Lansdale Catholic’s point guard, Sanyiah Littlejohn, led the team with 16 points, while Nadia Yemola and Ali Kaltenbacher each added 10
Lansdale Catholic’s girls basketball team advanced to the second round of the PIAA Class 4A state playoffs with a 52-48 victory over Lancaster Catholic on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the excitement of defeating the reigning 3A state champions, the Crusaders kept their celebration low-key, focused on the task ahead, according to MediaNews Group.
The win marked a strong start to the playoffs for Lansdale Catholic, which is just two years removed from a 4A state title, with many of the same players still on the roster, per the report.
The team now moves on to face District 6 champion Forest Hills in the next round.
The game was a challenge for Lansdale Catholic, who initially gained a strong lead but then went through a difficult scoring drought early in the second quarter, falling behind by seven points, according to the article.
However, the team responded with strong defense and offensive execution in the second half.
Lansdale Catholic’s point guard, Sanyiah Littlejohn, led the team with 16 points, while Nadia Yemola and Ali Kaltenbacher each added 10, per the report.
The team’s defense, particularly in the second half, was key to the victory, holding Lancaster Catholic to just five points in the third quarter.
Lancaster Catholic’s Carleigh Anderson was a standout, scoring a game-high 20 points, including four 3-pointers, but the team's injuries and missed opportunities allowed Lansdale Catholic to pull away, according to the article.
Despite Lancaster’s impressive 3-point shooting (50% from beyond the arc), LC’s trapping defense, led by seniors like Grace McDonough, helped stifle their offense.
Read more on the Crusaders' success here.
