Natalie DiBlasi hit the go-ahead shot in overtime as Cardinal O’Hara advanced to the PCL semifinals. The junior guard was among a host of contributors for the Lions in the win.
By Andrew Robinson
This was no time to walk the ball up the floor.
With the Lansdale Catholic gym rattling in the wake of a go-ahead three in overtime, Cardinal O’Hara seized the opportunity to get down the floor and get up a shot in a hurry. Almost as quickly as the energy had tilted to the home side of the gym, it swung right back to the visitors thanks to the latest in a line of big shots from the Lions’ pride on Thursday night.
Natalie DiBlasi put No. 5 O’Hara ahead for good, the junior adding just one of a multitude of big moments from the entire roster as the Lions edged No. 4 Lansdale Catholic 41-38 in overtime of their PCL girls’ basketball quarterfinal.
“It was nerve-wracking, I got a wide-open shot and had to take it,” DiBlasi said. “I just hoped to make it and give us a good lead so we could lock it in.”
DiBlasi’s shot, a long two that initially went on the scoreboard as a three, gave O’Hara a 39-38 lead just a few seconds after LC’s Nadia Yemola had buried a three to put the hosts ahead with 2:23 left in the extra period. Getting to that shot took plenty of contributions from her teammates.