Molly Rullo, right, dribbles during practice at Cardinal O’Hara this week. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)
By Matt Smith
Molly Rullo is too modest and team-oriented to ever admit that she is now the No. 1 player at Cardinal O’Hara.
She is the face of the latest generation of Rullo basketball greats, a lineage that stretches back nearly 80 years ago, when her grandfather Jerry Rullo starred at Temple and later won an NBA title with the Philadelphia Warriors.
Rullo’s freshman season was close to perfection. She fit in from the start with senior leaders Maggie Doogan, Sydni Scott and Annie Welde. Rullo was an excellent outside shooter and defender and scored from all areas. She played an important role in a magical season for the Lions, who won the Philadelphia Catholic League championship and a second consecutive PIAA Class 5A title. Rullo averaged 10.5 points and five rebounds per game while shooting 40 percent from 3-point distance.
“I’m super excited for this year,” Rullo said before practice Tuesday. “Last year was really awesome. I think just getting back into the environment again is important, like playing the PCL teams and getting great competition from everyone else we play.