In Northampton on Wednesday, Dallas learned why Archbishop Wood has competed for a state title in 80% of the last decade.
Wood got ahead early, dominated the rebounds throughout the game, and made many 3-point shots as they beat Dallas 66-32 in a PIAA Class 5A girls basketball second-round match at Catasauqua High School.
Molly Walsh scored 14 points and Elizabeth Viglone, in her final game, added 10 for Dallas. The third seed Mountaineers from District 2 finished their season at 21-8.
Dallas coach Vince Bucciarelli expressed pride in the team, saying they should not feel ashamed for losing to a team like Wood. He mentioned that the team exceeded expectations by winning 21 games and there is no reason to feel dejected.
Wood, the District 12 champion with a 23-5 record, will face District 2 champion Scranton (25-2) in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Scranton won 58-49 against West Chester Rusin, the third seed from District 1.
Wood scored the first eight points of the game, leading 17-4 after the first quarter. Dallas only scored on steals and layups by Viglone and Mia DelGaudio. The Vikings also dominated the rebounding, limiting Dallas to one shot. Overall, Wood outrebounded Dallas 42-16.
Dallas finished the second quarter with a strong performance, but still trailed 35-13 at halftime while Wood made four 3-pointers out of 10 attempts.
Bucciarelli acknowledged, "We knew their strategy, but we were not able to contain them. Our defensive approach did not work."
Viglone and Brianna Casey started the third quarter with baskets, and Dallas outscored Wood 14-13 in that period. However, the Mountaineers could not sustain a comeback.
In the fourth quarter, Wood triggered the 30-point mercy rule when Emily Knouse's basket made it 59-29. This was part of a 12-0 run before Walsh scored the final points with a 3-pointer.
The only two years Wood did not compete for a state title were 2019, when they lost in the quarterfinals, and 2020, when the state playoffs were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
PIAA Class 5A Second Round
Archbishop Wood 66, Dallas 32
DALLAS (32) — Mizzer 1 0-0 2, DelGaudio 2 0-0 4, Casey 1 0-2 2, Viglone 4 2-4 10, Walsh 6 0-2 14, Wydra 0 0-0 0, Comitz 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 2-8 32.
ARCHBISHOP WOOD (66) — Renninger 2 0-0 5, Topakas 4 1-2 9, Knouse 5 0-0 12, Greer 3 4-4 12, Windish 1 1-2 4, McDonald 5 0-0 12, Przepioski 1 0-0 2, Yogis 2 0-0 5, Rogers 1 0-0 3, Finnegan 1 0-0 2, Seckinger 0 0-0 0, Garry 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 6-8 66.
Dallas`4`9`14`5 — 32
Archbishop Wood`17`18`13`18 — 66
Three-point goals — DAL 2 (Walsh 2); AW 10 (Knouse 2, Greer 2, McDonald 2, Renninger, Windish, Yogis, Rogers)
