2010 Harrisburg Diocesan Tournament CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET       Bottom team on bracket St. Joan of Arc 23     is the Home team         Game 1    St. Theresa     Fri 6:00 p.m.               St. Theresa 40                 Game 8    St. Leo     Sat 4:00 p.m.             St. Joseph 27               Game 2       Fri 7:00 p.m.    St. Leo             St. Leo 33                   Game 11 1st Place  St. Catherine   Sun 2:00 p.m. 2nd Place         Good Shepherd 10               Game 3    St. Catherine     Fri 8:00 p.m.               St. Catherine 44                 Game 9       Sat 5:00 p.m.    St. Catherine           Holy Name               Game 4       Fri 9:00 p.m.    Sacred Heart             Sacred Heart           St. Theresa               Game 10 3rd Place  St. Theresa     Sun 1:00 p.m. 4th Place             Sacred Heart                   CONSOLATION BRACKET St. Joan of Arc             Game 5     St. Joseph     Sat 9:00 a.m.               St. Joseph                   Game 7 5th Place  Holy Name     Sat 3:00 p.m. 6th Place         Good Shepherd               Game 6       Sat 10:00 a.m.    Holy Name             Holy Name                     2009 / 2010 Season Date  Opponent/Tournament  Location / Score  Time/Record  Nov 3  Annunciation  28 - 17 Win 1 Win / 0 Losses   Nov 5  Good Shepherd   25 - 24 Win  2 Wins / 0 Losses   Nov 7  Holy Name   32 - 43 Loss 2 Wins / 1 Loss  Nov 8  St. Joseph  21 - 20 Win 3 Wins / 1 Loss  Nov 21  Sacred Heart, Lancaster  34 - 31 Win 4 Wins / 1 Loss  Nov 22  St. Catherine  26 - 34 Loss 4 Wins / 2 Losses  Dec 6 Sun  OMPH  35 - 18 Win 5 Wins / 2 Losses  Dec 12 Sat  St. Leo  24 - 30 Loss 5 Wins / 3 Losses  Dec 13 Sun  Sacred Heart  44 - 30 Win 6 Wins / 3 Losses  Dec 20 Sun  Holy Name of Jesus  28 - 24 Win 7 Wins / 3 Losses  Jan 2 Sat  Lebanon Catholic  39 – 18 Win 8 Wins / 3 Losses  Jan 3 Sun  Holy Name of Jesus  30 - 32 Loss 8 Wins / 4 Losses  Jan 8  St. Margaret   31 - 24 Win 9 Wins / 4 Losses  Jan 9  Villa Maria  25 - 33 Loss 9 Wins / 5 Losses  Jan 9  Good Shepherd  29 - 35 Loss 9 Wins / 6 Losses  Jan 16 Sat  St. Joan of Arc  21 - 29 Loss 9 Wins / 7 Losses  Jan 17 Sun  St. Catherine  28 - 45 Loss 9 Wins / 8 Losses  Jan 18 Mon  St. Joseph  27 - 24 Win 10 Wins / 8 Losses  Jan 21 Thu  Good Shepherd  36 - 29 Win 11 Wins / 8 Losses  Jan 23 Sat  St. Margaret Mary  37 - 14 Win 12 Wins / 8 Losses  Jan 24 Sun  St. Joan of Arc  47 – 32 Win 13 Wins / 8 Losses  Jan 31 Sun  St. Joseph  44 - 35 Win 14 Wins / 8 Losses  Feb 7 Sun  Good Shepherd  23 - 15 Win 15 Wins / 8 Losses  Feb 13 Sat  St. Catherine  16 - 27 Loss 15 Wins / 9 Losses  Feb 14 Sat  St. Margaret Mary  30 - 15 Win 16 Wins / 9 Losses  Feb 16 Tue  Lebanon Catholic  34 - 7 Win 17 Wins / 9 Losses  Feb 18 Thu  Lebanon Catholic  32 - 7 Win 18 Wins / 9 Losses  Feb 20 Sat  St. Joan of Arc  48 - 30 Win 19 Wins / 9 Losses  Feb 21 Sun  St. Catherine  37 - 47 Loss 19 Wins / 10 Losses  Mar 4  OMPH  45 - 8 Win 20 Wins / 10 Losses  Mar 12  St. Joan of Arc  40 - 23 Win 21 Wins / 10 Losses  Mar 13  St. Leo  27 - 28 Loss 21 Wins / 11 Losses  Mar 14  Sacred Heart  38 - 33 Win 22 Wins / 11 Losses  Mar 25   Rising Stars vs St. Mag's  40 - 26 Win 1 Win / Losses  Mar 26  Rising Stars vs St. Joe's  32 - 30 Win 2 Wins / Losses   Ouch; Rising Stars Discover Speed (& Pressure) Kills  Well, it wasn't the way we'd have like to have gone out.  Holy Name showed polish and athleticism in their full court pressure and totally took the Saints out of our game.  When the dust settled, final score: HNJ 40, St. T's 17.  But that is not the final word.  Down early, the Lady Saints refused to quit.  While sometimes shooting ourselves in the proverbial foot with bad passing, we continued to work hard and showed glimpses of tremendous potential for the future.  Time (and more importantly, the degree of hard work players are willing to put into improving over the summer) will tell just how much of that potential will be realized in the months to come.   Reliegh Devine and Becca Reilly led St. T's scoring efforts with 4 points a piece.  6 for 19 shooting from the foul line as a team further illustrates how far we need to go on an individual basis before we can improve as a team.  But keeping all things in perspective, the girls had a nice run, played some good basketball, and the coaching staff enjoyed working with each and every one.  