Bishop Canevin Claims PIAA Gold in Hershey in Class AA Girls Championship

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 22, 2013 | 3:44 PM

The Bishop Canevin Crusaders claimed their first ever PIAA Class AA basketball championship with a furious rally in the fourth quarter to defeat the York Catholic Fighting Irish 45-38 at the Giant Center in Hershey on Friday afternoon.

Seniors Carly Forse and Celina DiPietro each scored 18 points to lead Bishop Canevin. The Crusaders trailed 33-28 heading to the fourth quarter but scored 13 straight points in the fourth, holding the Fighting Irish scoreless thru the first six minutes of the final frame.

York Catholic fell in the title game for the second straight year and fourth in the last five years. The loss for the Fighting Irish ended a 7 game winning streak this season and a 9 game winning streak at the Giant Center.

The teams played even thru the first half, with the score tied at 9 thru the first quarter and knotted at 21 at the half. York Catholic shot 45 percent from the floor, Bishop Canevin at 36 percent but DiPietro hit three 3-pointers in the half to pace the Crusaders.

York Catholic senior and Bloomsburg recruit Morgan Klunk scored ten of her 18 points in the third quarter and pacing the Fighting Irish to the five point lead entering the fourth. But it was all Bishop Canevin in the fourth, DiPietro hit a three, senior Erin Waskowiak had a steal and layup and DiPietro converted on a drive into the lane to give Bishop Canevin a 35-33 lead, the Crusaders would never trail again.

Forse took over at that point with two baskets, a steal and a defensive rebound to allow the Crusaders to pull away. York Catholic had three fouls to give and the Crusaders did a great job playing keep away, spreading the floor to take valuable time off the clock. Bishop Canevin hit three of four front ends of a 1 and 1 down the stretch to clinch the state title.

Waskowiak, the Duquesne recruit,  came into the game averaging over 15 points per game, she had just five points, but dished out six assists and grabbed seven rebounds. She said she enjoyed dishing the ball more, that she went to distributing the basketball more as the playoff run continued.

Bishop Canevin shot 60 percent from the floor in the second half and 18 for 40 for the game, a 45 percent clip. Johnnie Olkosky had only three points but grabbed seven boards and had four steals. The WPIAL champions end the season 27-4 overall, they committed only seven turnovers on the game.

York Catholic, now 29-3, was led by Clunk with 18 points, she added seven rebounds. Hannah Laslo scored eight points and led the Fighting Irish with eight rebounds. York Catholic won the battle of the board 28-22 but committed twelve turnovers, the Fighting Irish shot 13 of 37 for the game at 35 percent.

Score By Quarters:
Bishop Canevin Crusaders 9 – 12- 7 – 17 = 45
York Catholic Fighting Irish 9 – 12- 12 – 5 = 38

Tags: Bishop Canevin