Bonner-Prendie’s Monaghan named Catholic League MVP

Alyssa Monaghan added another accolade to her amazing high school basketball career.

The Bonner-Prendergast senior guard was named Philadelphia Catholic League MVP this week for the second time.

A three-time All-Catholic and two-time All-Delco, Monaghan nearly won the award for the third consecutive season. Last year, she was runner-up to Cardinal O’Hara’s Mia Farmer. Monaghan was named MVP her sophomore season.

Despite Bonner-Prendie losing to Archbishop Ryan on a buzzer-beater in the quarterfinal round of the Catholic League playoffs, Monaghan has proven time and again she is the most electrifying player on the court. Bound for Saint Joseph’s, Monaghan has the Pandas in position to earn a spot in the PIAA Class AAA playoffs next month.

The MVP award is an incredible accomplishment, considering how Monaghan’s season started. She suffered a severe ankle sprain in a scrimmage against West Chester Rustin and missed Bonner-Prendie’s first seven games before returning to action Jan. 6.

Despite averaging 17.7 points over 15 games, she has played at less than 100 percent health for most of her senior campaign. Only recently has the explosive combo guard begun to hit her stride again.

Her signature performance came on the final day in the regular season, when she dropped in a career-high 35 points in a blowout victory over Cardinal O’Hara, which had been the No. 1 team in the Daily Times Super 7. In the game, Monaghan made four 3-point field goals and shot 13-for-13 from the free-throw line. It was one of the greatest individual efforts by a Delco girls basketball player in the last 10 to 15 years. Monaghan, who scored her 1,000th career point as a junior, has converted nearly 85 percent (61-of-72) of her foul shots.