Bishop England girls shoot for second straight state basketball title

COLUMBIA — The Bishop England girls go after their second straight Class AA state basketball championship at 2 p.m. today against Keenan.

The Bishops, who are 23-3 this season and 51-3 over the last two years, will have to solve a defense that is allowing only 40 points per game while averaging 17 steals.

“They are really solid,” Bishop England coach Paul Runey said of Keenan. They have a good group of athletes and you have to know where Keira Robinson is on the court. She can really play the game.”

The Bishops square off against Keenan at the Colonial Life Arena, the same venue where Bishop England won the title last year.

The Bishops are familiar with Columbia.

“We have a routine, the girls even know what door we enter at the arena,” Runey said. “Playing last year might give the ones who played an edge. How big of an edge, I don’t know. I think it depends on the individual.”

Two key players return from last year’s team: Michele Boykin Mary Harriet Moore.

Boykin is averaging 21 points the last five games and 16.5 for the season.

Moore is a 6-1 center who is averaging 14.6 points and leads the team in rebounding with 9.1 per game.

“The beauty about Mary Harriet is that she can hit the 15-foot jumper,” Runey said. “You have to come out and guard her. She’s had a great year and has done the job.”