May's defense, three-pointers help Archbishop Wood top Bonner-Prendergast

Shannon May wasn't going to let her eyes off Alyssa Monaghan.

The task was simple, at least in theory, for the Archbishop Wood sophomore: shadow the Bonner-Prendergast senior guard.

As soon as a Bonner-Prendergast player got a defensive rebound, there May was, glued to the Catholic League's most valuable player, her eyes transfixed on the St. Joseph's recruit.

May was so focused on Monaghan's off-the-ball movements that, at one point, neither player realized when a loose ball bounced in her direction. That's how tight May played her.

The defensive stinginess paid off for the Vikings, who defeated Bonner-Prendergast, 40-31, in the PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals at Archbishop Carroll.

For May, a sixth man off the bench for the Vikings (25-4), the big-time performance didn't stop on the defensive end.

With a minute left in the first half, Bailey Greenberg went down clutching her right ankle. It was the same one that she injured in the District 12 championship game and caused her to miss practice for a few days.

There was a little more than four minutes remaining in the third quarter, and the Vikings, up only four, had struggled offensively without Greenberg. They ran through their sets, but couldn't get the shot they needed against the Pandas (17-9).

In stepped May.

The next possession, she buried a three-pointer from the left corner. The ensuing offensive series she repeated herself.

Suddenly, the Vikings were up by 10.

"The timing was gigantic," interim coach Mike McDonald said. "Her threes were gigantic, but her defense was also huge for us."

Shannon May's sister, Katie, guarded Shalina Miller. She fronted the La Salle recruit and forced her out of her comfort zone.

Monaghan scores nearly 20 points per game, and Miller averages 12. The Vikings were able to contain both. Monaghan finished with 10 points, and Miller had eight.

"She's an amazing player," Shannon May said. "So stopping her and [holding her to 10 points] is a really good team accomplishment."

Wood faces off against Conrad Weiser on Tuesday in the state semifinals. The Vikings are unsure whether Greenberg will be ready to play.

Losing their leading scoring and cocaptain is a big blow, but it isn't an insurmountable one.

Not when you have players like May.

Bonner-Prendergast 4 15 4 8 - 31

Archbishop Wood 9 12 12 7 - 40

BP: Alyssa Monaghan 10, Shalina Miller 8, Nyah Garrison 5, Mary Anne Young 2, Maggie McPeak 2, Caroline Manfre 2, Lynette Laboy 2.

AW: Bailey Greenberg 12, Shannon May 11, Aubree Brown 6, Cassie Sebold 4, Katie May 3, Claire Bassetti 2, Kate Connolly 2.