ST. THERESE 8TH GRADE GIRLS CYO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS

The St. Therese 8th grade girl’s basketball team just completed an undefeated season (10-0) by winning the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) Blue League regular season and tournament. This team is arguably the best CYO girl’s team in the area. The team consists of 10 girls; Alivia Baker, Katie Beasley, Emily Braun, Brittiany Hunter, Kristin Isbell, Nichole Landon, Melissa Oberley, Maria Peppler, Jessica Savieo, and McKenzie Wyss. Two of these girls had not played for St. Therese before. Jessica Savieo had played basketball at St. Aloysius last year. For Katie Beasley it was the first time to be on the team. The rest of the team had played together since 5th grade.

To start the season, St. Therese was invited to play in a 7th and 8th grade girl’s double elimination Thanksgiving Tournament at St. Francis during the Thanksgiving break. At that time, because of potential seasonal travel, it was decided to combine the 7th and 8th grade girl’s into one team. By combining the teams, the first tournament game had 17 girls show up in uniform ready to play. They lost their first game to Queen of Angels, but in the next (2) days won (4) games, beating St. Vincent’s 7th, St. Vincent’s 8th, St. Charles 7th, and then came back to beat Queen of Angels. That put them in the championship game against Memorial Park 8th grade. They lost the championship game, but gained confidence in themselves and their teammates. It needs to be noted that in every game every player who showed up to play, played. Credit must be given to the coaches, because a 17 player rotation is very hard to organize, and harder yet to implement. To make it to the championship game with this rotation exemplifies the quality of players, and the quality of coaches.

The first Saturday in December, St. Therese started the Blue League regular season with a conference win over Precious Blood. That win was followed by a close victory over St. Aloysius. St John’s-Fort Wayne was the first non-conference large school Gold League team to take the floor against St. Therese, and the outcome was the same.

Over the Christmas Holiday, St. Therese was asked to participate in an 8th grade double elimination tournament. The invitation was accepted, but the outcome was not the same. It was again decided, because of potential holiday travel plans, to combine the 7th and 8th grade girls to make one team. After playing St. Jude’s, and Queen of Angel’s 8th graders, the combined St. Therese team was two and out. The girl’s played hard and the coaching philosophy stayed the same, whoever showed up to play, played.

The first Saturday in January, the St. Therese 8th grade girls started the heart of their regular Blue League season. They played hard to beat a good St. Louis/St. Rose team, and the following Saturday squeaked out a one-point victory over Queen of Angel’s. They closed out the season with a conference victory over Benoit, and a non-conference Gold League victory over St. Vincent’s 8th graders. They finished conference play at 6-0, and regular season at 8-0. This made them the number one seed going into the single elimination year-end tournament. Throughout the regular season the coaches kept their tradition alive by playing every player in every game.

In the tournament, because of their seed, St. Therese was given a first round bye. St. Louis/St. Rose beat St. Aloysius to get another chance at St. Therese, but the outcome was the same. St. Therese beat them 34-22 during the regular season, and won 38-27 in the tournament. This win put St. Therese in the championship game against Queen of Angel’s; a team they had played 3 previous times in Holiday tournaments with their combined team, and once during the regular season that St. Therese won by one point.

The championship game started in St. Therese’s favor. After the first quarter it was St. Therese 15, Queen of Angels 11. After a hard fought second quarter, where both teams flexed their defensive muscle, the half time score was St. Therese 17-15. The game was reminiscent of their mid-season one point game where St. Therese lead 18 -16 at halftime. In the second half St. Therese continued their tough defense and held Queen of Angels to 8 points, for a final score of St. Therese 35, Queen of Angel’s 23, winning the championship.
Was this the best girl’s CYO team in the area?

The coaches would argue yes. During the regular season, St. Therese went undefeated in the Blue League, and the season. They played two practice games, one against St. Joe-Decatur and one against St. Jude. Both of these teams are in the large school Gold league. St. Joe-Decatur finished their regular season in first place at 6-0, and St. Jude finished their regular season in second place at 5-1. St. Therese won both practice games, beating the first and second place finishers in the Gold League.

The coaches, Lauri Braun, Stu Oberley, and Dan Wyss gives all the credit of the undefeated season, to the hard work of the girls, their willingness to learn and improve, and their God given talents. Stu and Dan have coached most of these girls since 5th grade and mentioned how they really enjoyed watching them grow as players, and young ladies. This was a great season for the girls, and they represented St. Therese very well. Congratulations to them all!