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Bishop McGuinness wins 4th straight title
AP Photo
MVP Megan Buckland (23) is congratulated by her teammates.
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Published: March 15, 2009
RALEIGH - The hugs, the smiles, the easy baskets -- they were plentiful again yesterday for the Bishop McGuinness girls.
So, too, were tears, from Coach Brian Robinson, even though he might not admit it; from senior center Erinn Thompson, who didn't have the career-ending game she wanted because of a first-quarter wrist injury; and from sophomore Whitney Knight, who choked up when talking about her father, serving a military tour in Iraq.
Yesterday, though, was a happy day for Robinson's program. Bishop McGuinness won its fourth consecutive Class 1-A state title, routing East Bladen 64-33.
Despite realizing this is the end of an era for a seven-member senior class, despite Thompson needing X-rays to confirm trainers' fears that her left wrist is broken, the Villains walked out of Reynolds Coliseum yesterday a happy bunch, especially after watching the boys team win its first state title, a 72-56 victory against Weldon.
"I think I've got a pretty good poker face," Robinson said, assessing his ability to hold back tears. "Inside, it's tough. I've watched these kids grow up.
"They mean the world to me; they know that. The basketball brought us together, but it's the relationships after the basketball's done that's going to last forever. I'm happy I was able to coach them for four years."
Robinson's team had similar ease against East Bladen two seasons ago, winning by 37 behind the play of guard Kat Lyons. This time around in the title game, it was Thompson's team, or so it seemed. She fell back on her left hand after attempting to shoot a fadeaway in the final seconds of the first quarter.
Thompson was clearly injured, but sitting on the bench made the pain more acute. Instead of blocking shots or grabbing rebounds, she could do little more than tap her right hand against her right leg, her version of clapping -- until late in the game.
She took off the ice pack, put on a wrist guard and lobbied to go back in. In Robinson's mind, it was an easy decision, as long as the lead was large. Since East Bladen committed 17 first-half turnovers and never threatened after McGuinness hit two 3-pointers early in the third quarter, the lead was scarcely below 20 points.
So with 7:01 remaining, even though her effectiveness was limited, Thompson went back in.
"It was really hard," said Thompson, who had five points and five rebounds, all in the first quarter. "I was talking to the trainer. I'm very emotional, and it was hard to settle me down. He said, ‘You have four years to play; you might have to sit this one out.' I said, ‘I'm here now. I need to be a part of this.' "
Robinson understood; Thompson was the MVP of the 2007 and 2008 state finals.
"I wasn't going to let her finish her career on the bench," Robinson said. "She's been a cornerstone of our program for four years. Even if she has one arm, she deserves to finish up her career, at least run up and down the court a little bit, if I can help it."
Unlike last season, when the Villains had a relatively close win against Pender, they didn't need Thompson. Guard Megan Buckland was everywhere for McGuinness. She scored inside and out, had four assists, hit all five of her free-throw attempts and matched teammate Anna DeFrancesco with four steals.
Buckland was the game's MVP after her 15-point, five-rebound performance. Brittany Cox scored 11 points, and Knight added nine points, all on 3-pointers.
The Villains had 18 steals against the Eagles (26-3), who attempted 13 shots to McGuinness' 30 in the first half.
"They play great defense," East Bladen coach Patty Evers said. "They were all over the place, just long and lanky."
The Villains were all over the place, but they ended up in the same spot: first place.
BISHOP MCGUINNESS (29-4): Thompson 2-4 1-4 5, Knight 3-12 0-0 9, Cox 4-12 2-2 11, Buckland 4-10 5-5 15, DeFrancesco 1-7 0-0 3, Gaudio 0-1 0-0 0, Petrangeli 1-3 0-0 2, Blaney 0-0 0-0 0, Goldsmith 1-1 0-0 2, Mortis 0-1 0-0 0, Coon 0-0 0-0 0, Sickelbaugh 4-6 0-0 8, Fitzgerald 1-1 5-8 7, Simmons 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 22-61 13-19 64.
EAST BLADEN (26-3): Locklear 1-3 2-4 5, Kemp 4-10 0-0 9, Horne 0-5 3-4 3, Perkins 0-2 0-0 0, Melvin 4-10 6-7 14, Murchison 0-0 0-0 0, Matthews 0-0 0-0 0, Robinson 0-0 0-0 0, Hatcher 1-1 0-0 2, Baldwin 0-0 0-0 0, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Dockery 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 10-32 11-15 33.
Halftime – Bishop McGuinness, 32-14. 3-point goals – Bishop McGuinness 7-17 (Knight 3-5, Buckland 2-5, Cox 1-1, DeFrancesco 1-4, Petrangeli 0-1, Mortis 0-1), East Bladen 2-2 (Locklear 1-1, Kemp 1-1). Fouled out – none. Rebounds – Bishop McGuinness 41 (Cox 6), East Bladen 25 (Melvin 11). Assists – Bishop McGuinness 16 (Buckland 4, Cox 4, Simmons 4), East Bladen 7 (Locklear 3, Kemp 3). Total fouls – Bishop McGuinness 14, East Bladen 12.
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