Irish topple Thunder in NCAA final
The visiting Notre Dame Fighting Irish senior girls basketball team came out flying Friday afternoon before hanging on for a 59-53 victory over the Blessed Trinity Thunder in the Niagara Catholic Athletic Association AAA championship game.
Notre Dame grabbed an early 21-6 lead and built quarter leads of 21-16, 36-31 and 52-43.
“I think the girls came out with a lot of energy and they like to use that energy early on,” Notre Dame coach Loris Lucchetta said. “I think that is part of the way they play and they are used to that. That’s their style.”
Blessed Trinity beat Notre Dame in the regular season but it was a different story Friday.
“It took the girls time to learn how to play together and gel and figure out each other’s skill level,” he said.
One player who showed her high skill level Friday for the Irish was Grade 9 player Camilla Moscato, who netted a game-high 22 points, including a number of key baskets that stopped Blessed Trinity runs.
“Camilla stepped up when she needed to and she puts a lot of hard work in,” Lucchetta said.
The 5-foot-11 Moscato was thrilled to win a NCAA senior title in her first year of high school.
“We all know our strengths and weaknesses, we are able to play good offence and defence and we are able to really connect on the floor.”
The 13-year-old was surprised at Notre Dame’s quick start.
“I thought it was going to be closer but I knew they were going to make a comeback. I knew we had to stay strong and keeping playing good defence.”
Moscato, who scored 17 of her 22 points in the second and third quarters, has enjoyed playing senior basketball.
“It is a lot more intense but I think it is good competition and it is good for me to have that much exposure against seniors.”
She agrees she has made a lot of progress since the start of the season.
“I have been practising a lot because I know I am still a junior but I had to step up and help my team. I knew my role on the team and I really wanted to play well,” she said. “I see myself as a good player always passing, being a selfless player and a good defender.”
The Niagara Juel Prep player had a blast competing against her Niagara Juel teammates on the BT roster, Jaylen Stienstra, Maria DiFlavio and Teaghan Fraser.
“Half my team is here,” she said, with a laugh.
It made for some interesting Niagara Juel practices leading up to Friday’s game.
“There was a lot of trash talking at practice,” Moscato said.
Gabe Diadamo had a simple explanation for his squad’s slow start.
“They put pressure on us,” he said. “They are fast and we know they are fast. They play great pressure defence and I think we got a little nervous at the beginning. I think that’s all it was. We had turnovers, they got quick buckets off of them and we got in a hole quickly.”
Diadamo felt he had a strong team this team and 11 of his 14 players will be back next fall.
“We played good, strong defence this season. We moved the ball and they were hard workers. I was really proud that they worked hard all year.”
The Irish now advance to the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association championships next Thursday in Hamilton.
“I am super excited,” Lucchetta said. “For some of the girls it will be their first time and they worked hard all season to get there.”
Moscato knows what it will take to be successful at SOSSA.
“We have to play our own game and at our level. If we play good offence and defence, I think we will be good.”
STATS PACK
Fighting Irish 59 Thunder 53
Cat’s Caboose Player of the Game: Notre Dame’s Camilla Moscato with 22 points.
For the Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Moscato 22; Ava Briggs 12; Lisa DiPietro 10; Lauryn Briggs 8; Nicole Dixon 5; Olivia Bittman 2;
For the Blessed Trinity Thunder: Magdalena Vukojev 20; Lita Sutor 11; Maria DiFlavio 9; Alana Meester 6; Brianna Davis 4; Jaylen Stienstra 3.
Up next: Notre Dame advances to the SOSSA playdowns Nov. 16 at Westdale.
