Girls: Rullo, Wakefield step up as O’Hara downs Dallastown to advance into quarterfinal

Carly Wakefield (above) stepped up early to help O’Hara out to a hot start. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

By Josh Verlin

All offseason long, Carly Wakefield watched tape of Carly Coleman.

It wasn’t because the O’Hara sophomore had the same name as the ‘24 Lions graduate, who started for O’Hara’s PIAA state title team a year ago. That’s just a coincidence. Instead, it’s because Wakefield has the ability to do for O’Hara exactly what Coleman did: namely, impact the game in all sorts of ways.

“Ever since she left, I’ve just been watching film of her,” Wakefield said of Coleman. “Because me and (O’Hara coach Chrissie Doogan) had a conversation at the end of the season, and she was like, ‘I want you to be the next Carly Coleman. But make it your name.’”

Wakefield has work to do to match the level of Coleman, who earned Atlantic East Rookie of the Year honors after a standout first season at Immaculata. But the 5-foot-10 O’Hara sophomore is making progress, which showed during an impressive first-half stretch of O’Hara’s 46-32 win over Dallastown in the second round of the 2025 PIAA Class 6A Tournament on Tuesday evening at Coatesville. 

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Girls: Dallastown gets the full Molly Rullo treatment in O’Hara win

Cardinal O’Hara’s Molly Rullo, right in this shot from a game against Carroll in late January, did it all against Dallastown in a PIAA Class 6A second-round game Tuesday night. (Pete Bannan – MediaNews Group)

Cardinal O’Hara’s Molly Rullo, right in this shot from a game against Carroll in late January, did it all against Dallastown in a PIAA Class 6A second-round game Tuesday night. (Pete Bannan – MediaNews Group)

By Matt Smith

Molly Rullo put on a masterclass Tuesday in Cardinal O’Hara’s 46-32 win over Dallastown High in a PIAA Class 6A tournament second-round matchup at Coatesville.

At the free-throw line, Rullo was nearly automatic, sinking 17 of 18 attempts, including her first 10 straight. But that was just one layer of her all-around brilliance.

Matched up against the taller Praise Matthews, the 5-11 Rullo made sure Dallastown’s go-to player never found a rhythm. She stuck to Matthews like glue, limiting her touches and making life difficult for the District 3 champions. From the start, Rullo was hellbent on shutting down Dallastown’s top option, forcing the Wildcats to look elsewhere for offense, which was anemic until it was far too late.

Beyond her defensive dominance, one of the best players in the state did what she does best – pile up points.

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PIAA Class 1A + 6A: Carroll girls storm past Wilson; TCA boys pull off comeback

Alexis Eberz (above) scored 23 points in Carroll’s second-round win. (Photo: Mark Jordan/CoBL)

By Sean McBryan

Archbishop Carroll junior Alexis Eberz has the rare experience of knowing how it feels to end a season with a win or a loss.

As a freshman, she helped the Patriots win their first state title since 2012. Last year, Eberz and the Patriots fell in the quarterfinal round to Parkland. They prefer the former.

“I won my freshman year, so that’s obviously the goal,” Eberz said. “We want to win it. It’s awesome going [to Hershey’s Giant Center] and playing there in that environment.”

Eberz scored a game-high 23 points to move the Patriots one step closer to the Sweetest Place on Earth with a 60-41 victory over Wilson Tuesday night at Spring-Ford High School in the PIAA Class 6A second round.

Carroll advances to face Central Dauphin, which defeated Parkland 39-23 Tuesday, in the quarterfinals Friday.

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Girls: Haverford seniors lead the way past Downingtown East

Haverford seniors Rian Dotsey (left) and Mya Foley combined for 17 points Tuesday against Downingtown West. They, along with classmates Natalie Wright and Megan Kelly, had 38 of the team’s 44 points.

By Andrew Robinson

Four years together have turned into a matter of days in no time at all.

A year ago, the Fords had their season come to an end in Upper Merion’s palatial Valhalla Gymnasium and the team’s seniors weren’t keen on a repeat performance. Haverford’s quartet of fourth years have been through a lot together and they wanted to keep their march through March going, no matter the venue.

The seniors led the way on both ends, combining for 38 points and providing lockdown defense as the Fords stifled Downingtown East 44-24 in the second round of the PIAA Class 6A playoffs.

“We had to come out strong,” Fords senior Rian Dotsey said. “We keep wanting to extend our season and know any game could be our last game, so just coming out and playing as hard as we can is really important.”

With the win, Haverford moves on to Friday’s quarterfinal round against WPIAL champion Upper St. Clair, a 46-32 winner over Canon-McMillan. It’s the furthest the Haverford senior class has advanced in states after first round losses as freshmen and sophomores and last year’s second-round setback against Perk Valley.

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PIAA Girls Basketball: D’Entremont, Radnor ready for 4th meeting with Strath Haven

Radnor's (32) Riley D'Entremont defends as Ridley's (15) Abbi Hinckey shoots in the second half Thursday. Radnor went on to win 56-50. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)

Radnor’s (32) Riley D’Entremont defends as Ridley’s (15) Abbi Hinckey shoots in the second half Thursday. Radnor went on to win 56-50. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)

By Matt Smith

Riley d’Entremont has been the steady presence Radnor has relied on all season.

The lone senior on a Raptors squad that captured a District 1 Class 5A title and is now making a run in the state tournament, d’Entremont brings leadership, experience and a high basketball IQ to the floor. While she doesn’t always fill up the stat sheet, her impact is felt in countless ways that don’t show up in the box score.

A Gettysburg lacrosse commit, d’Entremont is savoring every moment of her final days on the hardwood.

“It’s been super cool,” she said after contributing six points, six rebounds and three assists in Radnor’s PIAA first-round victory over Northern York. “My role has definitely changed this season, it’s completely different than what it was last year. Being a senior and a captain, I’ve really had to become more of a speaking leader and encourage everyone. It was an adjustment at first, but it’s come so naturally. A lot of it is because of the girls around me. They are so hard working and we’re all so determined and on the same page. I’ve never won in states before. I’ve made it three times and this is the first time I’ve ever won a game. This being my senior year makes it really special.”

Radnor (19-8) looks to keep its postseason magic alive as it faces a familiar foe in Central League rival Strath Haven (14-13) Wednesday at Bensalem. Tip-off is 6 p.m.

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2025 PIAA Playoffs: CoBL-Area Second-Round Preview (Weds., March 12)

Nyah Yao (above) and Radnor have a familiar foe in the second round of the state tournament. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

By CoBL Staff

Girls’ 5A
Radnor (1-1) vs. Strath Haven (1-5) (6:00 PM, Bensalem)
It’s a Central League rematch with a state quarterfinal berth on the line, which adds a whole extra dimension to this clash up at Bensalem. This is actually the fourth time they’ve met this season, with Radnor winning the first three: in the regular season by four and 18 points, then by 18 again in the District 1 5A quarterfinals. Strath Haven is young, with freshmen twin guards Maddie and Kenzie Fanning in the starting lineup and Ellie O’Connor coming off the bench while seniors Olivia Voshell (TCNJ), Kate Fox and Maryella Gill fill out the starting lineup. Radnor counters with a similarly guard-heavy lineup led by juniors Nyah Yao and Anna Reger, with forward Riley D’Entremont the team’s only senior; 6-foot sophomore Bree Simpson could be a difference-maker in this one as well. 

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