The historic miracle that happened at the Cathedral of College Basketball in the final 50-47 Philadelphia Catholic League title fight between victorious Lansdale Catholic’s Crusaders and Archbishop Wood’s Vikings Monday night had all the right ingredients for a Hollywood movie.
There was the perfect venue: the cherished and sold-out Palestra at Penn. There were the determined Crusaders (23-2), exiting the dust left behind in the semifinals trampling of Archbishop Carroll, being led to conquest by senior Gabby Casey, 3-point leader junior Olivia Boccella, rebound whiz Jaida Helm, and Nadia Yemola.
There was the dominance of Wood (19-5) in the second and third quarters aided by the fierce Kara Meredith, who would end up putting 19 points on the board, and her teammate Ava Renninger. The Crusaders were ahead, then behind, then ahead. Then, they were tied.
Wood got the best of the Crusaders in the middle, but the fourth quarter was theirs.
There was the clock, ticking down to 1:00. There was the colossal steal from sophomore Sanyiah Littlejohn to setup the final possession of the game.
The clock dropped to under 20 seconds. Casey eyed an open Boccella, she sent her the ball, Boccella planted it at the 3-point line and fired. It went in.
Then, there was the timeout from Wood with 11 seconds left.
Wood’s Deja Evans went for a desperate three-pointer – it rolled around the rim and ejected at the final tick of the clock.
The crowd went wild for the all-timer – the 2022-23 Lansdale Catholic Girls’ Basketball team made history and clinched their first-ever title.
On Twitter, PA Prep Live’s Andrew Robinson called Wood’s fourth-quarter “a tremendous, tremendous effort to rally back”
Sportswriter Dick Weiss, a columnist for the NY Daily News, said on Twitter that “winning this league is more important to city schools than winning PIAA state title.”
Casey, who is headed to St. Joe’s next season and is an LC standout with shooting and rebounds, told PA Prep Live Boccella was an amazing shooter and player.
“Liv can hit that shot all day,” said Casey, who racked up 15 points. “That was the key to the game.”
All in all, Boccella had four 3-pointers, Casey and Helm had two 3-pointers each, and Yemola nabbed one. Helm also collected seven rebounds and three assists.
“That was the most incredible feeling ever,” Boccella told PA Prep Live.
For more play-by-play of the title game, check out PA Prep Live and The Inquirer.
See also:
North Penn Opening Up Crawford Stadium Track for Community Use
North Penn High School to Be Featured on Fox 29 News Football Friday
New Lansdale Catholic Athletic Director to Take Reins Sept. 1
Star North Penn Wide Receiver Yazeed Haynes Decommits from Penn State
Nor-Gwyn Legend Jim Rittenhouse Inducted Into Hall of Fame
