From Coach Walker, Coach Stevens, Coach Jent, and SMS/AJH Athletics: St Mary’s hosted 22 teams this weekend for the 2020 Belleville Diocesan Girls Basketball Tournament. 31 games played in three days between the Junior (5th/6th) division and Parochial (7th/8th) division.
Tournament Results:
5/6 consolation champs All Saints, runner up Immaculate Conception
7/8 consolation champs Our Lady Queen of Peace, runner up St James
5/6 3rd place Blessed Sacrament 5/6 4th place St Teresa (29-15) 7/8 3rd place Holy Trinity
7/8 4th place Holy Childhood (27-11)
5/6 1st place St Clare 5/6 2nd place St James (22-9)
7/8 1st place St Mary’s Mount Carmel
7/8 2nd place St Peter and Paul (39-32)
SMS/AJH JV girls lost their first game Friday night to St James who would go on to be tournament runner ups. Saturday they played a well fought game against Immaculate Conception. Tied 18 all going into the fourth, the girls would eventually fall to ICS.
The varsity team was seeded dead last for the tournament. The girls won Friday night vs St Teresa. Saturday they played the number 2 seed, St Clare and would win. In their second game Saturday they would take down Holy Trinity to advance to Sunday’s Championship game. The Championship was played at 4:30 in Allendale. With a record setting crowd the girls would beat the number one seeded Saint Peter and Paul 39-32.
Nora Jones would foul out mid 4th quarter scoring 4 points, 1 steal, 2 rebounds, 3 loose balls, and 1 deflection. Kali Walker would have 1 point, 1 rebound, 2 loose balls, 1 deflection and playing her best defense lock down SPPS best offensive player holding her to 4 points in the second half. Chandler Cusick would have 1 assist, and 4 rebounds. Lily Keepes would play hard defense and have 1 rebound. Sarah McCorkle would have 12 points, 2 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 loose balls, and 1 deflection. Madison Stevens would again near a triple double with 22 points, 5 blocks, 18 rebounds, and 2 loose balls. Also playing their roles and helping push SMS/AJH to victory was Lauren Fisher and Jordis Riley.
The entire team played the whole weekend with determination and every single girl contributed to each win executing their roles well. Tournament MVP goes to Madison Stevens who averaged over 20 points and 20 rebounds each game. Congratulations ladies.
A special thank you to all the fan support shown at every game but especially the championship game.
