Cardinals smother Falls Church to advance to finals of Joe Cascio Classic, 43-31

2012-13 Cardinals look for a Joe Cascio Classic title when they face West Potomac at noon Friday.

Even when the shots weren’t falling, Bishop Ireton played an aggressive defense and rode the rebounding of Julia O’Brien to outlast winless Falls Church in the opening round of the Joe Cascio Classic at Falls Church Thursday.

Senior Camille Weber led the Cardinals in scoring with 9 on a day when nine different redbirds scored for the WCAC squad. Mara Celis-Copelotti had 8 points, Alex Stipano 7, while Danielle Hatchett, Illeanna Gutierrez, and O’Brien chipped in 4 each. Heather Pearson had 3 and Taylor Gallahan and Kelly Gallagher each added a bucket. The Jaguars’ freshman Amber Ecelbarger led all scorers in the game with 11.

Ireton started slowly, falling behind 5-0 before rebounding to claim a 13-12 advantage after the first period. Ireton opened the second quarter with an 8-0 run before the Jags would cut the lead with a 8-5 spurt to close the deficit to 26-20 at halftime.

The scoring slowed during the third quarter, Falls Church pressured the ball which resulted in Ireton turnovers and shots would not fall when the Cardinals did get good looks. Similarly, Coach Derek Campbell cycled players through the lineup keeping the pace quick for the visiting private school, sometimes perhaps a little too quick as Ireton played as if it were racing against an expiring shot clock, something not employed in public school play. The clubs entered the game’s final period with the redbirds leading by nine at 35-26.

The reserves spelled the starters as the 4th period began and their energy expanded the lead to 39-28 in the opening minutes of the stanza. Both teams then liberally substituted as the game concluded at 43-31.

Ireton seemed to hold a substantial advantage on the glass, led by the rebounding of Julia O’Brien, and the club shot a season high 67% from the free throw line, an important aspect as the cold shooting Cardinals hovered in the 25% range for shooting from the field.

For Bishop Ireton (7-5) nearby public school neighbor, West Potomac (5-5), provides the championship opponent Friday at noon, again at Falls Church High School. Admission is $5 at the door. The team will return to WCAC play on Wednesday when they head to Olney, Maryland, on the final day of the Christmas holiday for an early start. Freshmen tipoff at 2:30, JV at 4:15, and the varsity contest is slated for a 6pm start.