Mar 10, 2025
03/08/25 Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Bishop Guilfoyle’s Layona Williams shoots over Clarion-Limestone’s Corinne Hepfl.
If there was any rust for the Bishop Guilfoyle Academy girls basketball team on Saturday, there weren’t any signs of it.
Playing in their first game in 10 days, the District 6 champion Lady Marauders forced Clarion-Limestone into 18 first-half turnovers on their way to a 62-19 victory in the first round of the PIAA 1A playoffs on Saturday afternoon at the Pleasant Valley Gymnasium.
“I think it’s hard when you have a long break in between games when you’re used to playing three games in a week,” BG coach Kristi Kaack said. “I thought Clarion-Limestone came out and was really aggressive. They definitely weren’t afraid to try some different things. I thought it was good for our kids. We were happy with the way they responded and the way they defended.”
The Lady Marauders led 42-10 at halftime to get the running clock moving in the second half against the Lady Lions, which finished in fourth place out of District 9.
“We just wanted to play hard and play our game, and put forth a good effort, and I think our girls did that,” C-L coach Jared Beggs said. “Yeah, we fell behind early, but they battled to the end. That’s a very good team. They go eight or nine deep. They all can shoot. They play relentless defense.”
Clarion-Limestone had just two seniors playing in the game, and started three sophomores and a freshman.
“We are a young team,” Beggs said. “These girls want to play basketball year-round. They excel in other sports, as well. We anticipate being back here every year now. That’s what we’re trying to establish.”
All five BG starters got into the scoring column in the first four minutes of the game as they jumped out to an 11-2 lead.
Later in the quarter, Gia Adams, who is coming off the bench after returning from injury recently, splashed a 3-pointer to put her team up double digits. Adams had seven points in the game.
“We expect that from Gia,” Kaack said. “She’s one of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever coached. I think on both ends of the floor she will do whatever the team needs her to do.”
From there, Morgan Ruggery took over the first half as she led the Lady Marauders to a 32-point halftime lead. Ruggery had 16 points to lead BG for the afternoon.
“We need to continue to just keep playing games like this — playing good defense and just playing as a team,” Ruggery said.
“We’re playing very unselfish right now,” Kaack said. “I just think the team game they play on both ends of the floor is what makes this group so special. There’s not a lot of individual goals. It’s very team-oriented. I’m proud to be part of that.”
BG will face Aquinas Academy in the second round at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Armstrong High School in Kittanning. Aquinas Academy, the WPIAL third place team, beat Fannett-Metal, 65-22, on Saturday.
CLARION-LIMESTONE (19): Ferguson 0 0-0 0, Schwabenbauer 1 0-0 2, Hepfl 0 0-0 0, Beggs 5 2-2 12, Simpson 0 3-4 3, Dunn 0 0-0 0, Aaron 0 0-0 0, Love 0 0-0 0, Meals 0 0-0 0, Clinger 0 2-2 2, Jackson 0 0-0 0, Kotchey 0 0-0 0. Totals — 6 7-8 19.
BISHOP GUILFOYLE (62): Williams 3 0-0 6, Haigh 1 1-2 3, Query 4 0-0 8, Ruggery 6 4-5 16, Petrecca 3 0-0 6, Adams 3 0-0 7, Gofus 1 2-2 4, Homan 3 0-0 8, Hite 1 1-1 3, Steward 0 0-0 0, K. Ronan 0 0-0 0, P. Ronan 0 1-2 1. Totals — 25 9-12 62.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Clarion-Limestone 6 4 4 5 — 19
Bishop Guilfoyle 21 21 11 9 — 62
3-point goals: Clarion-Limestone 0; Bishop Guilfoyle 3 (Adams, Homan 2).
Records: Clarion-Limestone (15-10); Bishop Guilfoyle (26-2).
Officials: Todd Parker, Craig Ambros, Dan Solomon.
By Dave Mackall For the Mirror CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP — Family members and fans of the Penn Cambria girls …
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