HERSHEY — Roll Vikings, Four-ever.
Ava Renninger has a strong connection with the number four. She's the fourth of four siblings, wears No. 4 on her Archbishop Wood uniform, and has a small Roman numeral IV tattoo on her right bicep. In her final high school basketball game on Saturday night, the number four had special significance.
Renninger and the Vikings made history by winning the Class 5A final against Cathedral Prep with a score of 37-27, securing their fourth straight PIAA title and the program’s ninth overall, the most in state history.
Renninger commented, “It’s kind of ironic it lined up that way. I didn’t know it was going to be history or a four-peat but it just happened to work out that way. It’s pretty cool.
“I guess it was meant to be.”
The Vikings became the first team since Allentown Central Catholic from 2001-04 to win four consecutive state championships. Their ninth overall title moved them past Bishop Guilfoyle and North Catholic for first all-time in PIAA history.
Wood’s victory was the team’s most impressive of this latest state title run. Not only did the Vikings have to defeat the District 10 champion, they had to do it giving up a significant amount of size to a front line featuring 6-foot Jayden McBride (Georgetown) and 6-foot-2 Addie Biel along with a talented point guard in Lena Walz (St. Bonaventure).
Due to the Ramblers’ size and the first quarter nerves at the Giant Center, Wood struggled initially. The Vikings fell behind 7-0 and even steady finishers like Alexa Windish and Lauren Greer missed shots around the rim.
Wood junior Emily Knouse, who described herself as the biggest player on the team, faced much larger and more physical opponents. She adjusted her game and focused on three-pointers, contributing to the team's success.
Knouse delivered an outstanding performance, scoring the highest with 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds. She also played a key defensive role and made significant contributions that helped the Vikings secure the win.
She and Renninger displayed confidence and leadership, as expected from the team captains, setting a positive example for their teammates. This played a crucial role in turning the game around for the Vikings.
Coach Mike McDonald’s halftime message was straightforward – despite Wood’s poor offensive performance, the game was tied at 16-16.
“Once we figured out what we needed to do, we were fortunate enough it was still a close game, if we locked down on defense then our shots were going to fall,” Renninger said. “Once we got momentum on defense, got a few stops, we were going to be able to pick it up.”
Greer was a bit frustrated at halftime. The senior had been giving her all to defend McBride, but her three-point shots had not been successful in the first half, going 0-of-3.
Renninger, always playing the role of the point guard, found Greer at center court and encouraged her teammate to continue shooting. Greer, along with Windish, had put in extra practice time every day and Renninger assured her that she would be getting the ball.
So, Renninger located Greer at the top of the key after a Wood offensive rebound. Greer then made the go-ahead three-pointer, followed by scoring from a back cut and pass from Makayla Finnegan to complete an 8-0 turnaround run.
“We set aside the past, but I was reminded of it when waiting in line for the medals, and that was when I shed a few tears,” said Greer, who played her final game. “It was because we worked so hard to get here and it feels very rewarding to leave with a triple crown: winning the PCL, district, and states.
“There is so much to feel happy and grateful for.”
McDonald considered Greer’s three-pointer a crucial moment in the game. It forced the 6-foot-2 Biel out of the lane and created enough space in the Ramblers’ defense to alleviate some of Wood’s scoring difficulties.
Greer has chosen not to play in college, stating that she will be attending St. Joe’s and focusing on her academic pursuits. She concludes with a senior state run that will be remembered for a long time, not only because it led to four consecutive titles, but also a state-record ninth for the program.
On Saturday, Greer limited McBride to six points on 3-of-10 shooting. This followed a game where she frustrated Bethlehem Catholic’s Cici Hernandez, holding her to 2-of-11 shooting and five points, showing strong defensive efforts against two all-state players.
Windish praised Greer, describing her as an example of everything Wood’s program stands for. While Windish had a quiet offensive game with four points, the Kutztown recruit similarly worked hard and made the most of her final run.
“It’s a mindset,” Windish said. “We are determined to win. We want it for ourselves. The team's hyper-focused mindset on winning championships this year is a major reason for our success.”
McDonald, who claimed his sixth state title leading the Vikings, was not surprised that this group found a way to win.
“There’s a long-standing tradition at Wood where they play the game with the right attitude, play to win, and everyone commits and works hard throughout the year to achieve it,” McDonald said. “This group of seniors, Lex and Lauren, have been here for all four of them. It’s an amazing thing to tell your kids that they are part of one of only two girls' basketball teams to have ever won four consecutive titles in Pennsylvania.”
There was still one more crucial shot to be made. In a symbol of passing on the responsibility, it came from one of the team’s eight freshmen.
After Walz made a three-pointer in the fourth quarter to reduce Wood’s lead to 27-26, Renninger found Makayla Finnegan open in the corner in front of Wood’s bench.
The freshman, who watched from the sidelines in Hershey last year when her sister Delaney helped win the third consecutive title, did not hesitate. Her three-pointer was successful, extending Wood’s lead to four, and the Vikings were on their way to achieving four consecutive victories.
“We needed that shot, so I just took it,” Finnegan said. “My teammates really supported me, they gave me the confidence, and they passed the ball to me, so they trust me.”
After a big win, the Vikings have a tradition of gathering together and reciting their “Can’t chop Wood, can’t chop it” chant. Despite being the smaller team Saturday, Cathedral Prep couldn’t chop down Wood either.
The chant started two years ago when Windish was a senior. Leaving their state semifinal game, where a boisterous student section in lumberjack garb had plenty of “Chop Wood” signs, the guard started reciting it to herself.
It stuck.
“I was walking out with Kara Meredith singing it to myself and she said ‘that’s so good, we have to sing that,’ we taught it to everyone on the bus, we kept doing it and it became a thing,” Windish said. “It’s just super-catchy, it’s a tradition now. I wasn’t trying to make anything out of it but here we are and we do it every time.
“That being the last one, I’m a little bit upset, but I hope they carry it on. Hopefully there’s a new ringleader.”
When her family moved to Yardley between her freshman and sophomore years, Renninger knew Wood won and won a lot. She wanted to be a part of that, but the guard had no idea what trip the next three years would take her on.
She’ll play at FDU next year, but there will always be a door open for her in Warminster when she wants it. Renninger got the IV tattooed on her arm to symbolize her family.
Thanks to Saturday’s win, it’ll be a symbol of two families she’ll always be linked with.
“They’ve been a home away from home for me and a second family for me,” Renninger said. “I’m forever grateful to be a Wood Viking and a part of this team forever.”
Archbishop Wood 37, Cathedral Prep 27
Archbishop Wood 6 10 10 9 — 37
Cathedral Prep 7 9 7 4 — 27
Archbishop Wood: Emily Knouse 12, Lauren Greer 10, Ava Renninger 8, Alexa Windish 4, Makayla Finnegan 3
Cathedral Prep: Lena Walz 8, Addie Biel 6, Jayden McBridee 6, McKenna Valone 5, Ava Lucarotti 2
