Archbishop Carroll, from left, senior Felicity McFillin, freshman Abbie McFillin and junior Maddie McFillin pose together following a game earlier this season. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
By Owen McCue
Tension and anxiety filled even the neutral observer during the Philadelphia Catholic League girls championship last week.
As the game continued into one overtime and then another, the knuckles were a little whiter gripping two seats in the Archbishop Carroll cheering section.
Matt and Maureen McFillin had their nerves tripled with not just one, not just two but sometimes three daughters — Felicity, Maddie and Abbie — out on the floor at the Palestra at the same time of what ended up being a double overtime loss in the Catholic League title game for the Patriots.
It’s a moment they’ll never forget though, Matt ensuring even in the most stressful seconds of the thriller to appreciate it.
“I said look up, look at this,” Matt recounted. “It’s packed in here. This will never happen again for these girls, all three of them on the same court in front of a sold out Palestra. I said enjoy this.”