Bishop Canevin Lances Neshannock in Girls 3-A Finals

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, March 4, 2017 | 2:27 PM

For the second time in three years, Bishop Canevin claimed girls basketball championship gold at the Peterson Event Center, this time with a blow out win over #3 seed Neshannock in the Class-3A title game.

The top seeded Crusaders scored the first 9 points of the game, before the Lancers finally got their first basket of the game with 3:51 left in the opening quarter.  Shamyjha Price scored 10 points for Bishop Canevin in the 1st quarter, and Sarah Green knocked down two three-pointers to pace the Crusaders to a 21-7 lead after the eight minutes.

In the 2nd quarter it was much of the same, with the Crusaders outscoring the Lancers 24-8.  Gillan Gustine led the way for Bishop Canevin, hitting five three-pointers in the quarter.  For the first half, the Crusaders shot 17 of 22 from the field and 8 of 9 from three point range to take a 45-15 lead at the break.

Neshannock battled back in the 3rd quarter, going on a 13-0 run after the Crusaders scored the first three points of the 2nd half.  Bella Burelli led the way for the Lancers, netting 7 points in the quarter.  Neshannock outscored Bishop Canevin 17-10 in the 3rd quarter, and trailed 55-32 going into the final quarter of play. In the 4th quarter, the Crusaders defense put the clamps down on the Lancers, as Bishop Canevin outscored Neshannock 10-4 in the final frame.

Shamyjha Price led all scorers with 21 points.  Gillan Gustine scored 15 and Sarah Green 10 to give the Crusaders three double digit scorers.  Neshannock was led by Aidan Noga, who netted 11 points in the losing effort.

Bishop Canevin Head Coach Tim Joyce said he felt his team’s experience in big games, despite being led by underclassmen, helped them to play as impressively as they did in this championship match.  Joyce also said his team’s speed makes them difficult to play against.  He added the Crusaders defense and traps, plus their ability to block out, made it tough on the Lancers.

This was Bishop Canevin’s fifth championship game appearance in the past six seasons and the third WPIAL girls basketball title in the program’s history.  The Crusaders also claimed championship gold in 2013 and 2016.  Neshannock was making their first ever appearance in a girls basketball championship game, and looking for their first basketball championship of any kind since 1987.

Bishop Canevin set a record for three-pointers in a WPIAL girls basketball championship, hitting 10 in the win.  That broke the previous record of 9, which Bishop Canevin had in 2012.  Vincentian in 2012 and Oakland Catholic in 2002 also hit 9 three’s in a title game.

Both teams will move on to the PIAA Class-3A tournament now.  Neshannock (23-2) will take on Everett, who is the 4th seed out of District-6.  Bishop Canevin (19-5) will take on the 5th seed out of District-6, Central Cambria, in the opening round.

SCORING BY QUARTERS

Bishop Canevin   21   24   10  10   65

Neshannock           7     8   17    4   36

Tags: Bishop Canevin