Four fouls, no problem for Bethlehem Catholic’s girls basketball team when senior guard Cici Hernandez found herself in trouble in a second round PIAA Class 5A state playoff game, but the Golden Hawks rallied to a 46-28 win over West Chester East on March 13 at Pottstown High School to advance to a state quarterfinal.

“Cici actually fouled out in the beginning of the year against Imhotep, and we were able to lean on that experience to get through the game,” said Becahi coach Arnold Alleyne. “Cici is a huge leader for us, and she was worried, but I said, ‘We’ll be fine. We’ll be fine,’ and her character really showed through as a leader on the bench.”

The Golden Hawks kept the game well in hand, but West Chester East scored seven straight points to start the third quarter, prompting a Becahi timeout.

Hernandez was then called for an offensive foul, her fourth.

“Some days you might not have it the way you want it. Cici almost never fouls, and being in that situation was kind of tough for us, but we were able to say we’ll get through it, and I’m very proud of them for that,” Coach Alleyne said.

While Hernandez sat out, Becahi guard Ella Bincarosky rose up and delivered six points to close out the third quarter, securing a 13-point lead.

“It’s never ideal to have Cici out with three or fouls in a game, especially in a state playoff game, so it was just running our offenses and keeping our cool,” Bincarosky said. “Our plan going in was to crash the boards very hard. That’s what’s going to keep us going.”

Bincarosky’s forced turnover to open the fourth quarter resulted in a bucket from Akasha Santos, who was tough to stop underneath all game.

“Akasha always plays with fire, and I was proud of the way she played,” said Alleyne. “Ella played great basketball today. Ella’s usually our 3-point specialist, and today, she drove to the basket. She took what they gave her, and I was proud of her for that.”

Becahi won its first-round state playoff game when the Hawks defeated Gwynedd Mercy Academy, 41-35, on March 9 at Bethlehem Catholic.