Neumann-Goretti pulls away from Oakland Catholic in PIAA Class 4A championship game
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Saturday, March 21, 2026 | 2:26 PM
Oakland Catholic’s Luci LaMendola battles Neumann-Goretti’s Zion Coston for the ball during the PIAA Class 4A championship game Saturday at Giant Center in Hershey. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Oakland Catholic’s Madison Pullen shoots a 3-pointer against Neumann-Goretti during the PIAA Class 4A championship game Saturday at Giant Center in Hershey. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Oakland Catholic’s Luci LaMendola hugs Madison Pullen after the PIAA Class 4A championship game against Neumann-Goretti on Saturday at Giant Center in Hershey. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Oakland Catholic’s Josie Fontana pressures Neumann-Goretti’s Chrisette King during the PIAA Class 4A championship game Saturday at Giant Center in Hershey. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Oakland Catholic’sJosie Fontana collides with Neumann-Goretti’s Reginna Baker during the PIAA Class 4A state championship game on Saturday, Mar. 21, 2026, at Giant Center in Hershey. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Neumann-Goretti’s Zion Coston pressures Oakland Catholic’s Josie Fontana during the PIAA Class 4A state championship game on Saturday, Mar. 21, 2026, at Giant Center in Hershey. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Oakland Catholic’s Luci Lamendola drives past Neumann-Goretti’s Azzure O’Connor to score during the PIAA Class 4A state championship game on Saturday, Mar. 21, 2026, at Giant Center in Hershey. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Oakland Catholic’s Josie Fontana drives past Neumann-Goretti’s Sanai Johnson during the PIAA Class 4A state championship game on Saturday, Mar. 21, 2026, at Giant Center in Hershey. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Oakland Catholic’s Josie Fontana pressures Neumann-Goretti’s Reginna Baker during the PIAA Class 4A championship game Saturday at Giant Center in Hershey. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Oakland Catholic’s Savanna Daye works against Neumann-Goretti’s Reginna Baker during the PIAA Class 4A state championship game on Saturday, Mar. 21, 2026, at Giant Center in Hershey. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Neumann-Goretti’s Reginna Baker blocks a shot by Oakland Catholic’s Madison Pullen during the PIAA Class 4A state championship game on Saturday, Mar. 21, 2026, at Giant Center in Hershey. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
Oakland Catholic’s Zephaniah Troxler-Scott takes the court during player introductions before the PIAA Class 4A state championship game on Saturday, Mar. 21, 2026, at Giant Center in Hershey. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)
HERSHEY — Oakland Catholic coach Henry Schechter knew he had to get Saturday’s PIAA Class 4A title tilt against Neumann-Goretti at a pace his team could control.
What he didn’t know was he’d have to try to do it without his star Josie Fontana.
Fontana was forced to sit for a long stretch of Saturday’s PIAA Class 4A final due to foul trouble, and Philadelphia Catholic League power Neumann-Goretti had the moment it needed to take control.
Despite a spectacular shooting performance by Oakland Catholic’s Madi Pullen, the Saints’ speed started to show in the second quarter and carried through the rest of the game.
Neumann-Goretti withstood an early 12-3 deficit to open the game and used a sharpshooting second quarter (6 of 11) to pull away and claim a seventh state title with a 53-48 win over WPIAL champion Oakland Catholic.
Fontana did not have her typical impact thanks to the foul issues.
“That hurt us a little bit,” Schechter said. “Really on the boards, they started getting some second and third chance opportunities, I think when she was out, she’s been our best player all year so obviously when she is not on the court, that hurts us.”
With Fontana on the bench, Oakland Catholic shot 1 of 11 in the second quarter.
Pullen was the bright spot for the Eagles, scoring a game-high 24 points by hitting 8 of 13 shots, including 6 of 10 from 3-point territory. Fontana, a Richmond recruit, was limited to eight points and seven rebounds for the Eagles. Oakland Catholic shot 14 of 40 from the field overall.
“(Pullen) is an elite 3-point shooter. I’ve coached kids who are really good, elite 3-point shooters on the high level. That kid can shoot and she is a big-time shooter too,” Schechter said. “She is just a really great kid. She is so well-liked in our school and on our team. It really did bother her the last couple of games that she wasn’t shooting well. She put her mind to it and had a tremendous game.”
Schechter said he had a feeling Pullen would have a strong game after struggling vs. Blackhawk in the semifinal win on Tuesday night. But the game flipped at the 4:53 mark of the second quarter when Fontana picked up her third foul.
Immediately after Fontana exited the game, a Chrisette King basket in the paint gave the Saints a 19-17 lead they would not relinquish.
Oakland Catholic was able to pull within one with 3:56 to go in the third on a Pullen bucket, but that was as close as the Eagles would get the rest of the way.
Neumann-Goretti needed only 12 field goal attempts over the final two quarters to play keep away. The Saints hit 7 of 12 over the final 16 minutes.
“They’re a very good team. They are quick, I think we just needed to communicate a little more,” said Pullen, who will return next season along with Brooklyn Rozier and Luci Lamendola.
“I’m super proud,” Pullen said, fighting back tears. “This is a great team, sad it ended this way, but it’s been a great year.”
Reginna Baker led the Saints with 18 points, while Azzure O’Conner added 16. Pullen was the only Eagles player in double figures.
Tags: Oakland Catholic
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