Redeemer Lutheran basketball teams savor playoff experience

By: Josh Rizzo
Sunday, February 16, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The Redeemer Lutheran girls basketball team is conditioned to play all 32 minutes if necessary. But the Rams are happy the program has grown enough so they can all get a rest.

Redeemer opened the Southwestern Pennsylvania Athletic Association playoffs Feb. 10 by beating Neighborhood Academy, 51-25, on the road in the quarterfinals.

The Rams (6-5) played their first varsity season during the 2022-23 school year and had five players. Four players — Jaden Craig, Molly Hagey, Clarissa Tinkey, and Anika Van Wyk — remain from that team and have played key roles this season.

Rams coach Sarah Driscoll said that having veteran players — along with some of the girls getting championship experience with the volleyball team in the fall — has given Redeemer a lot of confidence.

“Immensely, it was a great team boost,” Driscoll said. “We had five girls on the team a few years ago. They are tough girls, they’ll run all season, they have good energy and give 100 percent on the court.”

The Rams played Beaver County Christian in the semifinals Feb. 12. Redeemer lost both of its regular season meetings to the Falcons. Results from that game were too late for this edition.

Jordan Mitchell led Redeemer with 20 points in the win against Neighborhood Academy. Van Wyk finished with 12 points, while Hagey had 11.

“We came off a good win on Friday against the top team,” Driscoll said. “We were going in today with our cards on the table. We played some strong defense to pull out the win.”

Mitchell and Hagey were named to the SWPAA All-Eastern Conference team.

Rams boys bow out

Redeemer couldn’t get much to fall in during a SWPAA quarterfinal against Calvary Chapel Christian on Feb. 10 at Penn Hills High School. The Rams only made two field goals in the first half of a 47-33 loss.

“I felt like there was a protective cover on the rim in the first half,” Rams coach John Driscoll said.

The Lions took advantage by gradually building an advantage. Calvary Chapel used a 9-0 run to end the first half to stretch the lead to 23-6. Redeemer (2-9) made a concerted defensive effort against the Lions.

Redeemer had just played Calvary three days prior and made adjustments to slow the Lions down.

“We played them (Feb. 7), and they mercy ruled us 10 seconds into the second half,” Driscoll said. “The boys didn’t want that to happen again. We adjusted and did a triangle and two through most of the game. I thought we did a good job of shutting down their players.”

Sophomore guard Topher Driscoll led the Rams with 14 points. Redeemer only had one senior, Joey Kuhel.

John Driscoll believes this group of juniors — Christian Aubele, Mark Steven Patterson, Noah Susek and Jon Fereday — learned valuable lessons in leadership. Nate Wilson and Topher Driscoll were named to the SWPAA All-Eastern Conference team.

John Driscoll believes their experience this year will benefit them next season.

“It’s more of a confidence thing,” John Driscoll said. “These boys didn’t know how to lead until halfway through this season. They powered through. The juniors took it upon themselves to lead, vocally, off the court.”