Wilsons lead Archbishop Carroll’s second half surge against Germantown Academy
MARPLE >> After a frustrating first half, all Archbishop Carroll’s coaches wanted their players to do was think about the next possession.
After that, then they could think about the next possession and after that, the next possession and so on. It was a little bit direct, but also just right for a very physical, scrappy game against a shorthanded Germantown Academy team that like Carroll, was trying to rebound from a setback just a day prior.
Thanks to a strong third quarter start by Brooke and Taylor Wilson, Carroll was able to win enough possessions to outlast GA 43-38 as part of Cardinal O’Hara’s holiday showcase Thursday afternoon.
“We got into the locker room and (coach Renie) Shields just said we have to get stops and score on offense, just break it down one possession at a time,” Brooke Wilson said. “We came out, got a stop and we scored. Then it happened three more times and we got up eight, I think it really helped get momentum going, which really helped us and then we got our cuts going.
“It helps to see the ball go in the basket.”
Brooke, a junior, led Carroll (2-6) with 16 points while Taylor, a senior committed to Army, had 14 and the nine points the sisters combined for on an third quarter-opening run were just what was needed after a struggle of a first half. GA was down two starts in Kendall Bennett and Jess Aponik, but their energy wasn’t lacking in that regard.
Neither team got anything easy, each giving the other very little room to do anything on the offensive end which led to a first half that put scoring possessions to a premium. GA (6-8, 0-1 Inter-Ac) got a buzzer-beating circus shot from Izzy Casey, who battled to a game-high 22 points, for a 9-7 lead after one but only led 16-15 at halftime.
Casey didn’t get her points easily and Brooke Wilson felt like her team did a good job defensively even if the GA junior ended up having a productive evening.
“We knew Izzy could drive and shoot, I played with her in CYO so we’re really close, she had a great game,” Wilson said. “We know if Izzy scores, it’s alright as long as nobody else is able to step up and I think we did a good job covering the other players.”
GA went 0-2 in the event, falling to West Chester Rustin on Wednesday, but Patriots guard Sam Wade felt like there positives to take away. After spending last week in Arizona for the Nike Tournament of Champions, GA didn’t shy away from good competition and the Patriots are hoping with some good health, they can stay in the mix for the Inter-Ac title and contend for a PAISAA crown later this winter.
“I thought today we played great defense,” Wade said. “Rebounding, boxing out and in the press, we just hustled and we were aggressive. We played with all our heart, which is something we’ve tried to get going in every single game so that was encouraging to see in today’s game.”
Wade, who guarded Brooke Wilson throughout the game, also credited Carroll’s defense for taking some looks away and just generally making it difficult to get passes in around the basket. Having Bennett, a Binghamton recruit at forward and Aponik back will certainly help, but it was still a good lesson for GA’s underclassmen to face an aggressive, challenging defense.
“Their defense was really strong on-ball pressure, so we had a hard time getting outside shots,” the junior guard said. “Next time we see that, we need to attack more and when we do attack, instead of getting blocked, know to make a move, like a Rondo or a dip, get a shoulder inside them and take the ball up.”
The Wilsons led the charge in the third, but Brooke stressed it was an entire team effort to go out and make it happen. Carroll’s success starts on the defensive end and the PCL’s Patriots felt like they would be able to speed up the Inter-Ac’s Patriots and get some things going in transition.
With PCL starting next week, Thursday’s effort was one Carroll needed to get on the right path going into the league. After going 10-0 in the regular season and reaching the Palestra last year, the Patriots know they’ll be a targeted team this season and will have to continue to take things possession by possession.
“Huge,” Wilson said. “We’re looking forward now. The first couple games were rough, but we’re finding some unique things playing these teams from New Jersey and Virginia, we’re playing really good teams and we’ve found some good things we’re doing in these games so it’s starting to come together. We love each other as a team, it’s going to be a lot of fun and this is a special group.”
Archbishop Carroll 43, Germantown Academy 38
Archbishop Carroll 7 8 15 13 — 43
Germantown Academy 9 7 10 12 — 38
Archbishop Carroll: Alexis Eberz 2 2-5 7, Meg Sheridan 2 0-2 4, Brooke Wilson 7 2-2 16, Taylor Wilson 4 5-6 14, Olivia Nardi 1 0-0 2. Totals: 16 9-15 43.
Germantown Academy: Jess Kolecki 1 0-0 2, CeeJay Thomas 1 0-0 2, Izzy Casey 7 6-6 22, Sam Wade 2 0-1 4, Gabby Bowes 2 0-0 6, Jenna Aponik 0 2-2 2. Totals: 14 8-9 38.
3-pointers: AC – Eberz, T Wilson; GA – Bowes 2, Casey.
