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Girls ousted in VISAA semifinals, 65-48

Posted On: Tuesday, March 03, 2015
By: wsimmons
Point guard junior Paige Russell and mates will look to improve on the Cardinals' best finish in years next season as Cardinals fall to top ranked PVI in state semifinals Friday.

Point guard junior Paige Russell and mates will look to improve on the Cardinals’ best finish in years next season as Cardinals fall to top ranked PVI in state semifinals Friday.

If Paul VI Catholic had any letdown from the night before and their thrilling WCAC championship win, it wasn’t evident Friday as the Panthers methodically dispatched the upstart Cardinals 65-48 to move to the state finals for the 9th consecutive season, where they will play WCAC rival Bishop O’Connell for the state title.

Bishop Ireton has played the Panthers tough, taking a lead to intermission earlier in the month in Fairfax. They knew what to expect in their fourth meeting of the season with the 8-time defending state champs.

PVI edged out to a 13-8 lead after one period of play before going on a 10-2 run to open up a 23-10 margin on the Cardinals. Ireton steadied at that point and went to intermission trailing 29-17.

A three at the buzzer ballooned the Panthers’ advantage to 45-30 as the third stanza ended. The game ramped up in the 4th quarter offensively, but the 18-point final period outburst did little to close the gap as the Panthers added 20 in the final quarter.

The loss sends the Cardinals home to wrap up the 15-16 campaign, the most wins in School history for the girls. Two of Ireton’s five seniors, Cece Leone (18 points) and Alex Stipano (15 points) again paced the Cardinals in scoring, including four more three-point field goals for Stipano, the Washington metro area’s top three-point shooter.  Charlotte Sofield, Danielle Hatchett, and Hannah Miller also completed their varsity basketball career with Bishop Ireton.

“It was an exciting season, an enjoyable one to watch.” said athletic director, Bill Simmons. “Hats off to our seniors, they went through some lean times and stuck with it. They worked hard with our new coaching staff, they lead by example for our younger players, and they played hard every night. People noticed what they did this year. There is a new feeling about our basketball program. They had a lot to do with that.  And, we have a great group of players returning. Coach Harris has exceeded expectations, he has raised the bar, and we are looking forward to next year!”

 

News and Notes:

– 15 wins is the most by a Bishop Ireton varsity girls team since the school become co-ed in 1990. It is also the most by an Ireton basketball coach in the first year at the school.

– Alex Stipano is the only Cardinal to lead a Washington Post basketball statistical category since the Post began publishing  the lists. Her 93 three-balls are 19 more than the next closest player.

– Stipano was Ireton’s first WCAC 1st team all conference player, all state teams will be announced in March.

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