Any spectators of the DC Lady Knights Basketball team during the 2024-25 winter season would know they didn’t just play–they dominated. From their clear demonstration of superiority in winning the annual DC Tip-Off Tournament to their impressive run through the BAL, district playoffs, and into states, the Lady Knights proved themselves time and again.

 Led by head coaches Jake Godino; assistants Steven Pulliam, Anne Goneau, Logan Plosker; and senior captains Addie Smith and Hallie Kees, the 2024-25 varsity girls squad put up an impressive 25-5 record. All in all, they showcased their resilience, determination, and desire to glorify the Lord while leaving a lasting legacy on DC’s athletics program.

Despite their phenomenal success, the season didn’t begin on such a high note. Players and coaches faced uncertainty with an incredibly small roster, hampering the team with a shortage of depth. “We only had nine girls at the beginning of our season, so I was unsure of how the season would go,” states senior captain Hallie Kees. “We got through it, though, and formed valuable connections on and off the court. We would all agree that this made for a very fun season.” 

While the season was beset with obstacles, the squad relied on their strong relationships with each other and with Christ to push through. His faithfulness and protection remained steadfast throughout the season. “God gave us the ability to bounce back after our district loss,” comments freshman guard Ella Stinger. “His ability to help us prepare for states without mental boundaries from our loss was nothing short of a miracle.” Though senior captain Addie Smith fractured her elbow in one of the final regular-season games, she remarks, “Reflecting on this injury, I have become a leader on the team in a different aspect since I was unable to lead on the court. It was extremely painful for me to sit on the sidelines as I watched my team play without me, but the comforting thought that God has a plan for everything and everyone echoed through my head.”

Off the court, the Lady Knights cherished the relationships they built with one another. Due to the small size of the team, Hallie reflects, “I have grown closer to people that I didn’t think I would. There are so many different personalities, but it was a great opportunity to get to know the underclassman.” As the season advanced and the girls fought through to become the district runners-up, “Our goal was to stick together through the hard times and push through as a team and family,” emphasizes sophomore Anna Latchford. Ella adds, “This season truly has improved my communications with others and my posture as a teammate. This growth helped me persevere through some of our losses and team disconnect.”

After a long fight, the girls’ season culminated on Saturday, March 15, in the PIAA Division 1 quarterfinals against Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Red Raiders from Shamokin, PA. While immensely affected by the absence of Addie and respiratory issues limiting the playing time of BAL MVP Ella Stinger, the team still displayed a valiant effort. After trailing 26-10 at halftime and 40-17 after three quarters, the Lady Knights rallied in the final quarter, outscoring their taller opponents, 22-14. Freshman point guard Mary O’Donnell led the charge with 17 points while senior forward Hallie Kees contributed nine points and stellar defense. Despite their courageous valiant effort, the Lady Knights fell short by a final score of 54-39.

Apart from the consistent wins and few losses, this team truly left a lasting impact. “Now I get to take these lessons and skills that I have learned into my everyday life. I have gained the ability to play as a team, not as an individual,” reflects Ella. “The end of the season was very upsetting but very bittersweet at the same time. For me, it was hard to fully grasp that it was over when the buzzer rang…there are so many things to look back on that bring me so much joy–like winning Tip-Off and BAL… I’m happy I get to say I was on this legendary team that DC won’t forget.”

With their impressive record, BAL championship title, and deep run into state playoffs, the DC Lady Knights cemented themselves as a force to be reckoned with. In addition, they forged unbreakable bonds, grew in their faith, and showed what it means to play with heart. Visibly, this season wasn't only about basketball–it was about building something that will last far beyond the buzzer. 

One of the most anticipated events of the year is DC’s Tip-Off Tournament, which was definitely one to remember this year for the Lady Knights. 

In the first round, the Knights defeated The City School 59-35. Freshman Ella Stinger played a key role in this victory, scoring 20 points for the Knights. Alongside Stinger, freshman Mary O’Donnell added 8 points while sophomore Audrey Bechtel contributed 7 points to the Knights’ victory.  As sophomore Andre Kremin said, “I loved watching the teams succeed and get the win for the first time in a while.” In the other opening round game, Atlantic Christian captured a victory against TCA with Ginna Flynn scoring 28 points.

After this huge win over The City School, DC moved on to the championship game against Atlantic Christian on Saturday. Although The game started off very slow with few points scored in the first half, the pace picked up after halftime, with DC emerging with the win, 51-28. DC was led by Ella Stinger with 12 points, followed by seniors Addie Smith and Hallie Keys, who scored 10 and 8 points, respectively. 

As starter Anna Latchford remarked, “It feels great to win the tournament for the first time while being on the team. This tournament means the Knights are now a 5-0 team that is dangerous.” Meanwhile, The City School won the loser bracket over TCA with a final score of 45-28.

The tournament MVP was Ella Stinger, who helped DC  win the entire tournament with a total of 32 points over the weekend. As Sophomore Matteo DeBellis commented “This was the most exciting the tournament has been in a while.” 

With the completion of fall sports comes a bittersweet time, leaving the DC community craving more competition. Fortunately, there is the DC girls varsity basketball team for sports enthusiasts during the winter season. The team is led by Head Coach Jake Godino and Assistant Coaches Stephen Pulliam, Anne Goneau, and Logan Plosker. 

DC’s squad is led by four-year starter Addie Smith, a senior who again steps into the role of the veteran leader. “This season I would like to improve on my leadership and responsibility throughout the team,” she remarked. Last spring, Addie joined Tim FitzGerald and Dan Poirier in DC’s exclusive Lacrosse 100-Goal Club, becoming the first female athlete to ever accomplish this. While the Knights will rely upon some first-year players to fill out the roster, two returnees include sophomore Anna Latchford and junior Niamh Ireland, both of whom saw playing time last year.

A significant new addition to the team is freshman Ella Stinger, a member of the Lady Runnin’ Rebels 2028 HGSL—an AAU team where she sharpens her skills. In addition, Ella was a key piece of the girls middle school team for three years. According to Ella, “I’m excited to compete at a high level and grow closer to the team.” 

Another important addition to the team is senior multi-sport star Hallie Kees. Hallie, who recently committed to Villanova for the javelin, looks to recover her basketball knowledge and skills after a prolonged absence from the sport. She commented on what she is excited about this season: “I am really looking forward to the Tip-Off tournament because I love the atmosphere and intensity. It will be a lot of fun being able to play one last time with my friends as a senior.”

Head Coach Jake Godino himself is a DC basketball legend and another part of the Basketball 1,000-Point Club on campus. Godino also played three seasons at Division-1 program Temple. Now in his second year as the girls varsity head coach, Godino commented on how his past basketball experiences have helped him be a better coach: “I understand everything I lacked as a player in terms of my attitude, in terms of my skill set, all of that. And so I actually find a lot of joy in being okay in admitting those things about myself and my past career and then making sure those girls don’t repeat that.”

The girls team, though light on numbers, looks to compete for a title in the BAL. After recently opening their season against Barrack Hebrew Academy, DC will host the 59th Annual DC Invitational Tournament on December 13-14, where, in the opening round, they will host The City School.