SJCA girls’ basketball wins third-place District 6 game, earns first-ever PIAA berth
The St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy girls’ basketball team made history Tuesday night.
The Lady Wolves earned their first state tournament berth in program history after overcoming a 12-point deficit to top Blacklick Valley 55-46 in Tuesday’s District 6 Class A consolation game at Tyrone High School. By defeating the Lady Vikings, SJCA became the third and final team out of District 6 to reach the state tournament. Blacklick Valley’s season, meanwhile, is over.
SJCA (15-8) will now face the No. 3 seed from District 7. The Lady Wolves will play either Quigley Catholic or Vincentian Academy, WPIAL programs that lost semifinal games to Rochester and West Greene, respectively, on Tuesday night.
A location for SJCA’s state tournament tilt has yet to be determined. But the PIAA Class A tournament is scheduled to start March 9.
“Our senior class, they have risen this program. ... I don’t think they wanted it to end tonight,” SJCA coach Katie Sosnoskie said. “We’re really excited about the whole experience. Our upperclassmen and senior class have really forged a path for us to make history.”
SJCA seniors Selena Mann and Denaya Poston-Cooper guided the Lady Wolves on the statsheet. Mann dominated the paint with 22 points, while Poston-Cooper posted 16. SJCA’s Lauren Ott also contributed six points. Blacklick Valley’s Maria McConnell matched Mann’s total of 22, but it wasn’t enough.
The Lady Vikings jumped out to an early 12-0 lead on SJCA. Blacklick Valley’s press caused chaos, and the Lady Wolves didn’t react well. But Sosnoskie said her team finally settled down in the second half, working its half-court offense and letting the senior duo of Mann and Poston-Cooper go to work.
It wasn’t the first time the Lady Wolves had to bounce back in recent days. SJCA fell 51-41 to Purchase Line on Saturday at home in the district semifinals. Had the Lady Wolves won on their own court, they would have played for the district crown.
But instead of getting discouraged, SJCA showed resolve. And now the Lady Wolves are bound for the state tournament.
“We persevered,” Sosnoskie said. “I’m extremely proud of our team.”