Welde, O’Hara make early season statement at Carroll

RADNOR — Annie Welde didn’t get the start Friday night at Archbishop Carroll, but the Cardinal O’Hara sophomore wasn’t glued to her seat on the bench for very long.

Welde played a critical role – early and often – in the Lions’ 49-36 victory over the reigning Catholic League champions. She was beaming after the Lions stormed into Carroll and made an emphatic statement. 

“It’s like an exhilarating feeling. To come off the bench, you need someone who can step up, even if you just bring energy,” Welde said. “But also if someone isn’t making shots … you wanted to be able to step up and score.”

Welde brought the energy and provided 13 points of offense. Her 3-pointer in the opening minutes of regulation gave the Lions a five-point lead, but more importantly gave the team a welcome confidence boost.

The Lions knew they could steal what can only be considered an upset win on the road. Welde’s performance enabled them to feel better about their chances.

“Carroll is the Catholic League champion and that’s our ultimate goal, too, and tonight our kids really went after it,” O’Hara coach Chrissie Doogan said. “It’s a good character game. They were excited to play and they got after it.”

Doogan was very pleased with the effort of Welde, who rotated throughout the night with senior forward Steph Huseby (five points, three rebounds) and sophomore center/forward Maggie Doogan (two points, four rebounds).

Chrissie Doogan emphasized to Welde the importance of providing energy and effort. If Welde has been looking to prove her value to the team, she passed a big test Friday night.

“She’s a terrific stand-still shooter,” Doogan said. “When she made that 3-pointer (in the first quarter), I think everybody kind of took a deep breath and exhaled a little bit.”

O’Hara (5-1, 2-1 Catholic League) led the entire way. Carroll (5-2, 1-2) cut its deficit to 7-6 four minutes into the first quarter before the visiting Lions pulled away, using a 9-0 run to take a 16-7 advantage into the second period. Welde and sophomore guard Sydni Scott each tallied nine points in opening half. Scott was sensational, tallying game highs in points (14), rebounds (six) and steals (three).

Carroll All-Delco Erin Sweeney returned from an ankle injury, which cost her nearly two weeks of game action. Welde and junior guard Siobhan Boylan were responsible for guarding the 2019 Catholic League Player of the Year, who registered 14 points. Welde and the Lions forced a very efficient offensive team into 14 turnovers.

“She’s a terrific defender, too,” Doogan said of Welde. “Siobhan guarded Sweeney for a little bit, but we switched and put Annie on her in the fourth quarter and Annie can move her feet. She’s very agile, very athletic, and she’s starting to figure things out. … I think she’s starting to realize she belongs and that’s huge for her. “

The Lions began the second half on a 10-2 spurt. Huseby had all five of her points in the period and the Patriots were held to only five field goal attempts. O’Hara led by as many as 17 points in the fourth stanza.

“I think last year was hard because there were a lot of disconnected pieces, it took time for us to come together,” Welde said. “We’re still so young, but we have to come out every game knowing that we can win.”

It was a frustrating night for the Patriots, who have suffered back-to-back losses to West Catholic and O’Hara.

“We have to all learn how to work together collectively, as a team, and not just in spurts but for an entire game,” Sweeney said. “We can’t get down on ourselves … and we have to play our game like we know how.”

Grace O’Neill, Carroll’s do-everything sophomore guard, had 12 points and a pair of steals. Sophomore wing Maggie Grant hit a pair of treys and finished with eight points.

O’Hara held a sizable advantage on the glass (26-17) and shot 18 of 42 (42.8 percent) from the floor. Carroll struggled to an 11 of 34 (32.3 percent) effort.

“What I said to them tonight in the locker room was, I usually hate coming into this gym and trying to win a game, but our last game (here) last year was the Plymouth Whitemarsh game and we went out with a win,” said Doogan, referencing her team’s victory over PW in a PIAA Class 6A first-round game at Carroll. “That made coming in here tonight a little better and they were excited to play, excited to get the win.”

In another Catholic League game:

West Catholic 74, Bonner-Prendergast 55 >> The Pandas (2-2, 1-2 Catholic League) trailed by 15 at halftime and never recovered. Alexis Gleason led the way with 20 points and Bridie McCann swished four 3-pointers and finished with 18 points. Emma Beatty and Reagan Dolan netted seven points apiece in the losing effort.