We look forward to continuing their basketball advancement over the summer.   With this game, the 2009 - 2010 season officially comes to a close.  We've had some great games, some outstanding performances, and some memories that will last a lifetime.  As a player, we hope you enjoyed your time with the coaching staff.  As a parent, we hope you feel you made a good choice placing your daughter in our program.  We do what we do because we love the kids, we enjoy the competitive nature of CYO basketball, and we cherish the relationships we develop with players and parents that often last far beyond the 8th grade.     Lady Saints Rising Stars Win a Thriller; Outlast St. Joe's 32 -30  Whew!  What a game.  In a real team win, St. Theresa found a way to get it done.  Under pressure, with an aggressive St. Joe's defense forcing turnovers and sparking a rally, the Lady Saints knuckled down and took control in the closing seconds of the game.  Four different Saints contributed to the scoring in the 4th quarter and every point was vital.  Alex Lund led the way with 10 points for the game and flew around the court on defense like a demon.  Jacque Barbush added 7 and Reliegh Devine chipped in with 6.  Olivia Gilbertson hit a huge foul shot with 15 seconds to give St. T's the 2 point lead and placed that much more pressure on St. Joe's.  She then out-rebounded four Chargers on her own miss and sealed the deal for St. Theresa. The Lady Saints will meet Holy Name of Jesus who wore down St. Catherine's in the second half and won by 8.   Rising Stars Knock Off St. Mag's  The Lady Saints Rising Stars squad got off to a good start with a 40 - 26 victory versus St. Margaret Mary.  Jacque Barbush led the Saints with 12 points; Alex Lund and Miranda NIxon added 8 points each.  Next up, St. Theresa meets St. Joe's, a 38 - 20 winner over St. Joan of Arc.       Lady Saints Finish on a High Note; Win 38 - 33 Over Sacred Heart  Down 10 - 0 less than two minutes into today's 3rd place Dio game, things did not look good for St. Theresa.  Sacred Heart hit their first four shots, including two treys and were poised to blow this game wide-open.  The Lady Saints managed a couple scores but were still down 15 - 6 at the end of the 1st quarter.  But in the 2nd quarter, St. Theresa made some defensive adjustments and started bringing the ball to the hole with authority.  By half time, the Saints trailed by only 2 at 21 - 19.  In the second half, St. Theresa took the lead with an 11 points effort in the 3rd quarter and finished with the five point victory.  Bri Betz-White came up big for the Saints with 19 points, 11 from the foul line. With this win, St. Theresa closes out the 2009 - 2010 Varsity season at 22 & 11.    St. Theresa Falls in Semis; 27 - 28  It wasn't for lack of effort.  It wasn't for lack of heart.  There was no quit in this team.  The Lady Saints trailed throughout the game but fought and scratched their way back into it and with 15 seconds to go in the game they tied it on a 14 footer by Alex Lund.  But St. Leo sealed the deal from the foul line with the front end of a double bonus.  Cassie Zangari scored the first 11 points for the Saints and finished with a game high 12 points.  St. Theresa struggled versus the press for the first time this season and 7 missed foul shots could have made this a different ball game.  But it is what it is (as Coach says) and tomorrow's another day.  St. Theresa will face Sacred Heart for third place in the Dio at 1:00.   Lady Saints Move On To Final Four! After a worrisome week of practice, when the coaching staff was having a hard time getting the team to focus, there was an air of concern in the pre-game locker room.  Which St. Theresa team would show up on the floor?  Turns out, no worries.  St. Theresa hit the court running, ran out to an 8 - 0 lead over St. Joan of Arc and never looked back enroute to a 40 - 23 victory.  Cassie Zangari led the way with 16 points and Bri Betz-White rang up 12.  Alex Lund showed some nifty offense, Jillian Marinelli was a defensive demon all over the court, and Miranda NIxon turned in her best performance this season with multiple blocked shots and great work on the boards.  