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By JOHN ERZAR jerzar@leader.net
Wednesday, March 19, 2003 Page: 1B
The matchup in tonight’s PIAA Class 3A girls basketball semifinal is clear.
Bishop Hoban’s 6-foot-2 Meredith Alexis vs. Allentown Central Catholic’s
6-3 Sara Antolick …. and 6-1 Jen Osborne … and 6-foot Courtney Molinaro.
“I’m not worried about the matchup there as far as our big kids,” Central
Catholic coach Mike Kopp said. “We’re going to challenge her. We have three
big kids we can send at her and she is going to have to make plays. We’re
going to put the pressure on her.”
Other Hoban opponents have tried and failed, but District 11 champion and
two-time defending state champion Central Catholic (30-1) has an additional
factor when it plays District 2 runner-up Hoban (27-3) at 7:30 p.m. at Martz
Hall in Pottsville.
Unlike North Pocono’s 6-2 Laura Franceski or Villa Maria 6-footer Alison
Brown, each of whom guarded Alexis the past two games, the Central Catholic
trio brings muscle compatible to the Hoban center. Franceski and Brown were
rather lean compared to Alexis.
“I’ve seen her for four years, so I know what she does,” Kopp said. “She
runs the floor very well, so we’re going to have to make it a half-court
game.”
That leads to the next matchup, which is less intriguing but could be even
more decisive in the long run.
Central Catholic has defeated its three state opponents by an average of
30.3 points, the largest margin among the 32 girls and boys teams still alive
in the playoffs. The Vikettes, though, aren’t a blow’em-out-quick type of
team. Instead, they like to wear down opponents, especially by pressuring the
opposing guards across the timeline. They trailed Nazareth Academy 12-6 after
one quarter on Saturday before winning 60-37.
Senior Allison Matt, a big-game veteran, leads Central Catholic’s
backcourt. She scored 20 points vs. Nazareth Academy and averages just under
13 a game, as does Antolick. Kopp also has faith in guard Gina Lewandowski and
his backcourt reserves.
“The guards have to take care of the ball, that’s the big thing,” Hoban
coach Bob Schuler said. “They’ve developed a great deal. (Beth) Pohlidal is
leading us in assists. Laura (Valentine) has really stepped her game up and
she’s only a sophomore. Kyla (Purpura) had a good year for us. It’s going to
come down to the guard play and how we rebound.”
The latter could be a tough task. For the most part, defenses have been
packing on Alexis to slice into her 34.1-point regular-season average and
alter her rebounding. The tactic has had limited success.
Hoban, though, has received a strong effort from senior forward Aimee
Harenza. Although only 5-7, Harenza has played well in the postseason at both
ends of the court. Senior Therese Price and sophomore Mallory Zoeller, a pair
of 5-9 forwards, will also help out.
The teams are familiar with each other, having played twice over the last
13 months. Central Catholic defeated Hoban 67-24 on Feb. 3, 2002, but the
Argents were without Alexis, who was recovering from mononucleosis. This past
summer, Central Catholic didn’t have Antolik, who was enrolled at Bethlehem
Catholic at the time, when Hoban won a summer tournament matchup.
The schools, though, couldn’t hook up during the season as they had in past
years. Each had their league schedules increased and had to drop some
non-league games. Hoban had an offer to play Central Catholic in a tournament
over the Christmas break, but had already committed to a local tournament.
Today’s winner plays either District 6 champion Lewistown (24-6) or
District 10 champion Villa Maria Academy of Erie (24-6) at 6 p.m. Saturday at
the Giant Center in Hershey for the state crown.