1972 State Championship Girls Varsity Basketball Team

The 1972 Paul VI Girls Basketball Team is still highly regarded and is recognized as one of the best teams ever to come out of Paul VI. One of the leaders of the team was Player of the Century Mary Scharff, then a junior.

The 1972 team overcame obstacles that no other team faced. In 1970, women’s basketball became a five-player game instead of the previous six-player game. The Paul VI girls were quick to adapt, and they excelled with the new rules and strategies. Although Title IX was not signed into law until 1972, Coach Vicki Orzechowski was so well respected and fought so hard for the team that the girls basketball program achieved greater recognition, gained more practice time, and had access to enhanced equipment.

The Eagles went as far as possible in ’72, winning the South Jersey Parochial A Title as well as leading the northern conference, with a 15-3 record.

Coach Vicki Orzechowski led the way, instilling in her players the hunger to win with her mantra “The team that won’t be beaten can’t be beaten.” The 1972 team, led by junior Mary Scharff and seniors Deirdre Kane and Peggy DeFoney Smith did not back down from any competition. Tight games with Gloucester Catholic and Camden Catholic were commonplace and were always exciting.

Rounding out the starting five were junior Mary Schmid Masimore and senior Pat Strickland Mercillott. A senior on the team, who is already a member of the Paul VI Hall of Fame, was Maureen Leary Naughton. There were other contributors and all of the players found ways to help the Eagles win! Many went on to play for division 1, division 2, and division 3 colleges, including the University of Dayton, West Chester University, St Joseph’s University, Immaculata University, and Monmouth University.

Sadly, assistant coach Carol Stutzer Harris, Rose Costigan Dyer, Peggy DeFoney Smith and, Mary Scharff were lost much too soon. Vicki Orzechowski continues to be a role model to those who have gone on to become coaches, including Deirdre Kane, Chris Kitching Palladino, and Donna Camardo. Vicki is also active in the Al Carino Basketball Club of South Jersey.

Members of the team continue to give back through coaching and officiating as well as their work in education, finance, private industry, law, and health care.

The 1972 team began the legacy of Paul VI Girls Basketball with hard work, determination, and love of the game. The coaching staff knew what it took to create winners and instilled in the team not only the will to win but also the knowledge that their faith in God is what gave them their success. The team prayed together, played together, and supported each other.

This team won a title before an overall state title even existed. Mary Scharff received a standing ovation at Camden Catholic when she scored her 1000th point. That is the ultimate sign of success and respect, when an opponent recognizes your talent.

The 1972 team will go down in the history of Paul VI as one of the most highly respected teams in South Jersey Girls Basketball. The team played before standing-room-only crowds and won the admiration of fans from opposing teams as well as their own.