City League girls basketball championship: Allderdice jumps to big lead, outlasts Obama Academy to repeat as champions behind another huge game from Bailey White

On weekends, Allderdice’s Bailey White carries a part-time job as a cashier at Mineo’s Pizza House in Squirrel Hill.

Good thing she had a valid excuse Sunday for missing work.

A sharp-shooting junior averaging more than 20 points per game for the Dragons, White took a break from serving pizza to customers to serve up a 24-piece with soda against archrival Obama Academy in the City League girls basketball championship game. The talented 5-foot-4 guard, who erupted for 34 points in the 2024 title game, also pulled in 9 rebounds to help Allderdice repeat as champions with a hard-fought 52-45 triumph at Duquesne University’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

“It shows who we actually are,” White said. “It shows that it wasn’t all luck, to win two years in a row.”

After winning both regular-season showdowns by more than 30 points, the Dragons (19-5) raced to a 15-point lead in the first half — and for a moment, it appeared Allderdice might be on its way to another blowout. But the Dragons had to withstand a furious second-half rally by the Eagles (10-11), who at one point cut the deficit to four late in the third quarter.

The win gives Allderdice coach Ellen Guillard “one for the thumb,” marking her fifth City League title since taking over as head coach in 2015.

“I’m incredibly grateful to be here. It’s just a great feeling,” Guillard said. “I’m just happy it’s done and over with, because I was sweating bullets in the fourth quarter.”

Along with White’s game-high 24 points, sophomore Rhyan Sledge tacked on 10 points with 6 rebounds and 6 assists in her first taste of the City League title game. A transfer guard who spent her freshman season as a reserve at Oakland Catholic, Sledge is the younger sister of Imani Christian star R.J. Sledge.

“I’m trying to be better than my brother,” Sledge said. “I’ve got to work hard every day.”

For Obama, sophomore Arianna Treadwell tallied a double-double with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, followed by 14 points from standout senior Taylor Phillips, who ranks fourth among all WPIAL and City League players with an average of 22.9 ppg.

“I feel that [Treadwell] helps take some of the pressure off of Taylor,” said Eagles coach Monique McCoy. “It hurts [Phillips]. It’s her last time. And who doesn’t want to go out with a bang in your senior year?”

The Dragons remained in control throughout the first half, as Sledge banked in a buzzer-beater from half-court at the end of the first quarter to give Allderdice a 15-8 lead. Sledge and White then took turns burying baskets for the Dragons to give them a 33-18 advantage going into the break.

“We didn’t know quite how to feel [at halftime],” Guillard said. “We just knew we had another 20 minutes to go. … Our mindset was just to go play-by-play to try to make sure we stay on top.”

Say hello to Sister Sledge!

The younger sister of Imani Christian star R.J. Sledge, Allderdice sophomore Rhyan Sledge knocks down a buzzer-beater from halfcourt to give the Dragons a 15-8 lead after one. Sledge with a game-high 7 points so far.

Bank is open on Sunday! pic.twitter.com/Gw6Sc3IFv6

— Steve Rotstein (@SteveRotstein) February 16, 2025

Trailing by 15, Obama came out of the locker room with a spirited run to quickly cut the deficit to single digits. But the Dragons regrouped after a timeout, as White drained a corner 3 to stretch their lead to 13 midway through the third.

After a handful of missed free throws by Allderdice allowed the Eagles to hang around, Treadwell converted a layup to trim the margin back to single digits. Phillips then followed with a layup and a three-point play.

All of a sudden, the Dragons’ once-comfortable lead had shrunk to just 6 points going into the final quarter.

“At halftime, I told them that we were in our own heads,” McCoy said. “We were a little emotional. We didn’t like some of the calls, and they can’t worry about that. Not in a game like this.

“It’s an awesome rivalry. We just want to see these young ladies continue to grow and do great things.”

Allderdice opened the fourth with a 5-0 run to extend the lead back to double digits, but Obama refused to go away without a fight. The Dragons missed several layups that could have put the game away, and they made just 8-of-16 free throws in the second half. Still, they proved late in the fourth quarter that they know how to win when it matters most.

The Eagles threatened another comeback with time winding down, but it turned out to be too little, too late, as Allderdice held on for the win.

“It’s incredibly difficult to play someone three times [in one season]. It seems like they have an ever-changing lineup that we have to adjust to and overcome,” Guillard said. “I’m just happy we were able to hold the trophy up at the end.”