Chelsea Reneker had an excellent game off the bench, hitting the glass hard for rebounds and playing tough defense.  Aliyah Hench also gave us some solid minutes beneath the basket and Jacque Barbush worked well in the guard rotation. So it's on to another Final Four for the Lady Saints, where they will take on St. Leo (33 - 27 winner over St. Joe's in double overtime).        Lady Saints Look Sharp, Roll Through Prelim Game (3/4/10)  OMPH came into the preliminary round with nothing to lose, and that can make for a dangerous opponent.  But St. Theresa came into this game on a mission, with game faces firmly in place.  The Lady Saints raced out to a 16 - 2 lead and never looked back in a 45 - 8 victory.  Ten different players figured in the scoring for St. Theresa, led by Bri Betz-White and Cassie Zangari's 8 points a piece.   Now, the Saints await news about the Diocesan decision to re-seed the final eight teams so we see where we line-up.  Tournament info will be posted here as soon as it becomes available.    Rising Stars Candidates Work Hard; Team Selection Finalized: Based on what the five coaches saw today out of the nineteen girls who tried out for Rising Stars, the prospects are bright for the future of St. Theresa Lady Saints basketball.  As a group, the girls hustled, worked hard, and took instruction well.  With only ten spots available, competition was keen and the decision making process took some time.  Final selections were based solely on what we saw today at this tryout. We want to emphasize that selection for Rising Stars has nothing to do with next season's Varsity roster or our activities over the summer.  We made it clear to the girls at the conclusion of today's session that what happens next season will in large part be determined by how hard they work this summer and not how well they did in a one day tryout.  We're happy to announce that the 2010 Rising Stars squad members are: Jacque Barbush, Hannah Deppen, Rileigh Devine, Olivia Gilbertson, Ann Margaret Kennedy, Alex Lund, Jenna Mueller, Miranda Nixon, Becca Reilly, and Bella Ricci.  Congratulations! Rising Stars players should begin attending Varsity practices this week.  Scheduling information can be found below.  They will participate in drills and spend time watching and learning Varsity plays and defenses.  They should also plan on attending Varsity games through the end of the Diocesan Tournament.  Players will assist the coaches with equipment, sit behind our bench, and see upfront and personal what is expected of them at the next level.  If your child has been named to the Rising Stars squad and you have any questions, please contact Coach Cicak directly, either via e-mail or cell (817-1146). As soon as the Rising Stars tournament bracket is announced, a copy will be posted on our Tournaments webpage and the schedule below will be updated.   Slow Start Sinks Saints (02/21/10) In a league championship game, a slow start can be a killer.  And so it was tonight as the Lady Saints spotted St. Catherine too big a 1st quarter lead before digging in and playing even the rest of the game.  Down 15 - 6 after six minutes, the Saints refused to go quietly.  Over the course of the next eighteen minutes it was a 31-32 ball game.  But give St. Catherine credit, they did what they needed to do; got off to a fast start and then matched St. Theresa's furious come back.  So the Lady Saints finish second in the league and now begin ten days of preparation for the Diocesan preliminaries.   Saints Rock the House, Down SJA 48 - 30 (2/20/10)  Two good team squared off in the semis of the League Tournament and after 2 quarters, St. Theresa led St. Joan of Arc by a slim 19 - 16 margin.  But in a break-out 3rd quarter, St Theresa outscored SJA 18 - 7 and breezed to a 48 - 30 victory.  Cassie Zangari showed real range with an outside jumper as she rang up a season high 23 points for the Saints.  Bri Betz-White added 16 of her own to go with 11 assists in the game.  Miranda Nixon turned in some great minutes working under the boards and Jillian Marinelli chipped in 6 points and a great defensive effort.  Alex Lund, Jacqui Barbush, and Chelsea Reneker cranked up the defensive pressure as the Saints full court heat caused a number of turnovers.  With this victory, the Lady Saints earn a shot at the league title against favored St. Catherine.   