Delcohoops.com

By Matthew DeGeorge

Kevin McCarthy’s introduction to high school basketball came with a splash from deep.

From his COVID-abbreviated freshman year, McCarthy’s niche at Episcopal Academy was first and foremost as a shooter. Leave him open behind the arc at your own peril, opposing teams would quickly learn.

Word would get around, as it always does, and that novelty would burn off. Yet McCarthy kept on making 3-pointers. And with that as the cornerstone, he would diversify his game, grow physically into a rangy 6-4 defender and become the kind of offensive facilitator that makes others around him better.

“Definitely the best asset of my game is my shooting ability,” McCarthy said. “When I was an underclassmen, I did a lot more solely 3-point shooting. As I matured, I developed my game and made my game better all around, and I play off my 3-pointer more now. So teams close out on me hard, they guard me really heavily. I use my 3-pointer to get to the basket, to get open diving lanes.”

Along the way, McCarthy collected 1,527 points, eighth-most in program history. He picked up three Division I offers before fulfilling his dream of going to West Point to play for Army.

And he makes history as the first Churchmen player to be named Daily Times Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

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By Matthew DeGeorge

First team

Kevin McCarthy, Sr. G, Episcopal Academy

Aasim Burton, Sr. G, Cardinal O’Hara

Matt Gardler, Jr. G, Marple Newtown

Kevin Rucker, Sr. G, Bonner & Prendergast

Deuce Ketner, Sr. F, Bonner & Prendergast

Jake Sniras, Jr. F, Garnet Valley

(click on this link for the 2nd & 3rd teams)

By Matt Smith

Molly Rullo’s future in basketball is an open book. Her story is nowhere near finished. As one of the brightest high school stars in Pennsylvania, the Cardinal O’Hara junior has enjoyed seeing the revolution of women’s hoops unfold before her eyes.

Caitlin Clark is a household name, but many other players are responsible for shining a national light on the sport.

Earlier this week, Rullo’s eyes lit up as she discussed the game’s meteoric rise and the influence it has had on her own burgeoning career.

“It has been super impactful,” she said. “You know, growing up I felt like I was prone to watching a lot more men’s basketball. That was cool and all, but they are way different than the girls. It’s just a different game.

“When I think back, what motivated me to come to O’Hara was watching Hannah Nihill, Kenzie Gardler and all of those girls win the (Catholic League title) back-to-back years. That is what I thought was so cool, going to The Palestra and seeing them play in front of thousands of people. That was so impactful to me at a young age.

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By Matt Smith

First Team

Brooke Wilson, Sr. G, Arch. Carroll

Joanie Quinn, Sr. G, Card. O’Hara

Molly Rullo, Jr. G/F, Card. O’Hara

Haylie Adamski, Jr. G, Garnet Valley

Rian Dotsey, Jr. F, Haverford

Aniya Eberhart, Sr. G, Haverford

(click on this link for the full the 2nd and 3rd teams)

By Ed Morrone

They say that defense wins championships — but having Molly Rullo and Joanie Quinn on your side certainly helps too.

Rullo scored 10 of her 13 points before halftime before passing the baton to Quinn, who tallied 14 of her game-high 16 points in the second half to lead Cardinal O’Hara to a 42-26 victory in the PIAA Class 6A state championship game on Friday night.

It was the third state title in four years for the Lions, who held a normally strong shooting Spring-Ford team to an 8-for-37 night from the field, including a 2-for-17 clip from downtown.

“I love these girls with everything in my being,” Quinn said. “To be able to share this experience with people that I love so much, I can’t even describe what that means.”

The Rams had cruised through their first four state playoff games, winning by an average of 21.7 points per game.

Then they ran into Quinn and Rullo’s O’Hara buzzsaw.

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By Matt Smith

Greta Miller’s contributions to Cardinal O’Hara’s 2023-24 season cannot be measured by the markings that appear next to her name in the scorebook.

She didn’t score 20 points per game and she wasn’t the player opposing teams planned for when facing the Lions. The senior guard made her impact with textbook defense and rebounding.

She scored from time to time, and was never afraid to take her shot even when going through a cold spell. Coming into the PIAA Class 6A final against Spring-Ford, Miller had played two straight games without scoring a point.

But Miller had one more big shot left in her Friday at the Giant Center, swishing a 3-point field goal in the third quarter after Spring-Ford had rallied to close the gap to six points. It was an offensive rebound by Miller that led to her clutch basket.

When O’Hara needed someone to make a play, Miller answered the call. The Lions never looked back, ending the game on an 18-8 run en route to a 42-26 victory over the Rams, earning O’Hara’s third state title in four years.

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