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 My Site News: BG tradition: The proof is in the numbers |
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Monday, March 26
BG tradition: The proof is in the numbers
By Buck Frank, bfrank@altoonamirror.com
MIFFLINBURG Three years ago, the current seniors on the Bishop Guilfoyle High School girls basketball team were nearing the end of their ninth grade season when something special formed.
Our coach, Cathy Damiano, was playing with a piece of foil, BG senior Ashley Helsel said. I think it was a gum wrapper. She wasnt really paying attention to it, and it was in the shape of a Hershey Kiss. She got all teary-eyed and told us we were going to go to the state finals one of our years.
The premonition was fulfilled Wednesday night at Mifflinburg Area Intermediate School, when the Lady Marauders defeated Bishop OReilly, 46-34, to advance to Saturdays state championship game against Pittsburgh North Catholic.
Although the state championships moved from Hershey to University Park, the Lady Marauders celebrated their Eastern final victory amid tossed marshmallows, happy balls and a few Hershey Kisses.
We kind of always knew we could do it, BG senior Dani Williams said.
Really, though, the BG players didnt need a piece of foil to help them believe they had a chance to play in a state final. With the strong tradition of BG girls basketball through the years, it almost seems inevitable the Lady Marauders will be among the top two in their class in the state at least once every few seasons.
BG has now advanced to nine state finals, the most of any program boys or girls in District 6. The Lady Marauders, now 9-2 all-time in state semifinal games, are 3-5 in state finals.
Being a Lady Marauder is like the biggest privilege, Helsel said. People expect us to be good, so we try hard to fulfill their expectations.
Those expectations were somewhat unfulfilled last season when the Lady Marauders failed to advance to the state playoffs for the first time in 27 seasons.
Senior starters Helsel, Williams, Mary Forr and Courtney Carroll played key roles for last years team and used last years disappointment as a motivating factor this year.
It was just hovering over our heads the whole offseason and season, Williams said. This year we had to come back and do it.
For the six seniors on this team [including Rachel Sullivan and Heather Craig], we werent going to go out unless we went out with a bang, Carroll said.
The Lady Marauder senior starters said when they were younger they idolized BG players like Kristen Toomey, Ann Sral, Kori Sisto and Angela Greaser, all of whom played in state finals.
On Wednesday night, John Frederick, who coached BG to two state titles, was in attendance as were other former BG players who played at Hershey, including Kelly Adams and Nikki Moschella.
I know everyone when we were little looked up to the Lady Marauders, Forr said. They were heroes for us. Were just happy to carry on the tradition.
Head coach Mark Moschella said he talks to his players about the BG past in subtle ways throughout the season.
He and his staff are a big part of that tradition, having coached in five previous state finals. The coaching staff, which includes Bill Adams, Pat Callahan, Rich Consiglio and Laura Frederick, helps form a direct link to BGs great past.
We love them all, Carroll said. Theyre just not great coaches, but theyre great family to us. We know no matter what theyll be there for us.
Coach Moschella is hoping the experience of coaching in five state finals will pay off Saturday at noon when BG faces a strong North Catholic team that is 28-4. Hes already cautioned his players to stay focused because he knows they will be faced with many distractions in the coming days.
He told us to stay focused, do our thing and we could get a gold ball, Williams said. And thats what we want.
No matter the outcome Saturday, though, this BG team has already carved itself a spot among all the great teams that have taken the floor as Lady Marauders.
BG has such as great tradition, after the game Saturday Im not going to want to take my uniform off, Carroll said. Everything about BG, I just love to be a part of it.
Buck Frank can be reached at 946-7461 or bfrank@altoonamirror.com.
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