League Tournament Opener: Saints Down LC 32 - 7 In a well balanced effort, nine Saints figured in the scoring, all 12 saw action, and everyone contributed good things to a solid win.  Bri Betz-White led all scorers with 7 points.  The Saints advance to the semi-finals, where they will meet St. Joan of Arc. Saints Close Out League Play: (2/16/10)  St. Theresa finished the regular league season with a victory over Lebanon Catholic.  The girls appreciate the support we had; even though we were on the road we had more fans in the stands than the home team.  Bri Betz-White led all scorers with 8 points.  The Lady Saints end the regular season at 10 and 4 (17 and 9 overall).  Next up, a quick re-match with Lebanon Catholic in the opening round of the Harrisburg League Tournament.     St. Theresa Honors 8th Graders:  Led by Captains Bri Betz-White & Jillian Marinelli, a bevy of 8th Graders were recognized in their final home game in the Bert Leo Gym on Sunday.  This group of young ladies has worked hard and earned distinction for themselves and the St. Theresa program.  We recognize these players here and thank them for their efforts as Lady Saints:   Bri Betz-White Kasey Dare Reagan Devine Aliyah Hench Jillian Marinelli Chelsea Reneker Colleen Shuller Natalie Weaver Cassie Zangari   Lady Saints Split 2 Games on the Weekend: (2/14/10)  The Saints dropped a big one versus St. Catherine's 16 - 27 and then bounced right back versus St. Margaret Mary with a 30 - 15 victory.  Against St. Catherine's, St. Theresa led by 3 at the half but left their offensive play book in the locker room for the 2nd half, scoring only 2 points over the final two quarters.  Cassie Zangari led a much more effective effort versus St. Mag's with 11 points.  The Saints travel to Lebanon Catholic for their final league game Tuesday night.     St. Theresa Downs Good Shepherd 23 - 15 (2/7/10)  St. Theresa and Good Shepherd looked like they decided to leave the fireworks for the Super Bowl, as both teams struggled to find the basket.  The Lady Saints ratcheted up their defensive effort and hit the boards hard which turned out to be the difference in the game.  Bri Betz-White, who spent considerable time riding a seat on the sideline due to foul trouble, still managed to lead all St. Theresa scorers with 8 points.  Cassie Zangari added six and some solid rebounding.  Miranda Nixon also added to the rebounding effort as did Colleen Shuller.  Alex Lund passed on the scoring options but ran the point guard spot well in Bri's absence and turned in a super job on defense.  Jacque Barbush added timely scoring, as did Jillian Marinelli.  With this win, St. Theresa extends their winning streak to six games.        Lady Saints Roll on 5... In a Row (1/31/09) St. Theresa continued their steady advance, downing an always dangerous St. Joe's squad 44 - 35 and climbing into second place in the league.  Thanks to a Good Shepherd upset of previously unbeaten (in the league) St. Catherine, the Lady Saints are in striking distance of the league leader with four games to go.  The Betz-White/Zangari combination again rang up big points for St. Theresa, with Bri having a season-high 19 (6 for 6 down the stretch in the 4th quarter) and Cassie chalking up 15 points including some big put-backs on the offensive boards.  The Saints continue to find a way to get it done, always the mark of an improving team.    Has St. Theresa Turned the Corner? (1/24/10)  Nothing like four wins in the span of six days to jump-start your season.  This mini run in late January couldn't come at a better time as the Saints try to build some momentum for the post season.  Eight days ago, St. Theresa had stumbled badly against St. Joan of Arc, losing 29 - 21 at the Shark Tank.  But today on the road in Hershey, the Lady Saints showed they know how to take on a tough opponent without backing down.  In a very physical game that was back and forth for three quarters, St. Theresa led by a single point: 28-27.  Then, it all clicked for the Saints.  Alex Lund set up a nice entry pass and Cassie Zangari (13 points) finished smartly with a nice duck shot.  After a "D" stop, the Saints came down on the second possession of the 4th Q and Lund (7 points) hit a trey to extend the lead to six.  