A fast-paced game with both teams running back and forth between the baskets, scoring intermittently. St. Thomas More, undefeated during regular season play, towered above, and outsized the Hawks. A few years in the future will change the dynamics between the two teams.
Game Highlights: No shooting from the logo in this game but lots of back and forth running from basket to basket as the girls worked to get the ball in the hoop. St. Pius X Scored 6 early in the second quarter to go ahead by 6 and added 4 in the third quarter to lead St. Cecilia by 8 going into the fourth quarter.
St. Cecilia came alive in the fourth quarter scoring 6 toward the end, behind by 2 with 1:18 left to go. With 40.5 left in the game, Audrey was fouled and the Cyclones got another chance to inbound the ball under their basket. The Panthers grabbed it and headed to the other end stepping out of bounds. St. Cecilia made several attempts to get the ball through the hoop. With 8 seconds on the clock, the Panthers, Sophia, shot two free throws swishing them both like Caitlyn Clark on a Friday night.
With .09 seconds, St. Cecilia’s Audrey had two shots, but the basket continued to evade the Cyclones today.
The first two quarters of the game were very exciting back and forth action with great play from some top talents in the eighth grade from Holy Redeemer and Valley Catholic. Unfortunately, Holy Redeemer was plagued by playing time issues and did not get all their players their mandatory playing time even after they were reminded by the CYO Basketball Commission at the beginning of the game and each quarter of the game. Finally, toward the end of the game the team worked to get all their players their required time and at that point, it was too late for strategy.
Two basic rules of CYO are 1. There is a place for everyone, no one is cut. 2. Everyone plays and in volleyball and basketball there are mandatory playing times. In basketball, each player is required to play for 8 minutes of the game. This is a full quarter. It is possible to get 20 players on a team a full quarter.
Congratulations to Valley Catholic for their win in the 2023 CYO 8th grade boys Championship.
Half Time Score: Valley Catholic 23 – Holy Redeemer 21
Basketball Commissioner, Steve Mueller set the stage as he announced the CYO 8th grade Girls Basketball championship beginning with team names. He made the calls throughout the game giving the kids a sense of true championship and it was very special for all of the players.
Valley Catholic and St. Rose both had an enthusiastic start playing each other toe to toe in the first quarter. Valley Catholic made some fast break points immediately in the top of the second quarter and outscored St. Rose 12 to 2.
In the second half. In the third quarter the scoring was balanced for both teams. The Valliant’s outdistanced the Hawks in the fourth quarter with a final score of 44 – 27.
2023 CYO 7th Grade Girls City Championship at Valley Catholic School
Home Team: St. Pius X
Coaches Ted Stark (Head Coach), Marc McCullagh
Players: Avery, Maddy, Zea, Alexa, Lauren, Madeline, Samantha, Anna
Mascot: Panthers
Visiting Team: Holy Redeemer
Coaches: Sonora Thirdgill
Players: Edie, Nola, Jayda, Jeannemarie, Julia, Isira, Amelia, Gema, Eva, Kalkidan, Sera
Mascot: Wildcats
Game Highlights:
Quarter 1 – With 4:54 left in the first quarter, McCullagh scored the first basket of the game from the charity line to give the Panthers the lead. Stiles for Holy Redeemer tied the game at the other end of the court from the free throw line with a score of 1-1 with 3:56 left in the quarter. With 2:30 left in the first quarter, Holy Redeemer scored the first bucket of the game to lead the game 3-1.
Quarter 2 – Both teams got into the groove early in the second quarter and St. Pius X Stark drilled a three pointer to bring them within 1 point of the Wildcats. She sunk another 3 on the next trip to her basket to go ahead before the Wildcats answered with a 2 pointer to even the score at 9-9.
Bourque scored a three pointer for Holy Redeemer with 2:30 left in the first half and Stark put a third three pointer in for St. Pius X. More 3 points were scored in the first half than 2 point baskets.
Quarter 3 – Holy Redeemer came out of the break and scored two quick baskets to tie the game and got the ball back immediately on a St. Pius X inbound infraction. Both teams were pumped for the second half. Much back-and-forth excitement, three pointers, great defense on both teams.
