City of Basketball Love

By Corky Blake
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BETHLEHEM — Archbishop Carroll’s girls basketball team was in desperate need of a spark in the first half of its PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game against Central Dauphin on Friday night at Liberty High School’s Memorial Gym.

The District 12 champion Patriots offensively scuffled through the first quarter shooting 3-for-13 overall while not making one visit to the free throw line. They trailed 8-7 entering the second quarter despite forcing nine Central Dauphin turnovers.

When her team was unable to inbound the ball under its basket and was whistled for a five-seconds infraction, Archbishop Carroll coach Renie Shields looked to her left and summoned Maddie McFillin to enter the game – for the first time all season.

McFillin’s last organized basketball game came to a crashing halt last spring in a travel team tournament in Atlantic City. She tore the ACL in her left knee when a part of the temporary court gave way.

“I tore it in May and got surgery June 19,” McFillin said. “This is the exact time they thought I’d be back – 8 ½, 9 months.”

The senior guard played most of the rest of the half. She sank a 3-pointer from the wing to help the Patriots gain a little separation and most importantly provide the infusion of energy they needed to emerge with a 42-28 victory to send them into next Friday’s semifinals against District 1 champion Perkiomen Valley at a time and site to be determined. 

McFillin knew she was ready to play. 

“A week and a half ago I went to the doctors, and they cleared me,” McFillin said. “I’ve been slowly practicing the past couple of weeks and incorporating into the team.”

Shields knew McFillin was going to see action against Central Dauphin, the fourth-place team from District 3.

“Maddie shows up every day,” Shields said. “She did rehab throughout most of the season, and about six weeks ago got back into a little bit of active play. It was just a matter of time before she was physically and mentally ready. How many minutes did I think she’d play tonight? Not as many as she did.”

McFillin’s teammates were ecstatic to see her back on the court, even if they were unsure if and how many minutes she’d be able to contribute.

“I knew she was cleared, but I didn’t know when she’d be back,” said freshman guard/forward Kayla Eberz who led the Patriots with 16 points. “Thank God she was because she helped us a lot tonight. When she came onto the court it was like, ‘Wow, let’s go Maddie!’ She’s back and it was awesome.”

McFillin’s 3-pointer came after junior guard Alexis Eberz connected on a pair of technical foul shots to put Archbishop Carroll ahead for good, 10-8, with 3:06 left until intermission. McFillin earned more minutes when she moved to point guard after her sophomore sister, Abby, collected her second foul late in the first half and then her fourth foul with 1:41 to go in the third quarter.

Maddie McFillin showed there was nothing she couldn’t do despite playing with a heavy brace on her left leg. In the third quarter, she raced out on the break and caught a pass in stride for a layup. Then, she threaded a pass to Kayla Eberz for a layup and a 29-19 lead with one second left in the quarter.

“I knew I was going to play, coach told me,” Maddie McFillin said. “I was a little nervous; I had to get my nerves out. Once I started playing it felt natural. I’m used to it (brace). I was trying to be a positive spirit because everyone seemed a little down (in the first half).”

Archbishop Carroll averaged 60 points in its previous state tournament wins over Council Rock South and Wilson-West Lawn. The Patriots weren’t going to reach that number against the Rams (18-9), who held Scranton to 30 points and District 11 champion Parkland to 23.

“Defense. It definitely was our defense tonight,” Shields said. “We weren’t giving up points, but we weren’t creating any offense off the defense. We didn’t make shots. It’s hard to make shots when you can’t get in a rhythm. To shoot or not shoot. Then doubt starts to take over. You need to get the ball moving, which I don’t think we did a great job tonight but give credit to their defense. We knew it would be a slower game.”

Indeed, the Patriots held Central Dauphin to eight fields overall and 1-for-11 shooting in the third quarter when they built their 10-point lead. The Rams were 8-for-36 from the field. Two of their 3-pointers were high, arching shots that banked in.

“We had to keep our composure and keep playing defense and keep working hard and stay together as a team,” Kayla Eberz said.

Alexis Eberz, who drew her second foul before the opening quarter had concluded, shook off her shaky first half to score eight of her 12 points in the second half. She had scored 39 points in the first two state games.

Now, Archbishop Carroll will spend the next week preparing for Perkiomen Valley, a familiar opponent. The Vikings beat previously-unbeaten Hazelton Area in another quarterfinal to advance to the semifinals for the first time with a group led by Grace Galbavy (Wake Forest) and Quinn Boettinger (Navy).

“Last year we played them twice and the year before once,” Maddie McFillin said. “We have to work hard for that game and prepare this week and scout them.”

“They’re very good; we know how good they are,” Shields said. “One through five they’re very strong ...  but it helps to have Maddie back.”   

By Quarter
Archbishop Carroll (20-9): 7 | 10 | 12 | 13 || 42
Central Dauphin (18-9): 8 | 5 | 6 | 9 || 28

Scoring
Archbishop Carroll: Kayla Eberz 16, Alexis Eberz 12, Maddie McFillin 5, Abby McFillin 4, Bridget Grant 3, Bridget Archbold 1, Brooke Olander 1.

Central Dauphin: Maya Dickerson 13, Kayanah Taylor 1 3-4 5, Syncere Matthews 5, Lilly Froelich 1, Mikayla Matincheck 1.