Molly Rullo (above, in March) had 15 points in Saturday’s loss. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
By Liam O’Murchu
Cardinal O’Hara began their defense of their PIAA 5A state championship with a 58-53 loss to the Cannon School (NC) on Saturday afternoon at the She Got Game Classic in Springfield, Virginia. O’Hara graduated three crucial players from the state championship squad in Maggie Doogan (Richmond), Sydni Scott (Marshall), and Annie Welde (Villanova) and returns this year with a much younger team.
But the youth of the squad is something that they are leaning into. Although this year’s squad may not have the height and experience last year’s team did, they make up for it elsewhere.
“Last year, we were six-foot-[tall] almost across the whole board,” head coach Chrissie Doogan said. “So we had a lot of length, a lot of height. We wouldn’t have gotten out-rebounded like we did today last year. But this year’s team is probably quicker and just as scrappy.”