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ALTOONA, Pa. – The Bishop Carroll Catholic High School girls basketball team’s memorable season ended against defending state champion Bishop Guilfoyle Academy Saturday afternoon.
But coach John Strittmatter’s postgame message to the underclassmen-heavy team after a 49-42 setback in the PIAA Class 1A semifinal round at Altoona High School focused on the future.
“I told them this is not the end of a chapter,” Strittmatter said after the Huskies closed a 21-8 season. “It’s the beginning of a chapter for us. We take all of our accomplishments that we did this year and we build on it for next year.
“It starts in the summer. Let’s work hard and fix the little things that we all need to get better at. We’ll be here next year.”
District 6 champion Bishop Guilfoyle (29-2) won a rematch of the district title game by overcoming a sluggish third quarter with an 8-0 spurt to open the fourth. The Marauders have won 19 consecutive games to earn a spot in Friday’s PIAA Class 1A championship game in Hershey.
“In the third, they really ramped up the defensive effort and we really struggled to put the ball in the basket,” said Marauders coach Kristi Kaack of Bishop Carroll’s 10-5 third-quarter margin that led to a 33-all tie entering the final eight minutes.
“I got into the kids in the huddle going into the fourth and said, ‘That’s our motto. That’s what we like to do on the defensive end of the floor,’ ” Kaack said. “I thought once we settled in and made them take some tough shots, we did a much better job in the fourth quarter.”
Bishop Carroll sophomore Ava Pablic hit back-to-back 3-point field goals to give the Huskies a 33-31 lead with 2:19 left in the third quarter.
“I feel like that hyped all of us up and got us ready to get into the next play. Got us back into it,” said Pablic, who scored 11 points, with three 3-pointers and six rebounds.
Bishop Guilfoyle freshman Layonna Williams drove to score a basket with 8.1 seconds left in the quarter to make it 33-all.
The Marauders scored the first eight points in the fourth quarter to take a 41-33 advantage with 4:06 to play.
During the decisive stretch, Williams added two more field goals – for six straight points and 14 overall. Freshman Mary Haigh and sophomore Anberlyn Petrecca each had baskets.
“She’s a freshman that definitely does not play like a freshman,” Kaack said of Williams. “She plays with confidence all the time. She has an edge.”
Bishop Guilfoyle sophomore Morgan Ruggery (14 points) scored eight fourth-quarter points, including 6 of 8 on the free-throw line down the stretch.
“The most important thing was getting excited and still staying positive when we were down,” Ruggery said. “I’m really proud of how we did that. We kind of went on a run and that’s really big for us.”
The Marauders outscored the Huskies 16-9 in the fourth quarter to earn a return trip to Hershey. There, they will face District 3 champion Linville Hill, which won 60-45 over District 4 champ Lourdes Regional.
The title game will be at noon Friday in the Giant Center.
“I just told our kids that with (Bishop) Carroll trying to have the opportunity to do it and our kids having already done it, I just don’t want that to be lost on them,” said Kaack, who led the Marauders to the state championship wins in 2021 as well as 2024’s 35-17 victory over Mountain View.
“This is a really special experience and I don’t think (Bishop) Carroll could have come out and played much better to try to beat us and go to Hershey on Friday.
“I just want our kids to soak it in and enjoy this moment.”
Bishop Guilfoyle is 58-5 over the past two seasons, including a three-game sweep over Bishop Carroll this season.
Bishop Carroll made a good impression in its first state semifinal appearance since 2018. The Huskies had won PIAA crowns in 1A in 1987, 2002 and 2003 and placed second in 1996 and 1998.
“I thought our girls did a great job,” Strittmatter said. “I think we surprised (Bishop) Guilfoyle a little bit. I don’t think they thought it was going to be this way. I’d like to give them credit. Congratulations to (Bishop) Guilfoyle. I hope they can pull this out next Friday.”
Strittmatter started four underclassmen, including sophomore Madelyn Myers, who netted a team-high 14 points Saturday. The Huskies will lose two key contributors in seniors Maddie Lieb (four points) and Caroline Golden.
“The seniors have been fantastic,” Strittmatter said. “They’ve done anything that I’ve asked them to do. They’re unselfish players. If one starts, the other one doesn’t.
“They’re not mad. They’re a joy to coach and I wish they were coming back.”
The Huskies shared a moment on the floor after leaving the locker room on the way out of the gymnasium. The players and coaches reflected on the moment and looked ahead.
“I’m really proud of us. I thought we came out here and played really hard,” Pablic said. “I think it’s a huge accomplishment to get this far. The final four, we haven’t been here in a long time.
