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District 1/2 Girls Game Recap (Scranton Prep vs. Villa Maria Academy)
 

District 1/2 Girls Game Recap (Scranton Prep vs. Villa Maria Academy)

Written by: Jon K on January 28, 2023

 

 

January 28, 2023

 

Classics Drop Heartbreaker to Hurricanes

 

Villa Maria Academy 54, Scranton Prep 53

 

by Jon K.

SCRANTON – Scranton Prep had quite the challenge ahead on Saturday afternoon at the Xavier Center as the Classics were going up against traditional AACA powerhouse Villa Maria Academy, the current #1 rated 5A team in District 1.  While the Hurricanes arrived in the Electric City sporting a lofty 16-2 record, the Classics never flinched and played near-perfect hoops right off the opening tip maintaining their double-digit lead through 29 minutes of play.  Then, with the fury of an approaching eyewall, VMA seized the lead and managed to come away with stunning 54-53 victory.  This one lived up to expectations and will pay dividends for both programs come March.

 

Gianna Cafarella got things going for the Classics with a triple and Rita Collins added a turnaround layup giving Scranton Prep a 5-0 lead three minutes into the contest.  Standout senior forward Mara McHugh got Villa Maria on the board with a 3-point play.  The Classics forced several turnovers and ran a precision offense as they went on an 8-0 run to go up 13-3 using a combination of being patient, working the ball inside and taking good shots.  Maya Jenkins hit a triple, Bella Dennebaum got a putback, and Collins scored inside.  After the Hurricanes stopped the spurt with a putback by Carly Catania, Claire McGrath netted a triple to send the Classics into the second frame with a ton of momentum and a 16-5 lead.

 

Offensively, things got really quiet for the Classics.  Dennebaum opened the second frame with a score (their only basket of the period) before the ‘Canes went on an 8-0 run over the next three minutes to cut the deficit to 18-13.  They dialed up their defense and began to get better ball movement on offense.  Ava Irvine got the run going before Elaine Guerzon added a corner triple.  Catania got a nifty back door layup followed by a free throw by Clare Cronley.  Jenkins hit a pair of free throws at the 3:23 mark.  Cronley would add a free throw a minute later for VMA as the Hurricanes went into the locker room trailing 20-14.

 

Scranton Prep came into the second half with plenty of focus and intensity going on an 8-0 run that got started with Jenkins showing her quickness in stealing the inbounds pass and driving in for a layup.  Following a VMA miss, Cafarella got a corner triple.  Jenna Hillebrand then scored a layup off a terrific feed by McGrath.  After another Hurricanes miss, the Classics again got a great pass inside to McGrath who hit 1 of 2 free throws on the foul for a 28-14 lead.  Catania (a terrific junior guard) got back-to-back scores over the next minute to pull Villa Maria within ten points.  Midway through the quarter, Collins notched a pair of “and 1” plays to give Scranton Prep their largest lead of the game, 35-20.  Everything seemed to be going their way.  Villa Maria got a much-needed trey from reserve Alice Nash as teams traded baskets through the remainder of the period.  Collins got an easy layup off the inbounds from underneath before Jenkins added a triple.  Ella Iacone got on the scoresheet for VMA (much more on her impact later) with a steal and fast break layup.  A basket by Dennebaum sent Prep into the final eight minutes holding a 43-30 lead.  

 

The Classics began the final period with a missed 1+1 which continued what was turning out to be a less than average performance from the charity stripe.  Over the next 90 seconds, the Hurricanes went on an 8-0 run with a triple by Iacone, basket by Cronley, and 3-point play by McHugh.  Energized by that spurt, the Hurricanes turned up their full-court defense but the Classics managed it effectively and responded with a 7-2 run to take a 50-40 lead with 3:51 left in the game highlighted by scores by Cafarella and McGrath.  That’s when the winds began to shift,  A clutch, long-range triple by Iacone with 3:06 left.  A half-minute later Nash would drive in for a score.  Catania then got a steal and score to cut the Prep lead to a single basket, 50-47.  The Hurricanes continued to storm back as Iacone nailed a corner triple (her third of the quarter) to amazingly knot things up at 50.  Collins would give the Classics a 51-50 lead with 1:34 remaining by hitting a free throw.  Cronley put VMA back in front with 1:13 left.  Scranton Prep then got the ball off a missed shot to Jenkins who hit a scoop shot in the lane for a 53-52 edge with 20 ticks on the clock.  Coming out of the timeout, Iacone found Catania streaking toward the basket and hit her for a layup to regain the lead 54-53 with 11.8 remaining.  The Classics final possession resulted in an off-target shot under the basket and there was not enough time on the clock for the Classics to fully control the loose ball and get another shot off.  The Hurricanes celebrated midcourt enjoying the improbable victory.

 

Villa Maria Academy was led by Carly Catania (15 points) and Ella Iacone (11 points, with 3 keys triples in the final period).  The Hurricanes placed 8 players into the scoring column.

 

Scranton Prep was paced by Rita Collins with 15 points and Maya Jenkins with 14 points.  Claire McGrath and Gianna Cafarella each netted 8 points.  The Classics converted 12 of 21 free throw opportunities.

 

Scranton Prep continues Lackawanna League play on Monday as they host Western Wayne.  Villa Maria Academy is also in action Monday as they host Merion Mercy.

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