Panthers Finish Season with CYO Title

By: Contributor Last Updated: April 1, 2010

Written by Coach Wilson lady-panthers

The 8th grade Lady Panthers finish their season with their second CYO title. The Panthers end the regular season with a record of 16-3, moving to the end of the year's CYO tournament with a 2nd place seed. In their first game of the CYO tournament they met St. Joseph. The Panthers started the game with a full court press leaving St. Joseph stunned with in the first 6 minutes of play outscoring them 18-2. The Panthers went on to outscore St. Joseph 45 to 13 to advance in the semi finals. In the semi finals the Panthers faced their next opponents, a hard and scrappy team from Hammond. St John Bosco gave the Panthers a tough battle. The Panthers were down most of the 1st half and went into the locker room at half time down 19-17. The Panthers regrouped and came out of the locker room fired up and ready to play as the parents and fans cheered them on. The Lady Panthers hit the floor with a full court press and quickly regained the lead by going on a 12 point run in the first 2 minutes of play in the 3rd quarter. The Lady Panthers crushed the hope and dreams of St. John Bosco making it to the CYO finals. The Panthers went on to win the game 45 to 37.

In the CYO finals the Panthers confronted an old rival, the St. John Evangelist Eagles. In the past 3 years, the Panthers have met the Eagles in the CYO Championship games. Both teams have won a title each in the past, which set up the stage for the final 8th grade show down. In the 2010 season the Eagles swept the Panthers in all 3 games played at the Eagle's Nest. But, the finals of the CYO tournament was being played on the Panthers’ home court were they have not lost a home game since their first game they played in 5th grade. The Lady Panthers and Eagles started their first half in front of a packed house at the den. Both teams felt the pressure of the finals only managing to score 3 points in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Panthers slipped ahead on presser defense, going into the locker room up 7-4 at half time. Going into the second half, the Lady Panthers were very hungry and wanted to prove themselves, again on the big stage. Sharp shooting and strong inside play helped advance the Panther's to an early lead in the third quarter. The Eagles could not get past the Lady Panthers’ defense and unstoppable scoring as the Panthers went on to capture their 2nd CYO Championship Title by defeating the Eagles 26 to 12. The fans then rushed the court to embrace their winning team.