Carroll's Girls & Boys Set For State Playoffs

Two years ago, they shared something, something special and unique, when the girls and boys basketball teams each won the PIAA Class AAA state championships in 2009—the first year that the Catholic League was eligible to play in the state playoffs.

Both teams are almost situated in the same place this year, when the PIAA state playoffs begin this weekend. The one big difference is that the boys are still play at the Class AAA level, while the girls have moved to play in the Class AAAA state playoffs.

Carroll’s girls will open state tournament play Friday night at 7:30 p.m. against District 1 eighth-place finisher Central Bucks East (20-6) at Monsignor Bonner High School, while the boys team will take on District 3 second-place Eastern York (24-4) at Hempfield High School Friday at 6 p.m.

The Lady Patriots (20-5) won the District 12 championship and looked good doing it.

“We don’t know a lot about CB East, other than they’re the eighth seed from District 1, but I like the way we’re playing right now,” Pats’ girls’ coach Chuck Creighton said. “There is a sense of urgency right now and how we’re playing as a team is reflecting that. I like what we did in the district title game. We got up and guarded well and we didn’t let up. Teams that get up big sometimes let up and take their foot off the pedal. We didn’t. I hope that continues.”

A big concern is focus.

“We need to stay mentally prepared and focused,” said Carroll’s Emily Fazzini, who was part of the Pats’ state title team in 2009. “Ever since we came back from the Catholic League playoffs and the districts, every possession matters from now on. We need to work on all the little things. We have to focus on stuff like that. Rebounding is going to be important, because we’re not very big. But we’re quicker than a lot of teams. We’re not done. We’re trying to reach a goal. Before the playoffs, the seniors and team captains called a team meeting. We told everyone this is a new season.”

It’s also a new season for Carroll’s boys.

The Pats (21-5) could have an interesting journey in the playoffs. Carroll is in the Western bracket of the state and has to work its way back. The one team that could beat the Pats is Neumann-Goretti (22-4), the District 12 champion that beat Carroll in the Philadelphia Catholic League playoffs. But the Saints are in the Eastern bracket.

Two years ago, Carroll lost in the Catholic League championship game, played its way into the state playoffs and upset Neumann-Goretti in the state quarterfinals on its way to winning the 2009 state title. The Pats possess a star, 6-foot-1 Juan’ ya Green, Carroll’s all-everything senior guard headed to Niagara on a basketball scholarship, and they have some inside help in 6-foot-5 Tracy Peal. But a real key to this could be 6-foot sophomore Yosef Yacob.

“I think we’re playing good basketball; I always thought this team would be a work in progress as the season went on, and we have one major player in Juan’ ya,” Carroll coach Paul Romanczuk said. “But this is a very confident bunch heading into the playoffs. Obviously, we didn’t get what we wanted in winning Catholic League championship. But two years ago, we erased a not-so-great showing in the Catholic League playoffs to win state championship.”