Bethlehem Catholic lived up to its defense-wins-games philosophy and won the District XI Class 4A girls’ basketball semifinal against Northwestern Lehigh, 53-28, last Wednesday at Catasauqua High School.

“We always said from the jump we have to bring intensity,” said Becahi guard Isabelle Rosario, who scored eight points, including two threes against the Tigers.

The Hawks pulled far and away in the second quarter, and the score was 25-9 at halftime. Becahi center Abby Brown was especially effective in the post and drew a shooting foul at the end of the second quarter for a three point play.

“Just watching [Northwestern Lehigh] on film, none of them go left so we just pushed them all to go left and it made them nervous,” Rosario said. [After halftime] we had to keep forcing them left because they might come out in some type of defense, but we still have plays for that.”

It looked as if Northwestern Lehigh guard Sydney Servain, who hit a three to start the game, would cause offensive trouble for Becahi, but the Hawks did a good job of keeping her and Alexandra Lister under control.

“We were going over our plays, studying the team, some of our players even went to go watch the team we were playing, and working hard in practice, non-stop,” said Rosario.

Northwestern Lehigh scored 13 points in the third quarter to make up for lost ground and attempted to force some turnovers, but it proved to be too much lost ground to make up.

Becahi freshman Kourtney Wilson tallied 19 points for the Hawks.

The semifinal victory meant a trip to the district final for Becahi against Jim Thorpe.

“I heard this team is pretty good and ready to come for us like everybody else is,” Rosario said.