already has a target going into this final stretch but it's a target the Crusaders' top scorers are looking forward to measuring up against.

"I feel like we have something to prove," Boccella said. "We had a bad record last year and these teams may think we're not as talented as them because of our season last year but I think we can definitely play with them. Even if I'm not shooting well, my teammates will shoot well.

"It's not just me, we have a whole team."

By Quarter
Lansdale Catholic:  15  |  21  |  24  |   8   ||  68
Conwell-Egan:         8   |  12  |   7   |  10  ||  37

Scoring
Lansdale Catholic: Olivia Boccella 24, Gabby Casey 22, Saniyah Littlejohn 11, Lauren Edwards 4, Erin Clark 3

Conwell-Egan: Mya Aizen 11, Lily Milewski 8, Saniyah Spell 7, Kyliah Carmichael 3, Molly Milewski 3, Sara Aschenbrenner 2, Brooke McFadden 2


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