8th grade girls ousted from playoffs

Friday the 13th proved to be unlucky for the 8th grade girls as they were eliminated from the playoffs tonight in a 27-20 loss.

This was a tight game throughout and even up to the final seconds of the game, before a few meaningless baskets stretched out the final point differential.

Gavy had an inspiring performance, and went out with a bang, coming off the bench to score 6 points, which sparked momentum from a team that looked timid and tentative.

There were several momentum swings in the game that went the way of the 8th grade girls, but they were unable to carry the momentum for a long period of time.

They trailed by only four at halftime, and took the lead late in the third, before giving up some baskets heading into the fourth.

A Marissa jumper midway through the final quarter put the girls back up 17-16, but that was the last time they held the lead.

Once again, it was the turnovers and missed lay-ups that caused their demise.

Breaking the press was also an issue as many of the passes were sloppy and also a product of girls not being able to get open for a clean pass.

Defensively, they didn't generate the turnovers they needed to and the girls were out-rebounded by the other team's center which was at least a head taller than any of the 8th grade girls.

Despite their season coming to an unexpected end, this was a team that had girls that were from four different schools playing as one. It was a make shift team put together because there weren't enough girls in the current 8th grade class that wanted to play, and to have less than a few months of experience playing together is not an ingredient to success.

Precious and Gavy, in their first year of organized basketball, were great additions to the team, and played as hard as anyone could've hoped for. Both were solid contributors to the team.

In their four years of basketball, this team made the playoffs their final three years, and had two first place championships, back to back winners in 6th and 7th grade, not too shabby of an accomplishment.

In her final game in a St. Mary's uniform, Marissa scored 13 points.