Maggie Doogan, center, holds up the championship plaque after Cardinal O’Hara topped Archbishop Carroll, 55-30, to win the Catholic League girls basketball title Monday night at the Palestra. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group).
By Terry Toohey
Maggie Doogan had a death grip on the Catholic League championship plaque after Cardinal O’Hara rolled over Archbishop Carroll, 55-30, Monday night in the PCL final at the Palestra.
The senior forward and reigning Daily Times Player of the Year clutched the iconic disc that has long been the symbol of Catholic League supremacy with both hands and held it close to her chest.
She had let her teammates, like fellow senior Annie Welde, hold the plaque for a moment or two as the Lions basked in the glory of the 19th Catholic League title in program history and first since 2018. Once she got it back, though, after all the celebratory pictures were taken, the plaque was hers and she had no intention of giving it up any time soon.
“I’m not planning on it,” Doogan said.
This was a moment four years in the making. The senior class knew the agony of losing in the league final. The memory of last year’s 56-48 loss to Archbishop Wood was a constant reminder that they had unfinished business, even though the Lions went on to win the PIAA Class 5A title after that league title game setback.