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PIAA 6A: Cardinal O'Hara hopes to start another run with win over Conestoga

03/11/2023, 2:15am EST
By Owen McCue

By Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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RADNOR — Throughout a run to the PIAA Class 5A title last season, O’Hara stars Sydni Scott, Maggie Doogan, Annie Welde and Molly Rullo went up against a hungry second unit daily in practice.

As the Lions took the court Friday night against Conestoga in hopes of beginning another deep postseason run, only Rullo, now a sophomore, remained from that core. The iron that sharpened last season’s state champion was out on the floor with her.

“They had to go against three Division I players everyday,” O’Hara coach Chrissie Doogan said. 


O'Hara guard Joanie Quinn, right, scored 18 points in Friday's win over Conestoga. (Photo: Dan Hilferty/CoBL)

Several of last year’s bench and reserve players have made their way into the rotation this season, including junior Joanie Quinn, who scored 18 points in Friday’s 50-42 victory over the Pioneers in a PIAA Class 6A opener. Rullo added 15 and junior Carly Coleman, another reserve last season, added 10 as the Lions kept their season alive.

“Coming into this year, what made our team better last year was our practice players who came in everyday,” Rullo said. “And then they stepped up big this year, and it’s been fun to play with them in the PCL playoffs and now in states. We’re excited for our run.”

Rullo helped District 12’s top seed out to an early lead over District 1’s 11 seed on Friday as the Pioneers broke a six-year absence from the state playoffs. The Lions (21-5) led 13-7 after the first quarter and 21-19 at halftime — a couple big triples by ‘Stoga freshman Ryann Jennings, who finished with 20, helped tighten things up.

A triple by Quinn to start the third quarter seemed to settle O’Hara. The Lions went on a 10-2 run to start the period and extend their advantage to 31-21 on a bucket by Coleman. 

“We talk about the first three minutes of the third quarter a lot and setting the tone,” Doogan said. “That’s huge. I feel like we never have the ball to start the second half. Tonight, we had the ball and Joanie made the three and it just gives everyone a sense of relief a little bit. That was a huge shot. That kind of got us going a little bit and we just kind of went from there.”


Conestoga forward Janie Preston, right, eyes the rim Friday. (Photo: Dan Hilferty/CoBL)

Quinn had just two points in the first half, but found her shooting stroke in the third with eight points, including a pair of threes, as the Lions entered the final period with a 39-28 lead.

“It think it’s just our simplicity and our ability to hit shots and our ability to trust our teammates to hit the shots,” Quinn said of the team’s third-quarter run. “We know that we’re good enough to go up against any team. We’re good enough to play against any team, and it’s just a matter of hitting shots and knowing that the next pass is gonna be there and they’re going to make it.”

Along with Jennings’ 20 points, junior guard Marisa Francione chipped in 11 and sophomore forward Janie Preston scored 10 in Friday’s win. The Pioneers whittled the lead down to seven twice in the fourth, but O’Hara refused to turn the ball over, giving ‘Stoga very little time with the ball to make its comeback attempt.

“We tried to get some traps, tried to get some turnovers, but we expended a lot of energy at that point in time,” Conestoga coach AJ Thompson said. “The kids kept fighting. I’m super proud of them, but they (O’Hara) were good at the end of the game to be able to control it, take the air out of it a little and get the win.”


O'Hara's Carly Coleman, left, attempts a shot as Conestoga Ruth Lanouette tries to defend. (Photo: Dan Hilferty/CoBL)

Quinn gave credit to this year’s second unit for prepping the Lions for the late-game situation.

“The people that we play against in practice are always really intense like the second string is always bringing the intensity, so it’s like we’re in a game everyday at practice,” Quinn said. “We’re used to it.”

Conestoga doesn’t have a senior in its rotation, so pretty much everyone will be back next year to try and improve on this season’s finish. The Pioneers’ junior class of Francione and Katrina and Isabella Valencia started their careers with a 5-9 record before being booted in the first round of districts last season. They’ll come back next season with another bar to try and surpass.

“It’s great for the kids to see it and for us to continue to see that process everyday,” Thompson said. “It kind of means that we’re doing the right stuff. It feels like we’ve got the kids, the offense, the defense and the hustle and the scrapping. It just feels like we’re on the right track and next year should be a good one.”

O’Hara will stay in District 1 with its next state opponent as the Lions face District 1 four seed Spring-Ford — a 55-27 winner over Dallastown.

“I think we just need to keep playing O’Hara basketball like our coach tells us every day,” Quinn said. “Just play our way and it’s gonna go our way, hopefully.”

By Quarter

Conestoga: 7 | 12 | 9 | 14 || 42
O’Hara: 13 | 8 | 18 | 11|| 50

By Scoring

Conestoga: Ryann Jennings 20, Marisa Francione 11, Janie Preston 10, Ruth Lanouette 1.

O’Hara: Joanie Quinn 18, Molly Rullo 15, Carly Coleman 10, Greta Miller 4, Megan Rullo 3.


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