EBENSBURG — Bishop Carroll Catholic and Saint Joseph Academy, it’s secure to say, have seen an excessive amount of one another over the last two ladies basketball seasons.
Bishop Carroll eked out a 57-52 win towards the Wolves in a Christmas vacation standalone sport on Dec. 27, 2024. The Huskies adopted with a 68-63 victory in a District 6 Class 1A semifinal matchup on Feb. 22.
All this makes it even safer to say the championship spherical matchup within the Bishop Carroll Catholic tipoff match Saturday evening was significantly anticipated and welcomed.
Bishop Carroll sophomore Emily Lucko agreed the 2 District 6 Class 1A powers have cast a wholesome rivalry in these current years.
“All their fans are so nice. There’s no bad blood. It’s a fun rivalry to have,” the match’s Most Valuable Player mentioned after she led Bishop Carroll to a 62-51 victory towards the Wolves at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School.
Lucko scored a team-best 20 factors, grabbed 10 rebounds and added three steals within the title sport. She scored a complete of 31 factors within the post-Thanksgiving occasion and grabbed 20 rebounds.
“Starting off from our game (Friday), we were trying to get our intensity up. We got the win, which boosted our confidence,” Lucko mentioned. “And then coming into this game we were trying to have energy from the start and keep that throughout the entire game.”
“For the second game I think our team came through. (We had) a lot of ups and downs. We had the lead. We (prefer to) go 1 through 15, we couldn’t go that deep tonight. But I think everybody’s ready to go, and I think we held up in the test tonight. Saint Joe’s is a great team. I’m sure we’ll see them again down the road,” Huskies coach Nick Smith mentioned.
Bishop Carroll led by as many as 14 factors within the second half. The Wolves turned to a full-court press halfway by means of the third quarter. The press made the Huskies uncomfortable and prevented Smith from utilizing his complete lineup.
“Saint Joe’s is a really tough team. (They have) good defenders. They are really aggressive. I think they relate well to us in that way,” Lucko mentioned.
“This is a learning game as well, second game of the season. We don’t know how to play with the lead. We don’t know how to play behind. We’re learning every game; we’re learning every practice. They fought to the end. And I’m proud of them,” Smith mentioned.
“It was a great tournament for us to come to and play different competition to what is offered to us in practice. So, it was a good thing. We can walk away with a lot of good things,” Saint Joseph’s coach Bethany Irwin mentioned.
Juniors Adelyn Myers and Ava Pablic added 12 factors apiece for the Huskies. Myers led Bishop Carroll with 11 rebounds. Sarah Miller, a senior, produced 4 steals.
Aubrey Yartz led Saint Joseph’s with factors. Naomi Crispin hit three 3-point discipline targets to account for a part of her 15 factors. Jacee Cunningham added 10 factors and 9 rebounds.
Cambria Heights held DuBois scoreless within the third quarter and simply received the third-place sport, 55-21.
“We talked at the half about coming out strong, especially our defense,” Highlanders coach Eric Thomas mentioned. “To give up four in a half is pretty good. So I was really pleased with that. I thought we gave a nice solid all-around team effort.”
Cambria Heights freshman Julie Karlheim scored a game-high 15 factors, adopted by classmate Brienna Kirsch (12 factors) and senior Kinley Rogal (10).
Avery Fontaine led the Beavers with seven factors.
CHAMPIONSHIP
SAINT JOSEPH’S (51): Luckovich 2 0-0 5, Crispin 5 2-3 15, Cunningham 4 2-2 10, Yartz 9 0-0 18. Himes 0 0-0 0, Fetzer 1 1-2 3. Totals — 21 5-9 51.
BISHOP CARROLL (62): Delauter 1 0-0 3, Lucko 7 5-6 20, Miller 3 2-2 9, Ad. Myers 5 0-0 12, Pablic 4 1-2 12, Olienyk 1 0-0 2, Av. Myers 2 0-0 4. Totals — 23 8-10 62.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Saint Joseph’s 15 9 10 17 — 51
Bishop Carroll 14 15 16 17 — 62
3-point discipline targets: Saint Joseph’s 4 (Crispin 3, Luckovich), Bishop Carroll 8 (Pablic 3, Ad. Myers 2, Delauter, Lucko, Miller).
Officials: Terri Piatak, Vicki Markiewicz, Collin McGuinness.
Team information: Bishop Carroll (2-0), Saint Joseph’s (1-1).
CONSOLATION
DuBOIS (21): A.Kennis 2 0-0 5, T.Fontaine 2 1-2 5, A.Fontaine 2 2-2 7, Gray 1 0-1 2, Woods 1 0-0 2. Totals – 8 3-5 21.
CAMBRIA HEIGHTS (55): Rogal 4 1-2 10, Bender 2 0-0 4, L.Karlheim 4 0-1 9. J.Karlheim 5 5-6 15, Kirsch 5 0-0 12, Abrams 2 2-2 6, Adams 0 0-0 0. Totals – 22 8-11 55.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
DuBois 10 7 0 4 – 21
Cambria Heights 14 11 18 12 – 55
3-point discipline targets: DuBois 2 (A.Kennis, A.Fontaine), Bishop Carroll 3 (Kirsch 2, Rogal).
Officials: Taylor Gruss, Courtney Cecere, Jamie Boyles.
Team information: Cambria Heights (1-1), DuBois (0-2).