Ashton Hirsch is in a rare club.
She won a Region III gold medal as a player and coach for the York Catholic girls basketball team. The latter defeated Shalom Christian in the 2026 Class 2A finals on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at Gettysburg Area High School. This is the program’s 15th district girls basketball title.
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Hirsch said winning is more nerve-wracking as a coach than it is as a player.
“I couldn’t control the game,” she said after the Fighting Irish defeated the Flames 54-20. “I’m more nervous as a coach than I am as a player because I know I can control my performance on the field.”
This time, she said, is different because all she can do is prepare the players physically and mentally before the game and then put them on the field.
“I’m lucky to have a group of girls that I can trust who have worked really hard to get to this moment,” she said.
Her players braced themselves and started running.
York Catholic High School junior Jaydyn Brown shares the championship trophy with head coach Ashton Hirsch after winning the District 3 Class 2A girls basketball championship over Shalom Christian at Gettysburg Area High School on Feb. 25, 2026. The Fighting Irish won 54-20.
It took a few minutes, but once the Irish got going, there was nothing the Flames could do to stop them. Sydney Moore scored five points early in the game to keep the Flames close, but Jaedyn Brown’s three consecutive baskets in the paint at the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter opened the distance between the teams, giving the Irish a 10-point lead.
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A lead that grew from there.
“After the first quarter, it seemed like we lost our mojo,” Shalom Christian coach Doug Lehman said. “I mean, York hit some big shots [Maggie Fifer] Shoot the ball. and [Brown] Really good. “
Feaver hit four three-pointers and scored a dozen points. Brown scored a team-high 14 points. Both totals came in the third quarter, and the game was on the clock by the time the Irish starters were playing in the fourth quarter.
Moore, Emily Rebbock and Harper Adams each had five points for the Flames.
Lehman knew his team would have a hard time keeping up with the Irish due to their size and physical advantage. There’s not much he can do about the size, but he said his players will be working on their conditioning as they prepare to join the York-Adams League next year.
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“We don’t have a weight room,” he said. “York Catholic is obviously a lot better than us and we have to improve our shooting. They take a lot more shots than we do.”
This was the third time the two teams met last year, and each time the result was the same. York Catholic won the regional title 55-39 last year and won the title 68-42 in a rematch in January.
Shalom Christian’s Maya Lehman (2) shoots against York Catholic’s Jaydyn Brown during the District 3 Class 2A girls basketball championship game at Gettysburg Area High School on Feb. 25, 2026.
Holding the district trophy like a baby, Brown said she brought a different mentality to the finals — one she plans to retain heading into the PIAA tournament.
“I knew who I was when I went in,” said the 6-foot-1 junior. “I know what kind of player I am and I’m going to play hard no matter who is on the other side of the floor. I took a more aggressive approach into this game because I knew it meant a lot.”
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This aggressive style of play resulted in her rebounding and finishing off passes from her teammates.
“My team moved the ball really well and got the ball to me. That helped, too,” Brown said.
It also helped that seven Irish players were on the scoreboard. Behind Brown and Feaver, Kelly Althoff and Landry Crabbs each scored eight points.
York Catholic’s Bethany Lawlor is expected to advance in the District 3 Class 2A girls basketball championship game against Shalom Christian on Feb. 25, 2026 at Gettysburg Area High School. The Fighting Irish won 54-20.
“Our girls played so unselfishly. ‘Us before me’ was our focus,” Hirsch said. “That’s the beauty of a team, it can be a ‘we’ because we have so many people who can show up any night, any time. It’s a beautiful thing when they work together.”
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York Catholic and Shalom Christian will begin the next chapter of the postseason on March 6 in the PIAA Championship. Both will play teams from District 12. The Flames will play the championship team and the Irish will play the third-place team.
Shelly Stallsmith covers York-Adams High School sports for GameTimePA and USAToday Network. Contact her via email at mstallsmith@ydr.com or @ShelStallsmith on X (formerly Twitter).
This article originally appeared in the York Daily News: York Catholic beats Shalom Christian to win program’s District 15 title
