Hicks ready for "bittersweet" game
Tuesday will be an emotional day for York Catholic senior Brittany Hicks. The 5-foot-9 forward will play in her final game for the Irish, when they take on Villa Maria in the PIAA Class AA title game at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Hicks has experienced a roller coaster of emotions throughout these playoffs. She was forced to miss York Catholic District 3 championship game against Lancaster Mennonite due to lingering symptoms from a concussion suffered days earlier. (The Irish won that game, 38-30, to secure their fifth straight district title).
At the time, Hicks called the moment "bittersweet." Tuesday figures to be similar.
"It's going to be emotional no matter if we win or if we lost, just because I've been with a lot of these girls for the 2 or 3 years," Hicks said.
"It's definitely going to be a bittersweet moment. I don't want our season to end on a bad note, but at the same time if we lose, it's going to be the same no matter what. I'm going to be so proud of our team no matter what."
Hicks is averaging 12.9 points per game for York Catholic, good for second best on the team. The only other senior for the Irish, guard Laura Brown, only plays sparingly.
On a lighter note...
Imagine my surprise when I walked in York Catholic's gym for Thursday's practice. Instead of seeing a basketball team in shorts and jerseys toiling away in advance of the biggest game of their season, I saw one girl in a tu-tu, another in a wedding veil and several others in psychedelic, tie-dyed shirts.
Apparently the York Catholic girls have a tradition. Kady Schrann calls it "crazy day." On the day before the state title game, the Irish get to wear whatever they want to practice. And I mean whatever. This year's theme, according to Hicks, was a combination of "Jersey Shore" meets "roller derby." With some makeup thrown in. Lots and lots of makeup.
It's the sort of thing words can't do justice for. So if you're interested, feel free to click here for a WGAL piece on the Irish girls' get-ups.