Alaina McGuire, Erin Waskowiak, Celina DiPietro, Carly Forse and Caroline DeFrank signal they are No. 1 after Bishop Canevin defeated York Catholic, 45-38, to claim its first PIAA state title for girls’ basketball. McGuire and Frank provided strong play off the bench while Waskowiak directed the attack, dishing up a game-high six assists. DiPietro and Forse provided the offensive power, pumping in 18 points apiece for the Crusaders, who finished the season with a 10-game winning streak. Throughout the playoffs, Canevin allowed no opponent more than 47 points. The defense allowed 34.8 points per game.

Despite the defensive efforts of Hannah Laslo from York Catholic, a determined Carly Forse drives to the basket. Forse fired in 18 points and collected three steals to help lead Bishop Canevin to victory, 45-38. Forse scored 10 tallies in an even first half, which was tied, 9-9, after one and 21-21 at intermission. She had two key baskets in the Crusaders’ 13-point run to start the final frame.

Gina Vallecorsa struggles to keep the ball away from Hannah Laslo as Zaenna Echevarria and Celina DiPietro watch the action unfold in the first half at the Giant Center in Hershey. Though the Crusaders used an 11-2 run to open up an 18-11 edge, York responded with an 8-0 run to pull even, 21-21, at intermission. Vallecorsa had three assists and one blocked shot in Bishop Canevin’s 45-38 win over York Catholic.

Riley O’Donnell, Erin Joyce and Natasha Rajokovich express their concern after Morgan Klunk’s 3-point field goal capped a 7-0 run and afforded York Catholic its largest lead, 29-23, in the third quarter. The Lady Crusaders, however, rallied on a trey by Johnie Olkosky and the defense of Celina DiPietro. While DiPietro shut down Klunk, who finished with 18 points, all in the first three frames, Canevin rattled off 13 straight points to start the final frame and secured the win over the Fighting Irish.

Erin Waskowiak soars to the hoop during Bishop Canevin's 45-38 win over York Catholic in the PIAA finals. The senior point guard supplied five points, seven rebounds, all defensive, dished up six assists and collected two steals in leading the Crusaders to their first state banner in girls' basketball.

Carly Forse (left) and Erin Waskowiak (right) celebrate after the final buzzer sounds and Bishop Canevin had become state champions in girls' basketball by virtue of a 45-38 win over York Catholic in the Class AA title game played at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Johnie Olkosky and Tim Joyce embrace after Bishop Canevin claimed its first PIAA state title in girls’ basketball. In the Crusaders’ 45-38 win over York Catholic, Olkosky buried a 3-pointer that triggered a Canevin rally. While those were the junior’s only points in the contest, she provided seven rebounds, three assists and four steals on defense. Meanwhile, Joyce, in his 11th season at the helm, guided Canevin to a 27-4 record, that also included a WPIAL district championship.