The girls varsity basketball team began the season with a blowout matchup against Prendie, foreshadowing what was to come in the 2022-2023 season. Not only is the team undefeated, but they also rank second in District 1 6A. They now head into the District 1 championship with an impressive record of 27-0. 

Led by powerful Seniors Caroline Dotsey, Mollie Carpenter, and Sky Newman, the Fords have proven themselves to be a dominant force in their district. To put their outcomes into context, they have won 68% of their regular season games with at least 20 points over their opponent. The Lady Fords absolutely dominated the league this season, taking part in very few close games.

While the girls have astounding defense, offense, and play-making, one thing that sets them apart from other teams is their morale and camaraderie. Whether on the court or the bench, the girls support each other and arrive at every game with confidence and excitement. The cheers from their bench echo through the gym, erupting at each basket. 

“The bond this team shares can definitely be credited with our success,” said Senior Caroline Dotsey. “This is a really special group; we all show support for one another and I feel that is what has carried us through this season so far.” 

Leading up to the Central League Championship, the girls had a bye and automatically advanced to the second round where they would take on Radnor. After defeating the Raptors in the semi-final game, the team was able to take the Central League crown from Conestoga in the championship on February 13th.  Following the game, the varsity girls proudly cut down the net, taking home the first CLC trophy since 2012. 

While the regular season had come to an end, the girls knew not to celebrate for too long because they hadn’t reached the end of the road. After another bye week, they would head into District 1 playoffs, where the Fords stood tall at the number 2 seed. 

The first challenge was the 15th-seeded Methacton, and the Warriors put up a good fight. They were led by two strong seniors, point guard Cassidy Kropp, and center Mairi Smith. The first quarter ended with a buzzer-beater shot from Kropp, giving Methacton the lead at 12-10. The Fords quickly regrouped, upping their defense, and coming back strong. 

“When we fall into a lull we’re almost always capable of getting back on track with ease,” Dotsey said. “It usually takes one person to pull the team together, calm everyone down, and restore the team’s confidence.” By halftime, the Fords had a significant lead and ended the game with a score of 47-29. 

The Fords then headed into the quarter-finals with a record of 25-0. They would take on rival Springfield, who advanced after a very close game against Conestoga. The girls had a tough matchup on their hands, but they got the job done. The first half ended with the Fords leading over the Cougars 24-18 after an impressive performance from Junior guard Aniya Eberhart, who scored the teams first 8 points. When their three forwards fell behind on offense, Eberhart, along with Newman, was right there to pick up the pace. The final score was 56-31, and the girls were one step closer to becoming district champions.

On March 1st, in the semi-final game, the Fords took on the 11th-seeded Pennsbury Falcons, who overtook 6th-seeded Abington in a second round upset. This was an important game, as it would take the Fords straight to the District 1 6A championship.  It was immediately clear that Pennsbury lacked height when compared to the Fords, and, even after a missed shot, the Haverford girls were able to get multiple rebounds and put the shot right back up. Throughout the season, the Fords have proven that they are not only capable of gaining a lead, but also capable of keeping that lead steady and even increasing it. They ended the first quarter with a lead of 10-4, halftime 27-8, third quarter 31-11, and with a final score of 43-21. Pennsbury struggled to break the Fords defense, and that is ultimately where they fell short.

After Wednesday’s win, the team gets back to work, as they head to the District 1 6A Championship where they will face Perkiomen Valley, a team that ended their regular season 21-1. This matchup is one that has been long anticipated, as both of the teams have been fighting for the No. 1 spot. The Lady Fords head into the game with confidence, never underestimating their opponents, but always executing their plans. 

The championship will take place Saturday, March 4th at 4:00 pm at Temple University’s Liacouras Center. Tickets are on sale now for $10 through Ticketmaster and will also be on sale at the Liacouras box office. While there will not be a fan bus from the high school, parking in the Liacouras Center lot will be available for a discounted price of $14 if fans mention “PIAA District 1 Playoffs” at the gate. The parking lot connects directly to the arena, and only clear backpacks, purses, and bags are allowed in the event. 

The game will be live broadcast on Haverford Sports Media, where you can also find all of the girls basketball home games.