Jump ball

Who: Bishop Guilfoyle Academy vs. Linville Hill Christian

When: Friday, noon

TV: PCN

Radio: WRTA-FM 98.5

A year ago, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy scored just 35 points in the PIAA Class 1A girls basketball championship game.

But the Lady Marauders won comfortably over Mountain View by 18 points.

Many of those same players, along with two freshmen starters, will be back on the Giant Center court in Hershey on Friday trying to defend that championship against District 3 champion Linville Hill Christian at noon.

“It would mean so much to me, because I know how much work we put into the offseason,” Bishop Guilfoyle sophomore Maurie Querry said. “All summer we were lifting and putting in early Saturday mornings. It would mean the world, because we’re a team that definitely deserves it. It’s something we all want.”

Just like last season, BG’s chances center around its defense.

“As a player, I was always raised that defense wins championships,” Bishop Guilfoyle coach Kristi Kaack said. “That’s the game that I always played when I was a player. I just try and get kids to understand that’s the hard work. The defensive end is the hard end of the floor. If you do that, the offensive end will always be easy.

“Thankfully, each kid buys into it. Our practices are so competitive. So, everything we’re asking them to do, they are doing every day against really good competition. I think sometimes, it’s easy for them when they step on the floor in games because of the way they are battling in practice.”

Bishop Guilfoyle’s ability to guard multiple positions with the same player has helped it excel, and that isn’t lost on its opponent.

“I have been watching them throughout the year,” Linville Hill coach Tim Stefanosky said. “I’ll definitely be watching them more this week, studying and getting ready. They are a fantastic team. They are young and well coached. One thing I noticed is that their defense is phenomenal. The way they get down and guard the ball is — you don’t see that often. They also play very hard.”

Junior Gia Adams will likely come off the bench on Friday but could be the best defensive player on the Lady Marauders. Freshman Mary Haigh has certainly been giving her competition in that area this season with her versatility against guards and forwards.

“Even a Stella Yeskey, who some people would say is more of a forward, we have watched her grow into a role where she is doing more things around the perimeter this year,” Kaack said. “They all buy into being well-rounded players, and I think that makes them extremely hard to play against on both ends of the floor.”

Linville Hill Christian also prides itself on hard work and defense and is coming off a semifinal win over Lourdes Regional in which everything came together in a 60-45 win.

“I noticed that they also like to try and pick up man and pressure and be more aggressive,” Kaack said. “Obviously, they also made 13 3-pointers. They were looking to shoot at all times out of transition, and they look to push hard out of transition. Thankfully, we have played teams that play their type of style, so we know how to prepare and get our kids ready for that.”

The Lady Warriors kept their shooting rhythm through a week off between the PIAA quarterfinals and semifinals, so they expect to keep it going despite another near week off since their last game.

“We took a day off leading up to the game, because the season gets pretty long at this point,” Stefanosky said. “But all the days we were in the gym, we had the shooting machine out and were getting a ton of shots up making sure we were staying healthy and sharp.”

Guilfoyle is coming off a win over Bishop Carroll, a team with several players like Ava Pablic and Emily Lucko who can both shoot 3-pointers and drive to the basket.

“I think our semifinal game helped us prepare for this, much like when we played Williamsburg last year,” Kaack said. “It felt like a state championship environment against great competition. I’m thankful that our semifinal games the last two years have been as competitive as they have been, because I feel like they prepare our kids when they get to the state championship.”

Along with starters Layona Williams, Haigh, Anberlyn Petrecca, Querry and Morgan Ruggery, BG used Adams, Hannah Homan, Yeskey and senior Riley Gofus off the bench.

“I think it’s what makes our team so powerful,” Querry said. “If one of us has a bad game, there are many other players who can step on the floor and do what needs to be done.”

A victory on Friday would be Bishop Guilfoyle’s ninth state title in girls basketball. That would, at least temporarily, tie the state record for championships for a single school in girls basketball. Archbishop Wood has won nine championships, but is playing against South Fayette for the Class 5A title on Saturday.

“It would mean a lot,” Ruggery said. “Last year, we were a young team. This year, we’re just as young in our starting lineup. To be able to win another state championship and still be so young would be awesome.”