Girls Basketball Notebook: Tough schedules producing opposite results for Carroll, O’Hara

Cardinal O'Hara junior Joanie Quinn takes a shot during practice last month. Despite graduating three All-Delcos from last year's Catholic League and PIAA Class 5A championship team, the Lions are off to a 7-2 start and the No. 1 team in the Super 7. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)

Cardinal O’Hara junior Joanie Quinn takes a shot during practice last month. Despite graduating three All-Delcos from last year’s Catholic League and PIAA Class 5A championship team, the Lions are off to a 7-2 start and the No. 1 team in the Super 7. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)

By Matt Smith

It’s tradition for Archbishop Carroll and Cardinal O’Hara to play an extremely difficult nonleague schedule and this season isn’t any different.

The young Lions are off to a 7-2 start after losing two of their first three games. They have impressive wins over South Bronx Prep, Academy of Notre Dame and West Chester Rustin. O’Hara defeated George School (Newtown) at the Blue Star Invitational Sunday, 46-28, for its sixth consecutive victory.

“We still have a lot to do to get better, but we know everyone on the team has the same focus,” junior guard Joanie Quinn said after the Lions’ win over Notre Dame in December. “We have to bring energy into every game.”

With four new starters, the reigning two-time PIAA Class 5A champions have thus far kicked the “rebuilding” label. Now a Class 6A program, the Lions are every bit as dangerous, just with a fresh coat of paint. Sophomore Molly Rullo is the star, but Quinn and fellow juniors Greta Miller and Carly Coleman have provided plenty of support.

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