Quarter 4 – St. Pius X scored 5 quick points including a three pointer to get the quarter started giving them a 10-point lead early on. Holy Redeemer could not dig their way out, missing their shots in the fourth quarter. A great game between two talented teams.
2023 CYO 6th Grade Boys City Championship at Valley Catholic School
Home Team: St. Andrew Nativity School
Coaches Clay Alexander
Players: Andre, Daniel Arthur, Caeden, Justin, Deandre, Shamar, Ramon, Keenan, Israel
Mascot:
Visiting Team: St. Pius X
Coaches: Clayton Lindsay (H), Andrew Ruginis (AS)
Players: Zachary, Parker, Carter, Luca, Jack, Charlie, Lucas
Mascot: Panthers
Game Highlights:
First half – The two teams stayed evenly matched throughout the first half with the score staying within 1 to 4 points of each other.
Second Half – St. Pius X garnered a considerable lead which St. Andrew Nativity worked hard to close, getting within 5 in the fourth quarter. In the end, St. Pius X by 6 in a great game by both teams.
Quarter 1: St. Pius X 10 – St. Andrew Nativity School 6
Quarter 2: St. Pius X 20 – St. Andrew Nativity School 16
Quarter 3: St. Pius X 36 – St. Andrew Nativity 24
Quarter 4: St. Pius X 50 – St. Andrew Nativity School 43
First half, Two feisty, great shooting teams very well matched creating a lot of excitement. Neither team was afraid to shoot three pointers and they sunk them like pros.
In the second half, St. Anthony overpowered St. Ignatius, widening the gap and St. Ignatius could not make it up. It was a great game with a lot of intensity.
A high scoring game with both teams sinking 3 pointers toward the end of the first half with the score vacillating until St. Pius X drilled the last basket of the half to go ahead by 3. Amos for St. Clare hit three, three-pointers.
St. Clare broke open in the third quarter behind some three-point shooting including another by Amos to close out the period. St. Clare added 17 points to St. Pius X’s 6.
Both teams performed well in the fourth quarter but St. Clare outscored St. Pius X by one point with thirteen for the quarter. The game was fun to watch and kept the fans on the edge of their seats!
PLAYER FIRST NAMES: Justin, Brayden, Jacob, Emmett, Carter, Lucas, Jason, Aaron, Henry, Harper, Joe, Minh, Kellen
VISITING TEAM: All Saints
COACH’S: Chris Zervis, Damian Barron
PLAYER FIRST NAMES: Barron, Colin, Carson, Thomas, Matt, Noah, Ben, Nick
Q1: St. Pius X Jumped to an early lead as the quarter ended with a 12 – 9 score over All Saints.
Q2: All Saints showed their athletic power toward the end of the second quarter as they took the lead, got into their stride and used their height to grab the rebounds. The half ended with All Saints 24 and St. Pius X 20.
Q3: A fun third quarter to watch as both teams turn up the power. All Saints led till the last minute of play when both teams battled back and forth. St. Pius X led at the end 37 to 34. Some three-point shooting helped St. Pius X get back the lead.
Q4: With 5 minutes in the last quarter, St. Pius tied the game at 38 – 38 then goes ahead by one with a charity shot. Tensions flare with each foul. Harper puts a three pointer away for a two-point lead. All Saints answers with their own three pointer by Nick. St. Pius and All Saints each add another three pointer and the crowd roars with delight! Score tied 48 to 48 with 2 minutes left to play.
Clearly the best game of the tournament and certainly the most exciting City Tournament game.
A timeout is taken with 58 seconds left in the game and a tied game. All Saints takes several shots and miss them all. St. Pius X gets possession of the ball with 7 seconds left in the game. All Saints fouls with 1.5 seconds left to play. Number 25 to the charity line for two. Sinks 1. All Saints takes a time out. Pius X leads by one. Back to the foul line…Misses second shot and All Saints takes a time out with 1.2 seconds left in the game. All Saints takes out the ball and throws it the length of the court. The receiver catches it and takes a shot overshooting the target but great try none-the-less. A truly great City Championship game that kept the fans on the edge of their seat till the very end!
