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Chartiers Valley held to 27 points in PIAA championship loss to Cardinal O’Hara

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Saturday, March 27, 2021 | 7:30 PM

HERSHEY — On film, Cardinal O’Hara looked big, strong and physical to Chartiers Valley coach Tim McConnell, so his Colts weren’t surprised by what they ran into at Giant Center.

Yet, nobody could’ve foreseen this.

Chartiers Valley — which once scored 100 points in a game this season — tied for the fifth-fewest ever scored in a PIAA girls basketball championship Saturday night. The Colts made only eight shots from the field in a 51-27 loss to the Philadelphia Catholic League team in the Class 5A final.

O’Hara’s defense had Chartiers Valley uncomfortable from the start.

“We knew that they were strong and big but they came with another level tonight,” McConnell said. “I watched a lot of film on them, and they played tremendous. They took us out of everything we tried to get.

“They were way more physical than we were.”

Chartiers Valley (25-4) was trying to win its second state title in three years.

The Colts shot 8 for 42 from the field — making only 19% of their attempts — and 2 for 16 from beyond the arc. They endured quarters of seven, four, nine and seven points, stunning for an offense that averages almost 65 points.

O’Hara capitalized on CV’s early struggles, sprinted to a 10-0 lead and led by 19 points before halftime.

“They punched us,” Malcolm said. “We weren’t ready for it. It was a tough thing to come back from.”

Perri Page led Chartiers Valley with team-highs of 10 points and nine rebounds, but fouled out with more than 3 minutes left. Malcolm added seven points on 2 for 14 shooting.

Malcolm had averaged 17 points, and Page averaged 15. Hallie Cowan, a 12-point scorer, was held to four points on 1 for 12 shooting. Cowan fouled out with more than 6 minutes left.

“I don’t think we shot well but their defense and their physicality really pushed us away from the basket,” McConnell said. “We tried driving, and they really messed with us away from the hoop.”

The title was the first for O’Hara (15-4) in its third appearance in the state finals.

Sydni Scott led O’Hara with 19 points, Maggie Doogan scored 13 and Siobhan Boylan had 10. The Lions shot 37% from the field (14 for 38) and 44% from 3-point range (7 for 16).

Doogan, a 6-foot-2 forward, surprised with a pair of 3s in the first half. Scott finished with four 3s.

“We watched film on them a lot,” Malcolm said. “We scouted for (Amaris Baker) being their best shooter and their only shooter. We came out here and everybody’s hitting shots.”

Baker went 1 for 8 shooting and scored six points.

O’Hara led 17-7 after one quarter, 28-11 at half and 38-20 after three. The disruptive defense O’Hara used against Chartiers Valley was something the coaches added just this week.

“We decided to switch every screen and we took chances on it,” O’Hara coach Chrissie Doogan said. “We knew that Page could jump out of the building, but I felt comfortable with our guard switching on to her and just fronting her.”

The team first practiced switching screens two days ago, Doogan said, believing her forwards were athletic enough to run with Chartiers Valley’s guards.

“It brought energy,” Doogan said. “I feel like switching everything made them talk a little bit more. I don’t think Chartiers Valley has seen anything like that all year.”

O’Hara’s physical play comes from its roots in the Philadelphia Catholic League, Doogan said. The team lost in the PCL championship to Archbishop Wood, which won the PIAA 4A title Saturday. McConnell wondered whether the officials’ willingness to let some fouls go uncalled benefited O’Hara’s style.

“I thought they maybe let them get away with a little bit more hand-checking that we’re used to,” McConnell said. “It pushed us away from the basket a lot more than we wanted to. That’s not the reason (we lost), but if we get a couple of calls early, it makes them play a little bit different.”

Malcolm agreed.

“During the season they always talk about (not) putting two hands on, and they call it every time,” Malcolm said. “This game, they did get away with a lot.”

Chartiers Valley starts five juniors, so they could be here in Hershey again next winter trying for another title, but that possibility didn’t entirely ease their heartache.

“I planned on celebrating at the hotel with them on a state championship,” McConnell said. “But I told them we’re going to go and celebrate a great season.”

The Colts earlier this season set the state record for consecutive wins at 64, and celebrated their third WPIAL title in a row. The team’s record is 82-4 combined over the past three seasons.

And with no seniors on the roster, the team’s championship window hasn’t closed.

“We all know we’re all juniors,” Malcolm said. “We know we’ll be back. We’re hungrier than ever now.”

Only four girls teams in PIAA history have scored fewer points in a state final since the championships started in 1973. Bishop Hoban scored 22 in 1994, and Sharpsville had 25 in 1981, Lourdes Regional had 26 in 1993 and Trinity had 26 in 2017.

“I’ve got to give them a lot of credit,” McConnell said. “We knew they were a good team. You don’t make it to the state championship if you’re not a good team. They made us look like we’re not a good team, and I think we’re a good team.”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

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