Wilson girls basketball avoided back-to-back first round exits in the state tournament with their 51-46 win against Upper Dublin last Friday, but they didn’t want that to be their mark of success.
Heading into their second round matchup with Archbishop Carroll, their goal of state champions remained the same. However, they would find out early that they would be in for a fight all night with the back and forth of the first half.
In the second half, head coach Matt Raquet’s team was facing foul and turnover troubles. Carroll would take the extra possessions and run with it, leading to the end of Wilson’s run.
Wilson (19-9) fell to Archbishop Carroll (19-9) 60-41 Tuesday night at Spring Ford Area high school in the second round of the PIAA 6A state championships.
“We lost some of their shooters and then lost them in transition a bit,” said Raquet. “It’s tough to score with them in transition.”
The game started very fast paced for both squads. The first timeout didn’t come till the 2:42 mark of the second quarter. All-conference player Kailani Hardy got on the board early in the game. She would finish with 20 points.
Her two threes and an additional eight points from BCIAA All-Division1 member Laura Crocona kept the Bulldogs’ offense afloat. A 13-10 first quarter lead would soon dwindle and eventually be lost. Alexis Eberz was hitting on all cylinders for Archbishop Carroll with 10 points of her own in the first half.
A 26-27 halftime deficit wasn’t the end of the world for Wilson. Despite some foul trouble early for Hardy and Crocona, the bench unit came ready. Janai Tisdale and Jade Lee each provided baskets with under a minute left to take some momentum into the locker room. Lee made her presence felt around the rim with five first half rebounds off the bench.
“Our game plan, especially tonight, started on the defensive end,” said Raquet. “We wanted some of our defense to generate our offense.”
Hardy came out of the half strong, scoring her team’s first six while grabbing two rebounds to end Archbishop Carroll’s possession after one attempt. However, her foul trouble came back to bite her again, picking up her third one with 3:32 in the third.
Carroll was able to take advantage of this, adding quick four points to their lead to extend it to six before Raquet had seen enough, calling his second timeout of the quarter.
A strong quarter from Alexis Eberz and Kayle Eberz left Wilson in a 46-39 deficit heading into the final period. Alexis finished with 23 points and Kayla with 18.
The foul trouble wouldn’t stop at the players in the fourth quarter. After what Raquet believed was a questionable non-call, he was struck with a technical foul. Hardy went back into the game at the 5:49 mark with four fouls when Wilson found themselves in a 10-point hole and non fourth quarter baskets.
After Carroll was able to break the press of Wilson’s defense, the lead would only grow wider and they executed enough passes to dwindle the clock enough on every possession.
A 33-15 second half would propel Carroll past Wilson with a 60-41 victory.
Archbishop Carroll will player the winner of Parkland and Central Dauphin on Friday at a time and site to be determined.
Source: Berkshire mont
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