St. Theresa would never look back.  Zangari would score 6 more in the 4th and Bri Betz-White, in another 17 point performance, would be a perfect 6 for 6 at the line.  As a team, the Saints were 10 for 11 in that final stanza and turned a close ball game into a 47 - 32 victory.   St. Theresa, 3 in a Row (1/23/10) With contributions from every player, the Lady Saints downed St. Margaret Mary 37 - 14 at home.  Jillian Marinelli led a balanced scoring attack with 9 points; Bri Betz -White added 8 and Reagan Devine and Cassie Zangari had 6 each.  St. Theresa had 17 field goals in the game, the most this season.  Tomorrow, we get a re-match with St. Joan of Arc in Hershey.   Lady Saints Games Not For the Weak of Heart (1/21/10)  Another slam bang finish saw St. Theresa get the better of Good Shepherd this go-round, 36/29.  The Lady Saints trailed by three after three quarters of play but rallied in the fourth with an impressive 14 points while holding the Rams to just 4.  Bri Betz-White opened up her outside game and rang up 17 points for the game, 8 of them in the 4th.  Cassie Zangari had all 11 of her points in the second half for a strong finish for St. T's.  Back-to-back wins feel mighty good right about now as the team is playing with a renewed sense of purpose.  St. Theresa will look to make it three in a row this Saturday at home versus St. Margaret Mary.      Whew! Streak Ends at 4; Saints Win! (1/18/09)  In the pre-game locker room, the coaching staff talked about two things: having some fun on the court and finishing.  The players did both; and Coach is still trying to catch his breath.  Lots of people stepped up tonight and none bigger than Alex Lund who hit a huge trey as time expired to give the Lady Saints a 27 - 24 victory over St. Joe's.  Miranda Nixon started in the "5" spot and came up huge on the boards and added 4 points.  Cassie Zangari (6 points total) stepped away from the basket and hit two critical outside shots and just as importantly, played tough with four fouls and was still standing at the end of the game.  Jillian Marinelli and Bri Betz-White each added 6 points a piece.  Every player who hit the floor hustled, played hard, and helped contribute to ending the losing streak. Next up, a re-match with Good Shepherd on a rare Thursday night make-up game.   Gettysburg Recap: 1/10/10  Inconsistent play, a bug-a-boo for the Lady Saints all season long, came back to haunt us again in the St. Francis Xavier tournament.  Friday night vs St. Margaret, St. Theresa stormed out to a 20 - 9 half-time lead.  The fast break transition was working, the defense was sharp, and shots were falling.  Cassie Zangari exploded with 12 of her game high 16 points in the opening half.  But the Lady Saints dozed off half-time and St. Margaret came roaring back.  St. T's was 1 for 9 from the foul line in the 2nd half and managed only five field goals but held on for a 31 - 24 win. Saturday morning the Saints tackled a tough Villa Maria squad.  Down by 6 at intermission, the Saints only managed 1 point in the entire third quarter.  Then in the 4th quarter, St. Theresa roared back to life and cut the lead to 4 while holding Villa scoreless from the field.  Unfortunately, VM went 10 of 12 from the charity stripe down the stretch to seal a 25 - 33 win.  Bri Betz-White's 8 points led an anemic Saints scoring effort. Forced to the consolation bracket with the loss to VM, the Lady Saints took on cross town rival Good Shepherd in the afternoon.  Both teams were playing their second game of the day but clearly the Rams had more in the tank than St. Theresa's.  Good Shepherd's shooters looked sharp, hit their first four shots while the Saints went 0 for 8 to start the game.  End result in a lackluster performance: a 29 - 35 loss.  Bri Betz-White again led with 8 points in this game. A critical weekend in the league shapes up right down the road.  St. Joan of Arc at home in the Shark Tank on Saturday, St. Catherine away on Sunday, and St. Joe's on the road on a rare Monday night game could make or break our league season. Holy Name Returns the Favor: (1/3/10) Back before Christmas, St. Theresa defeated Holy Name in their gym.  Today, the Jets evened that score by taking down the Lady Saints 32 - 30 in New Cumberland.  