Third-seeded St. John’s turned back top-seeded Bishop McNamara 45-41 to claim the ‘23/’24 Girls Washington Catholic Athletic Conference basketball title – before a near-capacity crowd at American University’s Bender Arena on Feb. 26.
The Cadets from St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., improved to 29-5 and the Mustangs from Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland, dropped to 24-5. McNamara had won the lone meeting between the two teams in the regular season.
Jaidyn Harper of St. John’s knocked down a trey to commence the scoring in the game, and the red-clad Lady Cadets never looked back.
“My teammates trusted me with the ball,” stated Harper, who added, “It was great that I made that first shot."
The Cadets, coached by veteran Jonathan Scribner, eventually led 13-4 as the first quarter concluded. Harper's five points led the way.
Both powerhouse teams (each highly ranked by the Washington Post and McNamara even being in the top-10 nationally according to some publications) scored 13 points in the second quarter – en route to the Cadets holding a 26-17 advantage at halftime.
St. John’s outscored McNamara 14-12 in the third quarter, to lead by double digits after 24 minutes were in the books, 40-29.
White-clad McNamara stepped up the defensive effort in the fourth quarter and narrowed their 13-point deficit, from a 42-29 score down to a mere two points, with an impressive 12-1 run making the score 43-41 with 48 seconds remaining in the contest.
But the Mustangs were unable to convert a field goal in the waning seconds of the contest.
St. John’s Morgan Stewart made a huge play defensively with a block to thwart the Mustangs attempt to tie or take the lead.
Stewart then proceeded to knock down two of two free throws which led to St. John’s winning by the final score of 45-41.
St. John’s only scored five points in the fourth quarter, but it was enough to claim their third consecutive WCAC title under Scribner's leadership.
“It's all about getting stops,” said Scribner, who added, “We played some incredible defense at the end of the game to get the stop that we needed.”
Harper summed up her thoughts, saying, “This win means everything to us – a lot of people doubted us this year. This win means the world to us.” The senior will play at East Tennessee State next season.
Coach Scribner noted that the Cadets have been 9-0 the past three post-seasons in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, with three championship wins, three semi-final wins and three quarter-finals wins. “Tonight, we really rebounded well, and we executed on defense,” he said.
Pacing St. John’s were senior Kyndal Walker with 18 points and three treys and four rebounds; senior Tatum Greene with 14 points and seven rebounds; sophomore Morgan Stewart with eight points, seven rebounds and four assists; senior Jaidyn Harper with five points and five rebounds; and senior Carolae Barton with eight rebounds.
Not only does Stewart return for the ‘24/’25 season - but so will fellow St. John’s players Amanda Bates, Giselle Grant, Samantha Eller, Laila Jackson, Emma Noncheva, Lyla Coogen and Logan Miller.
Pacing Bishop McNamara were junior Vanessa Harris with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists; junior Zhen Craft with nine points and seven rebounds; freshman Qandace Samuels with eight points and four rebounds; senior LaNae' Corbett with four points; junior Mary Amoateng with four points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals; and junior Princess-Alex Moody with three points and sophomore Kasey Robinson with two points.
McNamara played the final weeks of the season without senior starting guard Madisen McDaniel who was injured.
Not only will all of the above student athletes return for Bishop McNamara next season (with the exception of Corbett and McDaniel), but so will Maisie Crowley, Chyanne Harris and Logan Davis.
In the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, the Coach of the Year in girls’ basketball was Kesha Walton, who led the team from Bishop Ireton in Alexandria, Virginia; and the Player of the Year in girls’ basketball was Laura Williams from Paul VI High School in Chantilly, Virginia.
In the WCAC boys’ basketball championship, Paul VI defeated Gonzaga College High School of Washington, D.C., 63-51.
The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference’s first team players in girls’ basketball were St. John’s Kyndal Walker; McNamara’s Madisen McDaniel; Ireton’s Amirah Anderson and Nyla Brooks; Caliyah DeVillasee and Talayah Walker from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland; and Nyair McCoy from Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington.
In boys’ basketball, the WCAC named Paul VI’s Glenn Farello as its Coach of the Year, and Paul VI’s Darren Harris as its Player of the Year. The WCAC’s first team boys’ basketball players were Paul VI’s Ben Hammond; Gonzaga’s Derek Dixon and Nykolas Lewis; Malcolm Thomas from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville; St. John’s Omari Witherspoon; McNamara’s Qayden Samuels; and Bryson Tucker from Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia.
