It had been 15 years since the Cardinals had topped one of the WCAC’s marquee programs, and after falling behind 10-0 early, there was little reason for hope that would change on a frigid night in Kensington.
But, Coach Jason Harris, got a time out and regrouped. By the end of one quarter, the margin was cut to 15-10. By halftime, the Tartans held a 34-28 advantage, but a big second half effort was bursting out of the visitors’ locker room.
The Cardinals outscored Holy Cross 13-7 to tie the game at 41-41 as the teams started the final quarter of play. Ireton quickly grabbed their first lead on a 5-2 run in the first two minutes of play to go ahead 46-43. Ireton was on a roll, one that would see them outscore the home team 20-6 in the 4th quarter to pull away to the 61-50 upset win.
The victory pushed them to 10-6 on the season, 2-4 in the WCAC. It was the first win over Holy Cross since a 58-52 win during the 1999-2000 season, only the third time in the series the Cardinals had topped Holy Cross. Once again, seniors CeCe Leone had a big night, with a game-high 22 points, Alex Stipano added three more 3-pointers to her total, scoring 15, while Danielle Hatchett scored 11. The three recorded an unbelievable 13 for 13 from the free throw line, the Cardinals overall shot a stunning 22 of 24 from the stripe! For Leone, it extended her streak of consecutive free throws made to at least 25 in a row and 29 of her last 30!
Friday saw the girls back on the bus for a trek to Leonardtown and the cramped Ryken school gym. Fresh off a win over Holy Cross, the Cardinals tangled with the high scoring Knights sitting at 3-2 in WCAC play.
The game was played at a fast pace, Ryken owning a narrow 15-13 lead after one, then pulled away in the second quarter to gain an 8-point bulge at the halfway mark of the contest, 33-25.
Ryken continued to build on the advantage and closed the third period with 55-41 lead over the visiting Cardinals. Ireton didn’t quit, the pace didn’t slacken and the teams combined for 39 points in the 4th, giving the Knights the 75-60 margin of victory.
CeCe Leone continued to score at torrid pace, once again scoring 22 points for Ireton, while Michelle Montgomery contributed 11 and Stipano 10. Bianca Boggs had a game-high 23 to lead St Mary’s Ryken.
Bishop Ireton stays on the road, heading to Owings Mills and a Saturday matchup with Huntingtown High School in the McDonogh School’s Public-Private Challenge. Tip off is 2pm.