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Carroll downs O'Hara in battle of PCL unbeatens

02/02/2022, 12:00am EST
By Ty Daubert

Ty Daubert (@TyDaubert)

RADNOR — On the night Archbishop Carroll honored its seniors, experience paid dividends.

Taking on Cardinal O’Hara in a battle of the unbeatens on Tuesday, the Patriots kept their poise down the stretch to pull away with a senior night victory.


Grace O'Neill (above) and Carroll remained unbeaten in Catholic League play. (Photo: Ty Daubert/CoBL)

“As a team, we’ve been in that situation before,” senior guard Grace O’Neill said. “I’ve been very lucky to be able to play in some very competitive games. I feel like it prepared me to play at this stage.”

O’Neill orchestrated Carroll’s late-game offense and hit free throws in the closing minutes to help guide the Patriots past O’Hara, 49-39. With both teams entering the game at 6-0, the win propelled Carroll to first place in the PCL girls’ basketball standings.

“For the girls, it’s great,” Patriots head coach Renie Shields said. “I think it’s exciting for them to play in front of a crowd, and to play who we consider the top team in the Catholic League, O’Hara, and play well is a tribute to them in focusing on finishing out the game.”

After a senior-night ceremony for O’Neill, who will play for Drexel next season, and Villanova-bound forward Maggie Grant, the two teams engaged in a low-scoring contest.

Physical defense led to methodical offensive possessions on both sides for most of the game. Carroll, able to convert on a few more chances, took a 22-18 lead into halftime.

O’Hara continued to keep things close into the second half. While O’Neill limited 1,000-point scorer and Marshall commit Sydni Scott to only six points on two made field goals, the Lions made a push behind an 11-point night from senior Annie Welde.

When a Welde free throw cut Carroll’s lead to two points with five minutes remaining, junior Taylor Wilson responded with a pair of free throws, and would hit another pair just a few possessions later. 

As the Patriots continued to get stops, points kept coming on the offensive end. Meg Sheridan added a layup to extend Carroll’s lead to eight, then O’Neill buried two free throws to bring it to 10 and finish with a comfortable cushion. O’Neill recorded 10 second-half points to finish with 15, a mark matched by Wilson.

“I think just being physical and keeping calm offensively,” O’Neill cited as factors in closing out the game. “Then defensively just being aware.”

The defensive effort Carroll showed on Tuesday was a major key to its success, and the team will need to replicate it going forward. The Patriots look to keep themselves in good positions, while remaining physical and disciplined. As shown against O’Hara, staying locked in against good opponents should keep them in almost any game.

“If you rely on your offense to tell you how well you’re going to play, you better stop playing,” Shields said. “You’re either on or you’re off, and a good team shoots about 42%, so you don’t want to show up 42% of the time defensively.”

It’ll be especially important throughout the rest of the season for Carroll after taking the top spot in the PCL. Starting with Neumann-Goretti on Thursday, opponents will bring their best against the Patriots as they look to take down that No. 1 team.

“It’s good confidence to have,” Shields said. “But at the same time, you have an ‘X’ on your back. People are coming after you. You have to be at the top of your game any time you play in the Catholic League.”

One of those teams, of course, will be O’Hara. Led by Scott and forward Maggie Doogan, the Lions are as dangerous a team in the PCL as any. And while Carroll has the edge as of now, a rematch in the league playoffs could very well be coming at the end of the season.

“O’Hara is very good, and that’s not the last we’re going to see them,” Shields said of the defending PIAA Class 5A state champs. “No one is going to lie and say they’re not good. They’re very good.”

Heading into the postseason, Carroll wants to keep bringing the same intensity as the regular season comes to a close. Coming off last year’s success and a win in the biggest test of this season, the Patriots know what it takes to win. Now it’s just time to keep it rolling when it matters most.

“Keep on winning, PCL playoffs,” O’Neill said, “these are all things that we’re looking forward to.”

By Quarter
Archbishop Carroll:  11  |  11  |   6   |  21  ||  49
Cardinal O'Hara:      10  |   8   |   5   |  16  ||  39

Scorers
Cardinal O’Hara: Annie Welde 11, Molly Rullo 9, Maggie Doogan 7, Sydni Scott 6, Bridget Dawson 5, Joanie Quinn 1

Archbishop Carroll: Grace O’Neill 15, Taylor Wilson 15, Brooke Wilson 8, Meg Sheridan 7, Maggie Grant 3, Chloe Bleckley 2


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