The Cathedral girls basketball season continues this Saturday in the regional championship. The Lady Irish will face off against Roncalli in a rematch of last year’s February 22nd semi-state game where the Royals were victorious 72-54. The game tips off at 4:00 PM at Greencastle High School.
The Irish are coming off a thrilling sectional championship winning 46-38 against Crispus Attucks. This was Cathedral’s second straight sectional championship coming after a 20 year drought between sectional titles.
Head Coach Lisa Finn said, “We had some resistance during the sectional semi-final and final, which was helpful for us moving into this week for regional. A game with Attucks is hard to play just because the girls are so hyper-focused on the scorers from Attucks. Teams like that create chaos and it takes a good amount of control to stay the course. It is important to play and win those games and gain that experience.”
Photo by Lacey Nix, Oh Snap Indy
The girls are looking to repeat historic success after last season when they advanced to semi-state for the first time since 2001. The team last season had five senior starters that left a massive gap that needed to be filled by younger players this season.
The lady Irish responded as younger players stepped up with a 20-6 record going into Saturday’s regional championship and have earned a number 9 ranking in class 3A. Coach Finn said about the growth of her team that “losing scoring and leadership is hard from year to year. We have found ways to win this year and have had several girls step up.”
One of the younger players from last year’s team who’s stepped up this year is class of 2028’s Maddie Watko. The sophomore is leading the team in assists with 3.5 per game. She said, “I think that our team chemistry and just having everyone on the team bought into what we want to do has helped with our team success.”
Now the team turns their attention to number 1 in 3A Roncalli for the Greencastle regional championship. Roncalli is 24-3 and rolling on an undefeated streak since December 15. Coach Finn said of the matchup, “We are excited for this rematch! Looking back, we didn’t play our best defense and it is hard to lose in the tournament when you don’t put your best effort and skill on the floor. We have talked a lot this week about taking ‘no plays off’ and ‘no days off.’ Preparing physically and mentally the best we can so we can control the finish of the season as best as we can.”
The Irish have high hopes for Saturday and for the rest of the postseason. The program continues to take huge steps every season and has a massive opportunity ahead of them in Greencastle. Watko said, “I am looking forward to getting another chance to beat them for what happened last year and proving this team deserves to go to state.”
