Everyone knows I make an annual trip to Indiana to see my Mothers sister, Aunt Nancy. My aunt became a Caitlin Clark fan this March/April as I happened to visit during March Madness. I put a bracket together for her and showed her how to follow it. Cousin Dan put together a family bracket on the computer and we had all kinds of fun.
Now we are waiting for the excitement of the draft and we have less than an hour to go. None of us have ever tuned into a WNBA game. We followed the women’s college bracket like pros and we are ready to start following the Indiana Fever this summer! God Bless Indiana and God Bless Caitlin Clark!
With the CYO Basketball Tournament in the rear-view mirror and a much-needed vacation under my belt, I want to circle back and make some BLOG notes about what I observed in the CYO tournament games in the Greater Portland area this year.
The Caitlin Clark Effect is thriving. Having recently broken the NCAA scoring record for both men and women this season, and for four years’ worth of outstanding college play, Caitlin is the most popular sports figure in America at the present. Caitlin is inspiring young girls AND boys in the sport of basketball.
I asked several young CYO players if they had heard of Caitlin Clark, and they all answered with a resounding “yes”. The number 22 has taken on as much or more popularity than 23 (Michael Jordan’s number).
I am a Caitlin Clark fan as well. I am pulling for her team to win the National Women’s NCAA Basketball title (now that my alma mater OSU has been eliminated GO BEAV’S). I have done a deep dive on YOUTUBE watching Caitlin Clark’s games and they are truly amazing. I have studied her style, the long shots, her ability to penetrate in the paint, her all around game. She has a remarkable ability to read the floor and know where her teammates are or will be and get the ball to them for scores. She is truly a generational player.
Our children are emulating her game. Because I have studied Caitlin’s game so closely, I can see that our kids are watching her and copying her style. I smile to myself and am grateful for a first class, exciting, wholesome, exceedingly talented person for kids to look up to. God bless you, Caitlin Clark!
Players: Cole, James, Luke, Mario, Mark, Reef, Robbie, Ry
Mascot: The Cardinals
Game Highlights:
Valley Catholic and Holy Family traded points with the Valliant’s seizing the lead and ending the first quarter with a positive margin of 4. The deficit increased for Holy Family in the second quarter where they were outscored by 12 to end the quarter 30 – 14. The Valliant’s won the regular season contest but at tournament time it is anyone’s game.
At the end of the third quarter, The Valliant’s led the Cardinals by 17. Holy Family started to gain in the fourth quarter, but the Valliant’s kept them at bay with a few well-timed shots. Holy Family shot several three pointers in the last few minutes which brought them back within 6 points.
All Saints and St. Pius X began the game with a photo of both teams together symbolizing the friendships that have been built over the years in competitions between the teams. The gesture was a tribute to both programs.
All Saints sunk a 3 pointer to get the game started and the two teams were off to the races. St. Pius outscored the Ramblers by 2 to end the first quarter. In the second quarter, All Saints tightened their game, held onto the ball and ended the half ahead by 7.
The third quarter saw the Panthers claw their way back and tie the game with 2 minutes left in the quarter. St. Pius X took the lead after a 30 second timeout with Coach Ted Stark. St. Pius went ahead until All Saints tied it back up with 20 seconds to go then sunk a three pointer at the buzzer for a 3 point lead going into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, “The Game”, All Saints went ahead by 6 while St. Pius X continued to work away at the deficit. With four minutes left the Panthers cut the lead by 2. Lauren for the Panthers sunk a three to bring it within 1 then All Saints sunk another deuce to keep a three-point margin. Alexa drew a foul but could not convert any points then fouled on the rebound leading to Panther free throws. With two minutes left, Lauren made one of two and All Saints got the rebound. Emma went back to the free throw line for the Panthers, made one and it was All Saints ball, one point difference.
The panthers stole the ball and headed down the court scoring two to put St. Pius ahead by 1. Pius played catch till fouled with 20 seconds left in the game. Zea missed the first, sunk the second and All Saints again could not hold onto the ball giving it up to Pius and fouling to keep the game alive. Samantha goes to the line and sinks one, misses one now a three point lead and Lauren goes to the line for Piux. She misses both her free throws and All Saints cannot get the ball to the other end of the court to score. St. Pius X wins the 8th grade girls championship by three in a great game.
