Nobody said it would be easy, but on Friday, Maggie Doogan (the one being mugged by Chartier Valley’s Perri Page) of Cardinal O’Hara, helped complete her team’s second straight state championship ride with mom Chrissie Doogan at the helm. (Mark Palczewski – For MediaNews Group)
By Jack McCaffery
One by one Friday, in the tradition of PIAA state championship teams, Chrissie Doogan would drape a gold medal around the neck of each of her players.
For each, she had a hug.
For each, she had a smile.
For each, she had pride.
For each, she had gratitude.
Then, the girls basketball coach at Cardinal O’Hara came to the final player in line, and that’s when the video board high above the Giant Center revealed that she had just a little bit more.
“We did it,” she told her daughter, Maggie Doogan. “I love you, Maggie.”
The Lions did plenty during the season, during the postseason, and finally in the Class 5A championship game, a 42-19 triumph over Chartiers Valley. In the process, they would be the first team in the generations-deep tradition of O’Hara girls basketball excellence to win both the Catholic League championship and a state championship. And even if some of the most glorious Lions teams – including the one Chrissie played on as a senior in 1993 – were not yet PIAA members, the 2022 Lions were high among the best.