Hold onto your seats, because the Oakland Catholic Eagles just clinched their eighth WPIAL championship—and their second in a row—by taking down the previously undefeated Blackhawk Cougars in a nail-biter of a game. But here’s where it gets controversial: Was it Oakland Catholic’s dominance or Blackhawk’s setbacks that truly decided the outcome? Let’s dive in.
In a rematch that followed last season’s heart-stopping finale—where Oakland Catholic secured the win with a buzzer-beating basket in the last 10 seconds—the Eagles and Cougars faced off once again on Saturday for the Class 4A WPIAL title. This time, Oakland Catholic emerged victorious with a 51-44 score, but the journey was anything but smooth.
The Eagles set the tone early, storming out to a 12-2 lead and extending it to 20-6 by the end of the first quarter. Senior Josie Fontana, committed to Richmond, was a force to be reckoned with, racking up nine points and six rebounds in the opening frame. Meanwhile, Blackhawk struggled offensively, shooting just 2 for 13 from the field. And this is the part most people miss: Despite the Cougars’ star player, Mia Sheesley, being sidelined with a season-ending knee injury, they managed to rally in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to just one point at 37-36.
Blackhawk’s Aubree Hupp, a Canisius recruit, led the charge with a double-double (20 points, 14 rebounds), but it wasn’t enough to overcome Oakland Catholic’s balanced attack. Fontana finished with a monster stat line—20 points, 15 rebounds, six blocks, two assists, and two steals—while Zephaniah Troxler-Scott added 12 points and five steals. A pivotal 11-0 run late in the fourth quarter sealed the deal for the Eagles.
Here’s the bold question: Did Blackhawk’s injury woes cost them the game, or did Oakland Catholic simply outplay them? Coach Greg Huston acknowledged the challenge of adjusting to Sheesley’s absence, but Oakland Catholic’s coach, Henry Schechter, credited his team’s resilience and defensive effort. ‘It’s how you rebound,’ Schechter said, both literally and figuratively.
With this win, Oakland Catholic ties for third-most WPIAL championships in history, alongside Blackhawk and two other teams. Both squads now advance to the PIAA playoffs on March 7, where Oakland Catholic will face Corry and Blackhawk will take on Fairview. What’s your take? Did Blackhawk’s injuries tip the scales, or was Oakland Catholic’s victory inevitable? Let us know in the comments!
