RADNOR — For about a month Joanie Quinn was forced to watch Cardinal O’Hara games from the sidelines. The La Salle commit and All-Delco guard was bummed out to miss a big chunk of her senior year, but she was happy to see other players making an impact in her absence.
Freshman Brigidanne Donohue got the starting nod while Quinn was recovering from a surgically repaired finger. Donohue has been a revelation for the Lions.
In Tuesday’s 45-37 victory over rival Archbishop Carroll, Quinn and Donohue were in sync on the floor and created scoring opportunities for each other. Quinn scored a game-high 12 points and Donohue contributed 10 off the bench, including five in the fourth quarter.
“At first, being a freshman I didn’t think I would get as much playing time as I did,” Donohue said. “When Joanie got hurt I knew I had to try to step up and score as much as she does. But as I did I think it really brought up my confidence and that’s why I think I am playing as well as I have been, because of her.”
Donohue assisted on a Quinn bucket in the second quarter. Quinn returned the favor in the fourth when Donohue banked a 3-pointer, extending O’Hara’s advantage to 40-34 with 4:26 to play. Donohue helped seal the Lions’ 15th win with a layup with 58.9 seconds to go.
Quinn couldn’t be more proud of Donohue, who played the majority of the fourth quarter in place of senior Greta Miller (eight points, two steals), who was having a big game in her own right.
“The way she has, as a freshman, taken up such a leadership position and wants to take those shots, honestly, I don’t know if I would’ve done it as a freshman,” Quinn said of Donohue. “I’m in awe of her.”
O’Hara coach Chrissie Doogan noted Donohue’s winning pedigree. During her CYO days at Saint Anastasia she won two championships under head coach Pat Doogan, Chrissie’s husband.
The Lions avenged last season’s loss to the Patriots in the PIAA Class 6A semifinal. That defeat spoiled O’Hara’s chance of capturing a third consecutive state title. Carroll would go on to win the 6A state championship a few days later in Hershey.
“O’Hara and Carroll is always a big rivalry, but I think we wanted it even more just because of how we went out last year,” Miller said. “I was proud of all of us. The week leading up to Carroll, defense was our main focus, shutting down Alexis (Eberz) and Brooke (Wilson), and I think we accomplished that very well.”
O’Hara won the turnover battle, 13-7. Carroll was held to 13 points in the second half after taking a 24-22 lead into the locker room at intermission.
“I feel like we have been in a lot of situations like this,” Miller said. “I think we’re used to keeping our composure. And we prepare for these situations, in close game situations or if we’re down late in the game. We do a lot of situational stuff in practice that helps us become prepared and keeps us comfortable during tough times during a game. And that helps us not lose our cool out there.”
Carly Coleman added seven points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal for the Lions (15-2, 5-1). Brooke Wilson had 10 points and five rebounds, while Olivia Nardi netted nine points for the Patriots (10-8, 4-2).
The victory puts O’Hara in sole possession of second place in the Catholic League. The Lions’ only loss came at the hands of first-place Archbishop Wood came during Quinn’s injury absence.
“We’re just having so much fun right now, that’s the thing,” Quinn said. “It doesn’t really matter who scores the most as long as we do it together.”