Coleman twins’ fast start helps launch Gwynedd Mercy to AACA title

SPRINGFIELD >> Loss is a powerful motivator.

Gwynedd Mercy Academy seniors Bianca and Sofia Coleman kept thinking of the heartbreak they felt a year ago when they lost to St. Basil Academy in overtime to fall short of an AACA tournament title after an undefeated league regular season. They thought of teammate and fellow captain Hannah Griffin, out for Monday’s title tilt getting hurt Saturday and fellow senior Jenna Mangan, out all year with a knee injury.

Not wanting to lose another championship game and not wanting to let their teammates or school down, the Colemans led the way as top-seeded GMA clamped down No. 2 Villa Joseph Marie 44-25 to bring home the elusive title Monday at La Salle College High School.

“I think it was our mindset,” Sofia Coleman said. “Our last game, we did not have a good start and we knew we needed to play within our game, control what we can control and do our best within our role. I think that helped us get an early lead and continue on from that.”

The win gave Gwynedd Mercy Academy (22-0) its first AACA title since the 2015-16 season and was the first new champion in the league since then.

With Griffin, their point guard and a tenacious defender out, it fell on Bianca Coleman to bring the ball up the floor in the first quarter while her twin sister started picking up the scoring slack. Sofia Coleman scored the Monarchs’ first seven points before her sister converted a traditional three-point play midway through the frame for a 10-2 lead.

Bianca took charge from there, scoring on a nice move in the post and turning a steal into a layup before her sister ended the quarter with her second 3-pointer. In total, the Colemans had combined for all 17 GMA points and despite Bianca picking up her second foul in the final seconds of the frame, the top seed led 17-9.

“We were extra-focused to start,” Bianca Coleman said. “I looked to do everything today, so I think that helped.”

Monday was the third meeting between the teams this season and they could clash again as the top two seeds in the upcoming District 1-4A tournament, so there was some familiarity. Even with Griffin out, the Monarchs knew what to expect from the Jems and how to attack their defense.

It was just a matter of making shots.

“We knew they were going to play a zone and we knew they tended not to handle the flares well,” Sofia Coleman said. “I knew I had to be ‘on’ with my shooting today and be the leader today. We needed everyone to step up and fill their role on the floor.”

The Monarchs also made things very difficult for VJM senior Tori Nigro, named the league’s MVP on Monday, keeping the Jefferson recruit to just two points through three quarters and just as important, without an assist for the game. Sammi White, who like Nigro came to VJM after St. Basil closed last year, tried to keep her team around with 10 points in the first half and the Jems did only trail 21-15 at the break.

Carly Austin scored the first basket of the third quarter to make it a four-point game. The Jems (17-7) wouldn’t get another point until half of the fourth quarter had expired.

GMA senior Maddie Newell, who primarily guarded Nigro, joked that her team was slacking a bit giving up 10 second-half points after allowing just nine in the semifinals but overall felt it was an all-around strong effort especially with Griffin sidelined and Bianca Coleman in foul trouble.

It also helped that Newell matched VJM’s second-half point total by herself, connecting for 10 of her 13 points after halftime.

“Our defense won the game for us,” Newell said. “I’m proud of all the bench people, we usually don’t sub this much so with the fact they’re all playing in the championship game at that level, it’s really impressive.”

Newell’s younger sister Morgan got the start in Griffin’s spot while Megan McDonnell and Cara Lapp also saw minutes to help hold the line until

Bianca Coleman subbed back in. Sophomore Dylan Burke, the team’s fifth starter, was also excellent on defense with five blocks and filled the last line of defense that allowed her teammates to go out and swarm VJM’s top options.

White didn’t score in the second half while Nigro got two late baskets to finish with seven for the game.

Gwynedd Mercy Academy coach Tom Lonergan wasn’t surprised his reserves stepped up or defense played so well because it’s what they’re demanded to do in practice every day.

“We said in our pregame to control what you can control,” Lonergan said. “What we’ve done a tremendous job of controlling all season was the defensive side of the ball. Being without your point guard, Hannah’s one of the best point guards in the district and one of our best defenders and rebounds, the kids who came in like Megan and Morgan, they’re going up against our first five on a daily basis.”

Sofia Coleman only had one more score after her 10-point first quarter but the Kutztown recruit made her mark defending and on the glass, where she had 10 rebounds. As a team, GMA didn’t allow an offensive rebound in the second half either.

“I said in the first minute of the second half, we had to shut them down and that’s what we did,” Bianca Coleman, who added six boards to her game-high 16 points, said. “We wanted to make a statement and that’s what we did with our defense.”

The twins are heading into their final stretch playing on the same team. With Sofia off to the PSAC and Bianca accepting a preferred walk-on spot with the United States Naval Academy’s women’s basketball team, Monday was the start of what they hope is a fruitful final run.

Getting the league title was all they hoped it would be, now they have to try and go four-for-four as District 1 champions before looking to make another run in states.

“I’m still in shock to be honest, it hasn’t hit,” Sofia Coleman said. “It’s weird being here as seniors, I still feel like I was only a freshman last year and it doesn’t feel real we’re still undefeated and won the AACA.”

“We did it, finally,” Bianca Coleman added.

Gwynedd Mercy 44, Villa Joseph Marie 25
Gwynedd Mercy 17 4 10 13-44
Villa Joseph Marie 9 6 2 8-25
Gwynedd Mercy: Maddie Newell 5 1-2 13, Bianca Coleman 4 7-7 16, Sofia Coleman 5 0-0 12, Dylan Burke 1 0-0 2, Megan McDonell 1 0-0 2. Totals: 15 9-11 44.
Villa Joseph Marie: Tori Nigro 3 0-0 7, Emma Hagan 0 1-2 1, Carly Austin 2 3-4 7, Sammi White 4 0-0 10.Totals: 9 4-6 25.
3-pointers: GMA-Newell 2, S Coleman 2, B Coleman; VJM-White 2, Nigro.

ALL-AACA TEAMS

First Team
Tori Nigro, Villa Joseph Marie (MVP)
Hannah Griffin, Gwynedd Mercy Academy
Sofia Coleman, Gwynedd Mercy Academy
Bianca Coleman, Gwynedd Mercy Academy
Lucy Curry, Merion Mercy Academy

Second Team
Sammi White, Villa Joseph Marie
Carly Austin, Villa Joseph Marie
Lauren Hoffman, Mount Saint Joseph Academy
Georgia Pickett, Mount Saint Joseph Academy
Clare Cronley, Villa Maria Academy
Ella Iacone, Villa Maria Academy