Back In The Game

In CYO basketball, St. Joseph's nemesis is St. Anne. I think everyone's nemesis is St. Anne. There is something about their teams that irks every other team. It must be the brand of ball they play -- rugged, physical, DIRTY. And I have no qualms saying it because they are. For one, St. Anne doesn't have a school, so its players come the schools around the area. I am not saying Catholic school kids are saints, but from my personal observation, there is a difference. And I will leave it at that. You make your own observations.

You can charge me for being biased, but I am telling you the truth. For the past 7 years that I have been involved in CYO sports, that includes basketball, volleyball, cross country, and track & field, in various capacities as a coach, team parent, and just plain ol' dad, I can vouch for the integrity, good manners, and excellent behavior of all St. Joe teams, whether or not the players come from the school or elsewhere. And the parents and coaches, as well, are a testament to this. I invite you to come and watch a game, and see for yourself.

I heard lots of horror stories about how St. Anne coaches run their respective programs. It shows in how they play and how they conduct themselves on court. You can see it, too, in their parents, fans, and supporters. It's probably this bad boy image and do-anything-to-get-the-job-done attitude that gives them this notoriety. It's nothing to brag about. I do think it's something to be shameful of, especially for a "Catholic" team.

I don't mean to bash St. Anne, but they brought it upon themselves. Enough said.

On Saturday, our 8A SJS boys had their first meeting with St. Anne for this season. It was our first game of the new year as well. Venue was the unusually cold Newark Junior High School gym. You had to bundle up or run the risk of hypothermia. I guess the gym fees don't cover heating.

Every St. Joe-St. Anne game is always spirited. And this one was no exception. Fans were split -- St. Anne on the right, and St. Joe on the left of the bleachers. I personally invited some school families and friends to watch the game so our side had more cheerers than normal.

The first half of the first quarter was close. Fans on both sides were so energized as they cheered every exchange of baskets. But St. Anne slowly pulled away towards the end of the first quarter and all of the second. The rabid St. Anne fans became noisier and louder. They were just so thrilled. Despite the deficit, we cheered our players on and gave them encouraging words to do their best. St. Anne led by as much as 12 points. By the end of the first half, they had a double-digit advantage.

Second half of the game was a different story. The St. Joe boys regrouped and did what they do best. They executed the plays, moved with more cohesion, and defended better. They slowly crept up and narrowed down the lead. The fast transition of play caught St. Anne off guard. The next thing they knew, they were now down and scrambling desperately to catch up. The shoe was on the other foot. St. Joe's led by as much as 12 points.

In the 4th quarter, St. Anne was struggling. They didn't know what hit them. They couldn't penetrate the tight zone defense, and none of their outside shots went it. As a matter of fact, they had difficulty getting off any shot because of the swarming defense put up by our boys. In the dying minutes, the team held on to the ball and moved it around till the final buzzer sounded. Final score was 50-41, St. Joe.

It was a sweet victory, not just for the team, but for the whole school as well. A win against St. Anne is a win by everyone.

The win gives us a tie with St. Anne in the standings. However, the point differential gives St. Anne the edge. This differential will be used to determine first place in the division, which automatically seeds the team to the Diocese championships. So, aside from every win, the margin of victory matters a whole lot.

Our boys play again tomorrow, Sunday, against OLG. With 3 more games in the season, each one is crucial, especially for those vying for an automatic seed. We have gone through the grind of a division playoff series to claim the second spot in the Diocese championship last year, and in past years. We know the routine, and it's tough. An automatic seed would be a wonderful gift for this final year.

Congratulations, boys. Excellent game. Go Cougars !!!