Hendrixson fires away in Cardinal O’Hara’s tune-up win

RADNOR >> Cardinal O’Hara sophomore Maura Hendrixson said she and her teammates got a simple message from coach Linus McGinty and his staff Sunday afternoon.

“They wanted us to use this game to get ready for the playoffs,” Hendrixson said.

Hendrixson used the game to show those teams that will run into the Lions during the Catholic League playoffs, which begin Thursday, or the District 12 and PIAA tournaments that they will have to respect her skills as a 3-point shooter.

She sank four of the eight shots she threw up from behind the arc as the Lions (19-2) coasted past Academy of Notre Dame, 45-31, in the Kevin Cain Foundation game in the Irish’s Aimee Willard Gymnasium.

O’Hara took more 3-point shots (23) than it did two-pointers (17), making 39 percent (9-for-23) of its long-range tries while coming in at 41 percent from closer in to the basket. Hendrixson was 4-for-8 attempting 3s in the first three periods, then missed both shots she took inside the arc in the final eight minutes.

The Lions (19-2), who led by three points at halftime, broke things open in the third period by outscoring the Irish, 14-5.

“They made shots in that quarter (5-for-8 from the field, including four 3-pointers) and we didn’t,” Notre Dame coach Mary Beth McNichol said.

Hendrixson, who had three assists and two steals in addition to 12 points, said the O’Hara team-first philosophy helps the Lions overcome a lack of size.

“We all work together and share the ball,” she said.

Junior Mary Sheehan, who shot 6-for-8 from the floor for 14 points in the second half, finished with 19 to lead the Lions. Kenzie Gardler chipped in with eight points, four rebounds and four assists, and Hannah Nihill got only six points, but claimed nine missed shots and made a pair of steals.

“(Hendrixson) is the most unselfish player I ever played with,” Sheehan said. “She shoots well, finishes when she gets inside and just keeps getting better. I keep telling her that by the time she’s a senior, no one will be able to stop her.”

Sheehan, who is 5-foot-11, knows she will have her hands full playing inside once the playoffs get under way.

“(Notre Dame) had two girls who were 6-foot-2, so it was good getting used to seeing all that size because I know teams we will see in the playoffs and state tournament will have girls that big,” she said.

Notre Dame (16-5) has an important Inter-Ac League contest against first-place Germantown Academy Wednesday.

“We have to be ready for that game,” Irish senior guard Caitlyn Clark said.

Freshman Mandy McGurk scored nine points and made four steals for Notre Dame, which got nine rebounds from senior Rachel Ryan.

“We had a good crowd, and in talking with Rose (Cain, Kevin’s widow) the other day I understand between the two teams we’ve raised over $10,000 for the Kevin Cain Foundation, which is fabulous,” McNichol said.