Springfield’s Mia Valerio is fouled by Bishop Shanahan’s Samantha Blumenthal in the first half in a Class 5A game between the teams Friday night. That wouldn’t be a bad strategy in the second half as the Cougars went ice cold from the line en route to a loss. (Pete Bannan – MediaNews Group).
By Matt Smith
Caydence Oswald had taken only one shot during regulation Friday night.
In overtime, the Bishop Shanahan junior guard took another crack at the rim and delivered the biggest make of her life.
Oswald drained the go-ahead 3-pointer early in OT and the No. 4 Eagles held on to defeat top-seeded Springfield, 34-29.
“If I got in my head then, I wouldn’t have been able to make that shot,” Oswald said. “I knew I needed to make it. We were in overtime so it’s definitely a little bit stressful, but I put all of my focus on making the basket. I’m glad it went in.”
Bishop Shanahan (15-8) ended Springfield’s two-year district championship reign. The Eagles will play No. 7 Villa Maria at Temple University’s Liacouras Center next Saturday.
“Even making it this far, I’m so grateful that we were able to come here and play some good basketball,” Oswald said. “A lot of our girls, we’ve been going through so many injuries this season, and we definitely are a younger team, we only have one senior, so to be able to get this far after everything that’s happened this season…”