Vincentian Academy Bombs Old Forge to Defend Girls Class A State Title

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, March 21, 2015 | 2:58 PM

The Vincentian Academy girls secured their place in history, as the Lady Royals turned in a dominant performance en route to an 86-38 victory over Old Forge to repeat as PIAA Class A champions at the Giant Center in Hershey.

In a rematch of last year’s championship tilt, the Lady Royals were keyed by suffocating defense and a stellar performance by senior forward Brenna Wise. Wise, the two-time MSA Sports girls’ player of the year, recorded a triple-double, as she netted 30 points, 11 rebounds and 13 steals.

Wise’s defensive effort epitomized the contest, as Vincentian Academy forced 45 Blue Devils’ turnovers. Junior forward Lexi Griggs also provided a memorable contribution for the Lady Royals, as she scored 24 points by shooting 9-12 from the field.

The District II Champion Blue Devils, who replaced all five starters from last year’s state runner-up squad, scored the first points of the game, and held an early 3-2 edge. Vincentian Academy head coach Ron Moncrief called a timeout, and told his girls to just focus on playing their game. From that point, Vincentian Academy indeed played its game, utilizing a 20-0 run in the quarter to take complete command.

As a result, the Lady Royals held a 26-8 lead after the first stanza, and added to their advantage by outscoring the Blue Devils 22-12 in the second quarter. In addition to inducing 28 turnovers in the first half, the Lady Royals corralled 14 offensive rebounds.

The third quarter began in similar fashion to much of the first half, as Vincentian Academy started the stanza with a 9-2 run to grab a 57-22 lead.

With the outcome already determined, the only question that remained was if Wise would notch the triple-double. In addition to adding eight points in the second half, the University of Pittsburgh recruit provided six steals and six boards after the break to achieve the rare accomplishment.

The defensive intensity remained over the final 16 minutes for the Lady Royals, as they held the Blue Devils to 12 points in the third, and just six points in the final quarter with the mercy rule invoked.

In addition to Wise and Griggs, the Lady Royals were fueled by Torrieonna Cash, who contributed seven points and six assists. In the defeat, Old Forge was led by Tori Tansley, who netted 14 points, and Nina Pascolini, who chipped in with 11 points.

The lopsided triumph allowed Vincentian Academy to conclude its incredible season with a mark of 30-1, while Old Forge finished its campaign with a record of 16-11.

“It’s an incredible honor,” Wise said following the victory. “I couldn’t even imagine anything greater than this opportunity, and to end my four years in high school in the (Giant Center in Hershey) with another gold medal around my neck is unbelievable.”

Score By Quarters:
Vincentian Academy Royals  :  26 – 22 – 19 – 19 = 86
Old Forge Devils  :  8 – 12 – 12 – 6 = 38

Tags: Vincentian Academy