All Saints led the contest by a margin of 5 by the end of the first quarter. St. Anthony won the regular season contest between the clubs. In the second half, the Hawkes fought their way back to tie the game at 18 all as All Saints took a 2-point lead into the half.
The second half opened with Seth from All Saints connecting on a 3 point and immediately blocking the shot of the Hawkes and getting the ball. Ben from St. Anthony connected on a three pointer to keep the Hawkes close. The third quarter ended with a 1 point difference favoring the Ramblers.
The fourth quarter was the “game” and with under three minutes St. Anthony took the lead for the first time and there were 5 lead changes until St. Anthony sunk a three pointer and added a point on the foul. With 29 seconds in the game, the Hawkes lead by 5 points. With 17.2 to go, the Ramblers put in a three pointer to cut the deficit to 2. All Saints gave it their best shot in the last few seconds but could not get the ball to drop in the hoop.
St. Anthony, undefeated in regular season play came out to a quick lead shooting and scoring to end the quarter with a 12-point lead. The Cardinals found their stride in the second quarter but could not match the scoring of the Hawkes. The quarter finished with a 21-point favor to the Hawkes.
In the second half, the Hawkes continued to dominate and show a lot of excellent skills that made them this year’s championship team. The Cardinals gave a wonderful effort in the contest today.
Coaches: Chris Wojnar, Andrew Over, Marcus Penhale
Players: Anthony, Attivus, Dylan, Jack, Jackson, Jacob, Luke, Rory, Tomas
Mascot: Cardinals
Game Highlights:
St. Pius won the contests by a narrow margin in pre-season play. Holy Family jumped out to a 10 point lead in the first half with St. Pius X in close pursuit. Holy Family continued to lead by 10 at the end of the third quarter in a very exciting game by both teams. The fourth quarter was truly the game with boy teams vying aggressively for the ball and making many of the shots they put up. With four minutes left in the game, Holy Family lead by 12 with both teams matching basket for basket. With 1:41 left in the game, it was an 8 point game with both teams still in it to win it.
A balanced game through the first quarter into the second half when the Panthers outscored the Bulldogs finishing the half with an 8-point lead. The Panthers owned the second half with the Bulldogs never giving up. Trailing by 20, the Bulldogs had tenacity but not the ability to pull out a win today.
Quarter 1:
Quarter 2: St. Pius X 19 – St. Thomas More 11
Quarter 3: St. Pius X 29 – St. Thomas More 19
Quarter 4: St. Pius X 47 – St. Thomas More 27 FINAL
A slow paced, balanced game, tied with 1:50 left in the third quarter thanks to 3 steals by the Saints, Lyons and shooting by Ethan. The Saints took the lead after a 6-point deficit near the end of the third quarter.
HISTORY: This was the first time Franciscan Montessori Earth School has won the City Championship level, the highest level of the CYO Basketball Tournament.
Quarter 1: Franciscan Montessori Earth School 6 – St. Clare 9
Quarter 2: Franciscan Montessori Earth School 16 – St. Clare 15
Quarter 3: Franciscan Montessori Earth School 29 – St. Clare 25
Quarter 4: Franciscan Montessori Earth School 44 – St. Clare 34
St. Pius X came out to an early lead outscoring St. Anthony by 15 in the first quarter. Layla’s height and athleticism enabled the Panthers to keep control of the ball.
In the second quarter, the Panthers again came out scoring, rebounding, and controlling the ball. With 2 minutes left in the quarter, the Hawkes began scoring and added 7 points to the tally.
Caitlin Clark, the inspirational, NCAA record breaking scorer is influencing the play in girls’ basketball and it is evident from the bleachers!
In the third quarter, the Hawkes outscored the Panthers and slightly reduced the deficit to 22 points behind the skillful shooting and ball handling of St. Anthony’s Riley and Sloane.
Both teams had some great young players who are developing very good skills. As they continue to grow and mature, we will see these teams again and who knows what it might look like next year! So far, my favorite game of the tournament.
CYO/Camp Howard 