Girls Basketball: Carroll’s Taylor Wilson scores 1,000th point in ‘bittersweet’ loss to Wood

RADNOR — Archbishop Carroll’s Taylor Wilson swished a 3-point basket to reach 1,000 career points midway through the third quarter of Friday’s Catholic League showdown with Archbishop Wood.

At the time, the senior forward pulled the Patriots within seven points of the Vikings. After they were shut out in the second quarter, Wilson scored a quick basket at the start of the second half spark the Patriots. Minutes later she became the most recent Carroll girls player to hit the milestone, joining former teammates Grace O’Neill and Erin Sweeney on the list, among many others.

When time was called for a brief celebration, the Patriots were on a run. They were stringing together buckets. Good things were happening. Down 13 points at halftime, suddenly they were right back in the game.

But once play resumed, the Vikings regained control when senior guard Delaney Finnegan drilled her third trey of the night. Wood held Carroll to four points the rest of the way and left town with a 34-20 victory.

The Vikings (10-3, 4-0) and Patriots (7-9, 4-1) entered the day tied for first place in the Catholic League, with Cardinal O’Hara and Lansdale Catholic also unbeaten in the league.

“It was definitely a bittersweet moment because the main goal is obviously to win the game,” said Wilson, who totaled 11 of Carroll’s 20 points, plus eight rebounds. “I was going to do whatever to help the team. If that meant scoring and getting it (my 1,000th point), that’s what I was going to do. I mean, it’s a great accomplishment. I’m really thankful for everyone … but a win would’ve been nice.”

A young team which includes five sophomores and two freshmen, Carroll is figuring things out and learning how to play winning basketball on a nightly basis. It has played one of the toughest schedules in the area: Five of its first 10 games were against schools nationally ranked by MaxPreps. It doesn’t get any easier Sunday when the Patriots take on 13-4 Life Center Academy (N.J.) in the Maggie Lucas Classic at Chase Arena in Wilmington. LCA is led by junior Kiyomi McMiller, who is averaging 27.8 points per game.

Carroll started 1-6 before winning six of its previous eight contests. Their recent good stretch of basketball was halted Friday despite a stellar defensive performance. The Vikings’ ability to hit shots from outside was the difference. Carroll shot 9-for-39 from the floor including 2-for-15 from long range.

“We knew they were a great team, they always are. We knew we had to find a way to put a stop to their 3-point shots,” senior guard Meg Sheridan said. “We kind of fell short and we didn’t put a lot in the basket. I thought we played great defense, but in the end we fell short with our shots, which is just something we have to work more on in practice. I don’t think it’s something to hold against us. In league games we’re going to shoot for higher percentages and efficiency.”

After Brooke Wilson, Taylor’s junior sister, drove to the basket to give the Patriots a 6-4 lead in the first quarter, the Patriots went the next 12 minutes without making a field goal. The Vikings didn’t fare much better, but managed a 15-0 run to take a 19-6 lead into halftime. Finnegan netted a game-high 11 points, while Emily Knouse had six points, eight rebounds and three assists.

“It was a big win for us. We remember how they beat us at home last year and that was an upset for us,” Finnegan said. “We felt really confident with what we had been working on coming into the game. We did a really good job moving the ball around and getting the best shot possible.”

In the Inter-Ac League:

Agnes Irwin 45, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 30 >> It was a memorable senior night for the Owls. Simone Harvey and Madigan Morrisey led a balanced attack with 11 points apiece.

Notre Dame 48, Baldwin 17 >> Lizzie Halligan scored 10 points in the first half as 10 members of the Irish scored in the rout. Morgan Kelly and Alex Gillin scored six points apiece.

In nonleague action:

Sacred Heart 54, Penn Wood 50 >> Sophomore Keara McCaffrey tallied a game-high 21 points as the reigning District 1 Class 2A champions stormed back from a 30-24 halftime deficit on the road.

Freshman Linh Taitt hopped off the bench to score a career-high 14 points, including 11 in the first half. McCaffrey pulled down 13 rebounds and had three blocks.

MJ Donohue sank a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the Lions clinch the victory. The sophomore also notched seven assists and four steals.

Ani Rascoe provided 16 points and Xenia Gillis totaled 11 points, three assists and a block for the Patriots.

Notre Dame 56, Peddie School 11>> Katie Halligan (six points) secured her 500th career rebound in the Irish’s blowout win late Thursday. Lizzie Halligan led Notre Dame with 10 points and Catie Kelly pitched in nine.

Villa Maria 57, Episcopal Academy 47 >> Gaeli Keffer-Scharpf netted 17 points and Ali Dennis had 10 for the Churchwomen (3-11).

Cardinal O’Hara 47, Bishop Shanahan 40 >> The Lions won in overtime after the Eagles made a buzzer beater at the end of regulation. It marked O’Hara’s 10th straight victory.

Molly Rullo scored 21 points and Greta Miller added 11 for the Lions.