Down to the wire it came down to made foul shots and poise under pressure.  Both teams left it all on the floor but Holy Name was the squad that found a way to win.  Cassie Zangari played very well, led the Saints with 11 points, and hung tough with four fouls for a long stretch of the 4th quarter.  Bri Betz-White was 7 of 9 at the foul line and finished with 9 points total before fouling out late in the game.  The Lady Saints now turn their attention to the upcoming tournament at Gettysburg College. New Year With a Bang! (1/2/10) With an eleven day layoff, everyone was interested (and a little worried) as to how the Lady Saints would start out the New Year.  Unfortunately for Lebanon Catholic, St. Theresa showed zero rust and plenty of gas in the tank as they stormed out to an 11 - 5 1st quarter lead behind Bri Betz-White (10 points total) and Cassie Zangari (9 points total).  The starters sat early and often in this contest and the entire team stepped up to show they were ready to play.  Ten of twelve players figured in the scoring, led by Miranda Nixon's 5 points off the bench.  Saturday's final: St. Theresa 39, Leb. Catholic 18.      Holy Name Game... (12/20/09) If we told you that St. Theresa went 0 for 8 shooting from outside the paint in the first quarter, or that we had in excess of 20 + turnovers for the game, or that we shot less than 10% from the foul line, you'd probably suppose Sunday's game was a Holy Name victory.  Fortunately for the Lady Saints, that was only one part of the story.  The other part would be about a lot of hustle to overcome mistakes, a ton of heart to bear up under the pressure, and St. Theresa finding a way to win.  Cassie Zangari came up big for the Lady Saints with 12 points and several key blocked shots.  Bri Betz-White left it all on the floor as usual, rang in with 7 points of her own, and created havoc throughout the game.  Kasey Dare provided a spark with an early trey and gave the Saints solid minutes at both ends of the court.  Alex Lund turned up the defensive pressure with some key steals and Jillian Marinelli added a big bucket late in the game to help ice the victory at 28 - 24.     Saints Bounce Back, Take Sacred Heart 44 - 30 (12/13/09) After a less than stellar team effort the day before, the Lady Saints showed a lot of character as they rebounded back into the win column by downing Sacred Heart.  Cassie Zangari led the way with a number of rebounds, blocked shots, and a team high 14 points.  Bri Betz-White gave her all (including one contact lens) as usual, scoring 10 of 12 points in the break-out first half when the Lady Saints sprinted out to a 23 - 7 half time lead.  Although 11 players made an appearance in the game, all of the scoring was done by the starting five.  Jillian Marinelli ended with 7, Aliyah Hench 6, and Alex Lund 5.  The Saints took some air out of the ball for the 4th quarter, slowing things down and trying to run some clock.  Despite some turnovers and the pull-out offense, St. Theresa still racked up 9 points in that final quarter.  With a short practice week coming up thanks to the Christmas play on Monday, the Lady Saints will need to work hard to prepare for a tough final weekend before the Christmas break.     Lady Saints Lose to St. Leo 30 - 24 (12/12/09)  On a night when St. Theresa started the game by warming up at the wrong end of the floor, you just knew that the Thursday night practice woes had not been put behind us just yet.  8 turnovers against the press in the 1st quarter = 8 St. Leo points, just like that.  But the Lady Saints battled back with an excellent 2nd quarter, powered by 7 Cassie Zangari points and solid execution of the game plan by Bri Betz-White and Aliyah Hench.  At the half, it was 21 all.  And then... the wheels fell off.  St. Theresa could only manage one field goal and one made foul shot in the final 12 minutes of play.  St. Leo packed into a tight zone for the 4th quarter and six different St. Theresa shooters tried but could not find the range.  The Saints went 4 for 11 from the foul line and 0 for the world on any shot outside 8 feet. No time to sulk... Sacred Heart of Lancaster (3 & 0 in their last three games versus St. Catherine's, Holy Name, and St. Joe's of Mechanicsburg) rolls into the Bert Leo Gym for a Sunday afternoon showdown.        