“We came out here and played our butts off.”
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
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But coach John Strittmatter’s postgame message to the underclassmen-heavy team after a 49-42 setback in the PIAA Class 1A semifinal round at Altoona High School focused on the future.
“I told them this is not the end of a chapter,” Strittmatter said after the Huskies closed a 21-8 season. “It’s the beginning of a chapter for us. We take all of our accomplishments that we did this year and we build on it for next year.
“It starts in the summer. Let’s work hard and fix the little things that we all need to get better at. We’ll be here next year.”
District 6 champion Bishop Guilfoyle (29-2) won a rematch of the district title game by overcoming a sluggish third quarter with an 8-0 spurt to open the fourth. The Marauders have won 19 consecutive games to earn a spot in Friday’s PIAA Class 1A championship game in Hershey.
“In the third, they really ramped up the defensive effort and we really struggled to put the ball in the basket,” said Marauders coach Kristi Kaack of Bishop Carroll’s 10-5 third-quarter margin that led to a 33-all tie entering the final eight minutes.
“I got into the kids in the huddle going into the fourth and said, ‘That’s our motto. That’s what we like to do on the defensive end of the floor,’ ” Kaack said. “I thought once we settled in and made them take some tough shots, we did a much better job in the fourth quarter.”
Bishop Carroll sophomore Ava Pablic hit back-to-back 3-point field goals to give the Huskies a 33-31 lead with 2:19 left in the third quarter.
“I feel like that hyped all of us up and got us ready to get into the next play. Got us back into it,” said Pablic, who scored 11 points, with three 3-pointers and six rebounds.
Bishop Guilfoyle freshman Layonna Williams drove to score a basket with 8.1 seconds left in the quarter to make it 33-all.
The Marauders scored the first eight points in the fourth quarter to take a 41-33 advantage with 4:06 to play.
During the decisive stretch, Williams added two more field goals – for six straight points and 14 overall. Freshman Mary Haigh and sophomore Anberlyn Petrecca each had baskets.
“She’s a freshman that definitely does not play like a freshman,” Kaack said of Williams. “She plays with confidence all the time. She has an edge.”
Bishop Guilfoyle sophomore Morgan Ruggery (14 points) scored eight fourth-quarter points, including 6 of 8 on the free-throw line down the stretch.
“The most important thing was getting excited and still staying positive when we were down,” Ruggery said. “I’m really proud of how we did that. We kind of went on a run and that’s really big for us.”
The Marauders outscored the Huskies 16-9 in the fourth quarter to earn a return trip to Hershey. There, they will face District 3 champion Linville Hill, which won 60-45 over District 4 champ Lourdes Regional.
The title game will be at noon Friday in the Giant Center.
“I just told our kids that with (Bishop) Carroll trying to have the opportunity to do it and our kids having already done it, I just don’t want that to be lost on them,” said Kaack, who led the Marauders to the state championship wins in 2021 as well as 2024’s 35-17 victory over Mountain View.
“This is a really special experience and I don’t think (Bishop) Carroll could have come out and played much better to try to beat us and go to Hershey on Friday.
“I just want our kids to soak it in and enjoy this moment.”
Bishop Guilfoyle is 58-5 over the past two seasons, including a three-game sweep over Bishop Carroll this season.
Bishop Carroll made a good impression in its first state semifinal appearance since 2018. The Huskies had won PIAA crowns in 1A in 1987, 2002 and 2003 and placed second in 1996 and 1998.
“I thought our girls did a great job,” Strittmatter said. “I think we surprised (Bishop) Guilfoyle a little bit. I don’t think they thought it was going to be this way. I’d like to give them credit. Congratulations to (Bishop) Guilfoyle. I hope they can pull this out next Friday.”
Strittmatter started four underclassmen, including sophomore Madelyn Myers, who netted a team-high 14 points Saturday. The Huskies will lose two key contributors in seniors Maddie Lieb (four points) and Caroline Golden.
“The seniors have been fantastic,” Strittmatter said. “They’ve done anything that I’ve asked them to do. They’re unselfish players. If one starts, the other one doesn’t.
“They’re not mad. They’re a joy to coach and I wish they were coming back.”
The Huskies shared a moment on the floor after leaving the locker room on the way out of the gymnasium. The players and coaches reflected on the moment and looked ahead.
“I’m really proud of us. I thought we came out here and played really hard,” Pablic said. “I think it’s a huge accomplishment to get this far. The final four, we haven’t been here in a long time.
“We came out here and played our butts off.”
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
Continue reading...
