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KITTANNING, Pa. – The biggest thorn in Bishop McCort Catholic’s side was finally removed.
The District 6 champion Crimson Crushers overcame recent history and a weak start as it posted a 47-43 victory against Kennedy Catholic in a PIAA Class 2A girls’ basketball quarterfinal game Friday night at Armstrong Junior-Senior High School.
Bishop McCort played like a team that was oblivious to its two previous meetings, which the Golden Eagles won by scores of 60-48 (2023) and 60-34 (2024).
“We practiced way different. We practice every day like it’s just another game. There’s enough pressure on the girls to begin with, so we didn’t even talk about it,” Bishop McCort coach John Hahn said.
“Last year, we were very nervous, anxious, missing shots. This year each time we messed up, the teammates would instantly bring you up, coach would say, ‘It’s OK. Shoot the next time,’ ” sophomore Zoey Ferguson said.
“We trust in each other and trust ourselves. We have so much confidence and we’re always communicating,” senior Elle Berkebile said.
Bishop McCort meets Penns Manor March 21 in a rematch of the District 6 championship game. The Comets downed District 9 champion Redbank Valley 42-29 in the nightcap at Armstrong.
“They played great defense. They worked hard. We knew they were a great team, very well-coached. Sometimes if you can’t put the ball in the hole, it’s hard to win games,” Kennedy Catholic coach Justin Magestro said.
The Crimson Crushers missed their first 10 field goal attempts, but still trailed 6-2 before Ava Zucco broke the shooting drought at the 2:27 mark of the first period. The second quarter began tied at 8.
“We struggled putting the ball in the hole (during) the first half. I thought we played hard defensively in the first half,” Magestro said. “There was a lid on the hoop.”
Berkebile converted a steal with a layup that put Bishop McCort ahead for good at 14-13 with 2:00 left before halftime. She produced five steals.
“Elle Berkebile has the quickest hands, (but) she’s overlooked,” Hahn said. “She is probably the best defensive player I have coached. She’s tremendous.”
A 3-point field goal by Cami Beppler and another steal and layup by Berkebile pushed the lead to 21-16 at the break. Beppler led the Crimson Crushers with 17 points.
“I think we really developed over the years. We had to rely on two scorers, and they knew how to take us out. But this year, if you take one of us out, we have four other scorers. So everyone knows how to score on our team,” said Berkebile.
Layke Fields, Kennedy Catholic’s physical center, got her points (25) and rebounds (nine), all right. Ferguson fronted Fields to the point of irritation while she received help from the other Crimson Crushers defenders.
“My coach in practice pushed me hard, yelling at me to be on her, lay on her and irritate her,” said Ferguson, who added 16 points and ripped down 12 rebounds.
“She got mad about it.”
“I thought they did a really nice job of pushing her under the basket and preventing her from getting offensive rebounds,” Magestro said.
Bishop McCort outrebounded the Golden Eagles 37-27.
The Crimson Crushers grabbed 15 offensive rebounds.
“We believe in our man-to-man defense. In the first half, we did a really good job on Layke,” Hahn said. “In the second half, when we had a seven-, eight-point lead and Ava and Zoey were in foul trouble, I said, ‘Don’t foul her. Give her the two, and we’ll come down and we’ll work through that.’ ”
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The District 6 champion Crimson Crushers overcame recent history and a weak start as it posted a 47-43 victory against Kennedy Catholic in a PIAA Class 2A girls’ basketball quarterfinal game Friday night at Armstrong Junior-Senior High School.
Bishop McCort played like a team that was oblivious to its two previous meetings, which the Golden Eagles won by scores of 60-48 (2023) and 60-34 (2024).
“We practiced way different. We practice every day like it’s just another game. There’s enough pressure on the girls to begin with, so we didn’t even talk about it,” Bishop McCort coach John Hahn said.
“Last year, we were very nervous, anxious, missing shots. This year each time we messed up, the teammates would instantly bring you up, coach would say, ‘It’s OK. Shoot the next time,’ ” sophomore Zoey Ferguson said.
“We trust in each other and trust ourselves. We have so much confidence and we’re always communicating,” senior Elle Berkebile said.
Bishop McCort meets Penns Manor March 21 in a rematch of the District 6 championship game. The Comets downed District 9 champion Redbank Valley 42-29 in the nightcap at Armstrong.
“They played great defense. They worked hard. We knew they were a great team, very well-coached. Sometimes if you can’t put the ball in the hole, it’s hard to win games,” Kennedy Catholic coach Justin Magestro said.
The Crimson Crushers missed their first 10 field goal attempts, but still trailed 6-2 before Ava Zucco broke the shooting drought at the 2:27 mark of the first period. The second quarter began tied at 8.
“We struggled putting the ball in the hole (during) the first half. I thought we played hard defensively in the first half,” Magestro said. “There was a lid on the hoop.”
Berkebile converted a steal with a layup that put Bishop McCort ahead for good at 14-13 with 2:00 left before halftime. She produced five steals.
“Elle Berkebile has the quickest hands, (but) she’s overlooked,” Hahn said. “She is probably the best defensive player I have coached. She’s tremendous.”
A 3-point field goal by Cami Beppler and another steal and layup by Berkebile pushed the lead to 21-16 at the break. Beppler led the Crimson Crushers with 17 points.
“I think we really developed over the years. We had to rely on two scorers, and they knew how to take us out. But this year, if you take one of us out, we have four other scorers. So everyone knows how to score on our team,” said Berkebile.
Layke Fields, Kennedy Catholic’s physical center, got her points (25) and rebounds (nine), all right. Ferguson fronted Fields to the point of irritation while she received help from the other Crimson Crushers defenders.
“My coach in practice pushed me hard, yelling at me to be on her, lay on her and irritate her,” said Ferguson, who added 16 points and ripped down 12 rebounds.
“She got mad about it.”
“I thought they did a really nice job of pushing her under the basket and preventing her from getting offensive rebounds,” Magestro said.
Bishop McCort outrebounded the Golden Eagles 37-27.
The Crimson Crushers grabbed 15 offensive rebounds.
“We believe in our man-to-man defense. In the first half, we did a really good job on Layke,” Hahn said. “In the second half, when we had a seven-, eight-point lead and Ava and Zoey were in foul trouble, I said, ‘Don’t foul her. Give her the two, and we’ll come down and we’ll work through that.’ ”
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