North Catholic girls basketball wins 13th straight as defense clamps down on Seneca Valley
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Seneca Valley's Legacy Joseph-Short (3) drives for a layup against North Catholic in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic's Anna Lazzara (3) drives down the baseline past a Seneca Valley defender in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic's Sam Weir (14) makes a 3-pointer against Seneca Valley in the first quarter in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Legacy Joseph-Short (3) grabs a rebound against North Catholic in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic's Sarah Loughry (22) drives to the hoop between two Seneca Valley defenders in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Gracie Cato (30) of Seneca Valley makes the easy lay in in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic's Sarah Loughry (22) grabs an offensive rebound against Seneca Valley in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Gracie Cato (30) makes an acrobatic layup and gets fouled by North Catholic in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic's Brady Wehner (2) hits a 3-pointer against Seneca Valley in a girls basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at North Catholic High School. Brandon Croney/Special to the Eagle
CRANBERRY TWP — North Catholic girls basketball’s defense did not play a perfect game, but when it mattered most, the Trojanettes answered the call.
Over the final 11 minutes of Monday’s non-section game against Seneca Valley, North allowed just two field goals. That effort helped it turn a 32-21 deficit into a 50-42 victory at North Catholic High School.
The matchup featured two teams undefeated in their respective sections, the Raiders in Class 6A and North in 4A.
At the center of North’s late-game dominance was its play against SV senior guard Gracie Cato, who scored all 19 of her points in the first half.
“We made the decision to not move Sarah (Loughry) off of her, even with on-ball screens,” North coach Molly Rottmann said. “Sarah is so good on defense.”
Cato saw her shot attempts dwindle after seven field goals, including a pair of treys, in the first 16 minutes.
“We tried to keep the ball out of her hands as much as possible,” Loughry said. “We played well later in the game with help and gap defense.”
The Raiders (10-5) managed a late rally. Trailing 44-36, they scored the next six points, with Natalie Hambly’s 3-pointer cutting the deficit to 44-42 with just under a minute left, but drew no closer as North sealed the game at the free-throw line.
“I thought we played well tonight, could’ve won this game,” SV coach Dorothea Epps said. “We just were not as aggressive as we needed to be offensively late in the game.”
Sophomore Brady Wehner led North with 19 points, and freshman Sam Weir had 14. Lauren Reitz added eight.
“We played (Class 6A) Norwin and Pine-Richland already this season (winning both),” Rottmann said. “Tonight, it was a really good Seneca Valley team. Against teams like that, the more players we have who score, the better chance we have to win.”
Weir, who is averaging 12 points per game, drained two treys in the third quarter, helping ignite North’s rally.
“I’m playing a bit better than I thought I would,” said Weir, in her first year of varsity play. “But I’m just focused on doing whatever the team needs.”
Loughry also drew a charge from SV’s Legacy Joseph-Short in the third, which further tilted the momentum in North’s favor.
After dropping its first two games of the season, North (13-2) has won 13 straight contests.
“A lot of credit goes to our JV team,” Loughry said. “They do a great job of replicating what we’re going to see in games. We’re not the same team we were at the start of the season.”
Both teams will dive back into section play later this week. North travels to Valley on Thursday and SV plays at North Allegheny on Friday.
SENECA VALLEY 42
Legacy Joseph-Short 1 0-0 2, Brooke Dufford 4 1-3 9, Gracie Cato 7 3-3 19, Reece McFadden 1 0-0 2, Lilly Sperry 0 0-0 0, Regan Gallagher 0 0-0 0, Natalie Hambly 2 4-4 10, Lilliana Hudac 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 8-10 42.
NORTH CATHOLIC 50
Brady Wehner 5 7-8 19, Mackenzie James 0 0-0 0, Sam Weir 5 0-0 14, Sarah Loughry 2 0-2 4, Lauren Reitz 4 0-0 8, Kate Vislosky 1 1-2 3, Anne Lazzara 1 0-0 2. Totals: 18 8-12 50.
Seneca Valley 12 13 9 8 — 42
North Catholic 7 14 11 18 — 50
3-point goals: Seneca Valley 4 (Cato 2, Hambly 2); North Catholic 6 (Weir 4, Wehner 2).
Thursday: North Catholic at Valley
Friday: Seneca Valley at North Allegheny
