By Joseph Staszewski
Archbishop Molloy charged its way into the CHSAA state title game.
Stanners forward Aryn McClure drew an offensive foul on St. Mary’s forward Jordan Agustus with 16.3 seconds remaining in the game. Molloy got the ball back and was able to run out the clock on a thrilling 46-45 win in the CHSAA Class AA girls’ basketball semifinals at Christ the King on March 13. It advances to its first Catholic ‘AA’ final since 2008 and faces Christ the King 7 p.m. today at Molloy.
“We finally made it to the championship,” McClure said. “Usually our journey falls short at this moment. Now we just surpassed that.”
McClure, who is headed to Quinnipiac next year, felt uneasy about leaving the game and her team’s season in the referee’s hands. She took the chance because she had played against the St. John’s-bound Agustus often enough over the years to have her post moves down. McClure prepared for the second time Agustus bumped to her chest as she as she attempted to back her down. She fell to the ground and heard the official signal an offensive foul.
“That second one, they are going to have to call that,” McClure said. “She just dipped her shoulder.”
The play helped Molloy (21-7), which lead by 10 in the third, stave of a fourth-quarter rally by St. Mary’s (19-7). The Gaels used a 9-0 run to pull within 44-43 with 1:53 remaining in the game. Kaitlyn Mahon made two free throws and Elizabeth Limontoa put St. Mary’s back down one with a layup. St. Mary’s had the ball with a chance to go ahead after Mahon missed a floater. McClure ensured it didn’t.
Molloy wouldn’t have been in position to win without the play of the Queens College-bound Mahon. She scored all 11 of her points in the third quarter. She powered an 18-3 run in the frame. Mahon connected on consecutive threes to give the Stanners a 36-26 lead with 1:37 to go in the third. Molloy had trailed 21-18 at the half because it was caught off guard by St. Mary’s 3-2 zone defense. Mahon was determined to right things.
“I knew I was playing terrible,” she said. “I was mad about that. I just came out trying to get everyone involved and try to not be frustrated anymore.”
McClure score 11 points and reserve guard Niamh McGrath had 12 big second-quarter points on four three-pointers. Emily Peckham chipped in nine. Agustus paced St. Mary’s with 14 points and Mei-Lyn Bautisa, who is headed to George Washington, added 13.
Molloy is hungry for another shot at Christ the King, which won all three previous meetings.
“It’s at our home gym,“ Mahon said. “So we really want to win.”
