Wilkes-Barre, PA — Certain moments in sports are unforgettable. Jan. 8, 2026, is one the Wyoming Seminary Blue Knights will always remember, the night they finally beat the Holy Redeemer Lady Royals for the first time in program history.
The night started with fireworks as the Blue Knights got off to a blazing hot start. Junior Ella Stambaugh entered the game sitting on 993 career points, needing just seven more to join the 1,000-point club. She didn’t waste any time reaching the milestone, knocking down a contested step-back 3-pointer early in the first quarter to push her career total to 1,001.
“It was an exciting game, and I’m so proud of the team for the win,” Stambaugh said.
Wyoming Seminary kept the momentum going. Junior Ellie Kersey, who finished with 11 points, hit a smooth pump fake into a 3-pointer to give Sem a 20–11 advantage after the first quarter.
“We had great intensity from the start,” Kersey said. “The team has been working really hard in practice, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made this year.”
Holy Redeemer fought back in the second quarter, slowly chipping away at Seminary’s lead. The Royals’ defense made things tougher, but the Blue Knights continued to get good looks. Seminary led 27–24 at halftime.
The third quarter saw both teams trading baskets, with Sem holding a slim lead. Wyoming Seminary led 40–38 heading into the fourth as the tension built.
The Lady Royals weren’t going to go down without a fight. Trailing by seven with just under three minutes left, Holy Redeemer went on an 11–2 run. Bella Boylan’s fast-break layup gave the Royals their first lead of the night, 49–47, with 1:08 to play.
Despite giving up the lead for the first time all night, the Blue Knights stayed calm and trusted their execution.
After letting nearly 30 seconds run off the clock, Seminary fouled Boylan, sending her to the line. She missed both free throws, keeping the score at 49–47.
Moments later, Boylan poked the ball away from Kersey, drew another foul, and went back to the line with 9.8 seconds remaining. She missed again, opening the door for the Blue Knights.
Before play resumed, a technical foul was called on a member of the Holy Redeemer coaching staff. Seminary got two free throws and possession at midcourt.
What came next was the defining moment of the night.
With 9.8 seconds left, Stambaugh set up in the backcourt as junior Dori Bartos inbounded the ball. Using a screen from sophomore Stella Ruiz, Stambaugh drove into the lane and drew three defenders at the right elbow. Instead of forcing a shot, she made the winning play, passing to a wide-open freshman Natalia DeNaples. Her push shot hit every part of the rim before dropping in with 5.4 seconds left.
“All of us contributed, and we really came together as a team,” DeNaples said.
Holy Redeemer called timeout and had to go the full length of the floor. Elizabeth Bilbow’s corner 3-pointer rattled out, and Stambaugh ripped down the rebound in the final seconds.
Time expired, and the celebration began.
Wyoming Seminary girls basketball had done it — a 50–49 victory over Holy Redeemer, the program’s first-ever win against the Lady Royals. On a night when Ella Stambaugh reached 1,000 career points, the team had made history together.
“I was proud of our team for beating a well-coached Holy Redeemer group on the road,” head coach CJ Kersey said. “It was a close game throughout the second half, and we made key plays on both ends. To secure the win on the night Ella reached 1,000 points made it even more special.”
On a night when milestones were achieved and history was made, the Blue Knights and their fans celebrated a victory that will be remembered for years to come — the first time Sem girls beat Holy Redeemer, but certainly not the last.
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- Matt Mascarenhas
MATT SPORTS MEDIA 
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