Keenan girls ready for state title game rematch against Bishop England
Keenan coach Reggie McLain remembers March 2, 2013, well.
That’s when the Raiders knocked off Bishop England to win the Class 2A girls basketball state championship. He gets a return date at the Colonial Life Arena today at 2 p.m. against the Bishops, but there is one major difference.
Bishop England has won 14 playoff games in a row. The last loss was against Keenan in that 2013 game. McLain knows his team will have to play its best to win again.
“They’re fundamentally sound and move the ball well on offense,” he said. “They play good defense and will not give you easy opportunities. They’re well coached, and that’s one of the reasons they get this far every year.”
Keenan will have to rely on its defense. The Raiders have limited teams to an average of 32.25 points per game during the playoffs. One of the big reasons why is the play of 6-foot-2 senior center Le’on Hill. In the Upper State finals, she blocked 20 shots and rarely lets anything go uncontested in the paint.
“We have to play defense the same way we’ve been playing,” McLain said.
Hill was a member of the team that won in 2013, but this time she will be one of the focal points on both ends of the floor.
“Bishop England has a lot of talent, but we are ready to win,” Hill said. “We had a long season and we fought hard to get here. It is going to be a tough matchup, but we are ready.”
Hill has to stay out of foul trouble to help prevent Bishop England from controlling the lane.
“We try to tell her to not be so aggressive early and be smart about it,” McLain said. “Once she gets ahead in the foul count, she can really go after them then. If she gets in foul trouble, that changes our gameplan.”
Bishop England is fundamentally sound. Anna Marie Penninger is one of the leaders. Coach Paul Runey is in his fifth straight title game.
“They’re a very tall team and they play a tall game,” Runey said of Keenan. “They don’t rely much on the outside shooting, but from what I’ve seen of them they can shoot. We have to find a way to negate that height and attack them in the gaps.”
McLain hopes Keenan is at its best on offense. The Raiders have averaged 52.5 points per game in the playoffs and will need Hill and guard Breia Jackson to be at their best.