Warren’s Girls Basketball Team Ends Season with Loss to North Catholic
In a heartbreaking end to an impressive season, Warren’s girls basketball team fell to WPIAL champion North Catholic 59-32 in the PIAA 4A second round at Edinboro University’s McComb Fieldhouse on Wednesday.
Despite the loss, Warren head coach Lisa LaVan expressed pride in her team, stating, “The better team won. Sometimes that is just how it goes. It doesn’t take away how proud I am of this group and what an amazing year it has been.”
Warren’s loss to North Catholic was only their second in two-and-a-half months, with the other loss coming in the District 10 championship game to Fairview. However, the Dragons showed resilience by defeating Elizabeth Forward in overtime for their first-ever PIAA win.
“Our goal every year is to put numbers on banners,” said LaVan. “We were able to do that this year with another Region 5 title. We finally broke through for that first state playoff win, and it felt amazing.”
Despite a strong second half effort, Warren was unable to overcome North Catholic’s dominance, with the Trojanettes building a 19-point lead after three quarters and ultimately winning by 27. North Catholic’s leading scorer, Alayna Rocco, finished with 19 points, while Lauren Mihm added 16 and Lauren Reitz contributed 12.
The Pittsburgh-area private school will now advance to play undefeated Wyomissing Area in the PIAA quarterfinals. Warren’s junior Alana Stuart led her team with 14 points, while seniors Sammie Ruhlman and Halle Kuzminski added 10 and 6 points, respectively, in their last high school games.
“These three seniors have been absolutely remarkable; not a selfish one in the bunch,” said LaVan. “They truly embody everything we stand for in this program. They are special.”
Despite the loss, Warren’s season was one to be proud of, with the team achieving multiple milestones and showcasing their talent and determination on the court.