COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Bishop Watterson and Bishop Hartley met on Saturday in a Central Catholic League title clash. With their 48-44 win, the Eagles completed the season sweep of the Hawks earning themselves a CCL title. 

Watterson quickly jumped out to a 6-0 lead thanks to two catch and shoot threes by freshman Sophie Ziel. Senior Alexis Cashwell stopped the bleeding with a reverse layup but senior Camille Gregory finished a give-and-go for the Eagles to push the lead back to six. 

Junior Eloise Brandewie finished on the right side to pull within four but Gregory drained a three pointer just before the end of the quarter to give Watterson new life. After one frame, the Eagles led 11-4. 

Senior Kenna Ryan opened up the second period with a long two from the right wing and Brandewie answered with a mid range jumper of her own. Junior Kiki McElrath’s back to back layups cut the Eagle lead to just three points with slightly over three minutes left to play in the quarter. 

Ryan sank a three from the right wing and senior Kiley Graham converted off of an offensive rebound to extend the lead to eight. Brandewie knocked down a second midrange jumper just before the end of the quarter to keep Hartley in the game. Heading into halftime, Watterson held an 18-12 lead. 

Watterson came out of the half ready to play but the Hawks matched their energy. After Ziel drained another three pointer, Brandewie and McElrath took over for Hartley. The duo rattled off seven straight points before Ryan sank another three. Brandewie and McElrath scored another four points but were answered by a put back from Ryan. 

An old-fashioned three point play by McElrath fired up the Hartley faithful as the team pulled even at 26. Ziel sank a mid range jumper from the right wing but was quickly answered by a fade away jumper from McElrath to tie the game at 28 with one quarter to play. 

Senior Tatyana Eagle’s shot from the right baseline gave Watterson a momentary lead before Brandewie answered with a layup. Graham gathered an offensive board and finished but McElrath responded to tie the game yet again. Two free throws by senior Bella Parker gave the Hawks their first lead of the game but it was very short lived. 

T. Eagle drained a three from the right wing to regain the lead for Watterson and per usual, Hartley responded immediately with a basket by Cashwell. Yet another lead change occurred when Gregory sank a three and with ice in her veins, McElrath answered with a three. Brandewie converted on two free throws to give the Hawks a three point lead. 

Ryan made a huge three from the right wing to tie the game at 41 and Ziel added a second three to give the Eagles a 44-41 lead. McElrath made one free throw to cut the lead to two. The Hawks forced two turnovers but they struggled to convert. Ryan made a layup in transition to push the lead to four. Brandewie snagged an offensive rebound and connected on a layup to cut the lead again. Ziel was fouled and made both of her attempts to put the game out of reach for the Hawks. 

Ziel led the Eagles with 16 points and Ryan added 15. McElrath scored a game high 20 and Brandewie added 18 in the loss for the Hawks. 

Let’s take a look at Saturday’s top performers.

Camille Gregory (G / Bishop Watterson / 2022) - Gregory did a fantastic job face guarding McElrath in the first half of the game. She limited the number of touches that she saw and frequently forced the ball out of McElrath’s hands. Offensively, Gregory made a major impact in the first and fourth quarters. Her three to end the first gave the Eagles momentum heading into the second and she drained a three late in the game to put Watterson back on top. Her leadership will help with Watterson’s tournament run.

Sophie Ziel (G / Bishop Watterson / 2025) - Though just a freshman, Ziel played like a poised veteran Saturday. She handled the ball well, despite being double teamed or pressured the entire length of the floor. She was consistent from three, knocking down four over the course of the game, and scored in the mid range. She found open teammates and facilitated the press break and offense well. She drained two free throws late in the fourth to seal the game for Watterson. Big things to come out of this young lady in the next three seasons.

Kenna Ryan (G / Bishop Watterson / 2022) - Ryan stepped up big time for the Eagles on Saturday. The senior scored five points in the second quarter to keep the momentum and lead on Watterson’s side. She added another five in the third when Hartley was making a run. Ryan sank another three in the fourth to tie the game at 41. She was consistent from three, handled the ball as needed and was a leader for the Eagles. Ryan will help Watterson make a solid tournament run.

Kiki McElrath (G / Bishop Hartley / 2023) - McElrath gave everything she had and then some for the Hawks on Saturday. The junior struggled in the first quarter and slowly came alive over the next two. She scored in a variety of ways: off the dribble at the rim, in the mid range (including a fade away from the baseline) and from the three point line. Over the last two seasons, she has really developed into a consistent offensive threat. We are excited to see what she can do this post-season and next season with the Hawks.