A special evening in an iconic arena for former Wildwood Catholic teammates

Posted: November 30th 2023

Former Wildwood Catholic teammates Gabby Turco of LaSalle and Marianna Papazoglou of Penn pose together following Wednesday's game at the Palestra.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

PHILADELPHIA – Marianna Papazoglou watched Gabby Turco make a nice play in Wednesday’s college basketball game.

“It was so hard not to clap for her when I saw her out there,” Papazoglou said with a laugh. “She made a good play and I had to hold back a clap.”

Papazoglou and Turco, who for two seasons as teammates for the Wildwood Catholic Academy girls basketball team terrorized opponents across the Cape-Atlantic League and beyond, reunited as opponents for the first time when Papazoglou’s Penn team hosted Turco’s LaSalle squad at the famous Palestra.

Penn got the best of this matchup as the Crusaders fought off a LaSalle upset bid to beat the Explorers, 79-71, in a Big 5 matchup.

Turco, a starter for LaSalle after transferring from Division II St. Anselm, contributed five points and four assists for the Explorers (3-3). Papazoglou did not see any action for the Quakers (5-2).

Turco is a year older but both players are considered juniors, since Turco’s freshman season was wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The game was certainly a special one for the former teammates.

“I literally face-timed her the day before and I was so excited to see her,” Papazoglou said of Turco. “I was so happy when she came back here to the area and it’s so great to see her doing well and playing well. I’m so happy for her.”

The thought of playing in the famed Palestra and against her former teammate and friend had Turco eagerly anticipating the contest.

“Coming into this game, I knew how playing in this building was so prestigious,” Turco said. “A lot of great players played in this area. And then I knew it was going to be really fun to play against ‘Mar,’ because that’s my best friend.”

The reunion of the former high school teammates competing for rivals at the Division I level brought out many members of the Wildwood Catholic community. A good portion of the announced attendance of 573 consisted of friends and family members of Papazoglou and Turco, along with coaches, players and players’ parents from the current Wildwood Catholic girls basketball team. Players, coaches and players’ parents from two youth basketball teams from Atlantic County who played an exhibition game on the Palestra floor following the Penn-LaSalle game were also on hand.

“I knew we’d have a lot of our family and friends here,” Turco said. “It was very special to have that support in the stands.”

LaSalle's Gabby Turco (left) and Penn's Marianna Papazoglou pose in front of the current players and coaches from the Wildwood Catholic Academdy girls basketball team.

TURCO MAKES SMOOTH TRANSITION FROM D2

Turco averaged 15.9 points and 5.0 rebounds over her two seasons at St. Anselm, located in Manchester, N.H. She was a second team Northeast-10 Conference selection last season as a sophomore after being named the conference’s Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2021-22.

But Turco, who played her first two high school seasons at Washington Township before her family moved to Cape May County, felt the pull of home and entered the transfer portal following last season. She quickly signed with LaSalle.

“One of the reasons I wanted to make the change was to be closer to home for that sense of what I experienced tonight,” Turco said as she humbly glanced around the Palestra at all of the people who came to see her play Wednesday. “I wanted to have my family be able to be at every game. It’s special for me before the game and after the game and during the game to see people supporting you in the stands and being physically able to watch me play in person.”

Turco has quickly blossomed with the Explorers. She’s averaging 6.8 points, is second on the team in total rebounds with 28 and third on the team in steals with five through six games. She’s one of three LaSalle players to start every game so far this season. Turco posted 16 points – her career high at the Division I level – in a recent victory over Rider.

“Gabby brings instant intensity and brings a tremendous work ethic and a passion for being in the gym every day,” LaSalle coach Mountain MacGillivray said. “She plays both ends of the floor incredibly hard and she can score on all three levels.”

A computer science major, Turco is on track to soon earn her bachelor’s degree before enrolling in graduate school at LaSalle before her playing eligibility expires.

Turco said the transition of playing at LaSalle after two seasons at a Division II school has not been too difficult.

“I think just the speed and the style our coach wants us to play is much faster than at my old school,” she said. “But it’s still basketball, and you’re out there trying to make plays, so there’s not much change in that sense.”

MacGillivray marveled at how quickly Turco has made an impact with LaSalle. If there’s been a transitional phase from one level to the next for Turco, MacGillivray hasn’t noticed it.

“I don’t think there’s any difference for her,” he said. “She’s come in and been herself and made plays. She’s a baller.

“She was ready to go from Day 1. She’s one of the most mature, responsible kids I’ve ever coached. She has everything organized to the minute. She knows where she’s supposed to be and she’s always at the right place at the right time, both on and off the court. She really is a coach’s dream.”

PAPAZOGLOU CONTRIBUTING IN NEW ROLE AT PENN

Papazoglou is now in her third season at Penn, well adjusted to the rigors of playing in a high-level college basketball program at one of the most academically challenging institutions in the world.

Papazoglou, Wildwood Catholic’s all-time leading scorer, saw action in 25 games over her first two seasons with the Quakers. This season, she’s played in four of Penn’s first seven games, tallying three points over a total of 19 minutes.

“Obviously coming out of high school, there’s a huge transition into college,” Papazoglou said. “Knowing my role is super important here. Being a good teammate and cheering on my teammates whether they’re ahead of me or behind me is very important. I’m going to continue doing what I can to help the team. I’m here for a reason.”

A nagging back injury has been part of the reason Papazoglou hasn’t gotten more playing time. But now that she’s healthy, there could be an increased role in the future.

“Marianna is special,” said Penn coach Mike McLaughlin, who owns a summer home in North Wildwood located very close to Papazoglou and her family. “She’s a great leader and just a great person to be around. She’s an elite shooter and that’s the skill that stands out. At some point she’s going to be out there because we’re going to need her. She’s a kid that in spot situations is going to help us this year.”

Papazoglou is a double major, studying psychology and education.

“She’s been a remarkable person to have in our program,” McLaughlin said. “We judge things differently here at Penn. She’s doing extremely well in school and she’s going to be a major leader and a team captain next year. Put away what you might or might not see on the floor. Penn is a very challenging place and Marianna has succeeded in every possible way. We want her to continue to grow through Penn. And I know at some point here she’s going to really help us.”

Papazoglou said she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

“Playing Division I basketball was always my dream,” she said. “Looking back, I would not have decided to go somewhere else no matter what my role is. Getting this degree from Penn is super important to me whatever that looks like playing-wise. It’s hard to be on the bench but I’m still eager to get on the court whenever I get a chance. I’ll do whatever it is to better my team every day and stay positive.”

THE CONCLUSION OF A SPECIAL EVENING

After Wednesday’s game, Papazoglou and Turco met with seemingly every one of the people who came to see them play, posed for dozens of photos and even signed a few autographs.

Papazoglou and Turco exited the Palestra together with some friends and family to have dinner at a restaurant on Penn’s campus. They got to see former Eagles star DeSean Jackson, who was making an appearance at the establishment.

Following dinner, Papazoglou drove Turco back to LaSalle’s campus, two former teammates and close friends sharing stories and reminiscing about another great experience made possible through the game of basketball.