Saints Down OMPH 35 - 18 (12/6/09)  In as balanced a game as you may ever see, 11 Lady Saints contributed to the scoring and all 13 contributed to the defensive effort as St. Theresa improved to 5 & 2.  Jillian Marinelli and Cassie Zangari led the effort with 5 points a piece.  OMPH was overmatched by the taller, faster Saints but put up a good effort and made St. Theresa work for the win. Next weekend, we return to Lancaster on Saturday for a road game versus St. Leo and then meet Sacred Heart at home on Sunday.  Sacred Heart had a very impressive weekend, with victories over St. Catherine and Holy Name.     St. Catherine Jumps Out Early; Lady Saints Come Up Short (11/22/09) In the Lindsay Bender title game, St. Catherine started with a bang running out to a 21 - 10 first half lead and cruised to a 34 - 26 victory over St. Theresa.  Inconsistent play and mental mistakes continue to plague the inexperienced Lady Saints.  On the positive side: St. Theresa handled the 1-3-1 press with only one turnover, shot 6 of 8 from the foul line in the 4th quarter to keep it close, had eight different players involved in the scoring, and held the Gelbaughs to single digits each.  On the negative side: we were 0 - 5 from the foul line in the first half, consistently misplayed post defense and wing pick-ups out of the "4" defense, and rebounded poorly.  Most disappointing was a general lack of intensity. With this game behind us, the pre-league tournament season draws to a close.  After a few days off for 40 Hours Devotion and the Thanksgiving holiday, the Lady Saints head back to the gym next weekend to prepare for the opening of league play. Captains Lead the Way (11/21/09) In the opening round of the Lindsay Bender Memorial Tournament, St. Theresa's captains set the pace.  Bri Betz-White scored 8 of her game high 16 points in the pivotal 3rd period as the Lady Saints downed a tough Sacred Heart team 34 - 31.  Jillian Marinelli spread 10 key points out evenly over the course of the game in her best performance this season.  These co-captains also led a defensive charge that kept the visitors off balance most of the day.  Sacred Heart stayed close on the strength of 11 of 19 made foul shots but in the end the tenacious St. Theresa defense prevailed. In the night cap, Resurrection had to forfeit to St. Theresa due to a shortage of available players.  St. T's held an inter-squad game to fill the time slot and work on some things for Sunday's game versus St. Catherine.   Saints Drop First Game, Lose to HNJ 43 - 32 (11/7/09) When playing a quality opponent, you need to put together a complete game.  St. Theresa learned that lesson as they played well in two quarters but had let-downs in two others.  HNJ took full advantage of the Lady Saints' inconsistency and made their foul shots down the stretch to seal the win.  St. Theresa meets St. Joe's for 3rd place in the Daley Tournament on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.   Cardiac Saints Squeak One Out (11/5/09) When St. Theresa had to make their first substitution BEFORE the jump ball, you just knew this was going to be a weird game.  Co-Captain Jillian Marinelli busted open her finger just before the end of pre-game warm-ups and had to be replaced while the coaches scrambled for band-aids.  Good Shepherd scored the first two baskets in the blink of an eye and held the lead until the second quarter.  On as cold a night shooting as you're likely to see, the Lady Saints couldn't throw it in the ocean for most of the game but they made up for it with defensive intensity.  Things picked up in the third quarter as the shooters started to find the range.  But it was the roller-coaster ride in the final quarter that left the fans breathing hard.  St. Theresa led by 7 with under three minutes to play and pulled the ball out to spread the floor and run some clock, only to turn it over on three straight possessions which led to three straight baskets by Good Shepherd.  The Rams would get one more possession and a chance to win the game but Bri Betz-White stole the ball to end the threat and seal the win for St. Theresa at 25 - 24.  Betz-White led seven Saints in scoring with 7 points.   St. Theresa now moves on to Saturday's tournament semi-final against always tough Holy Name.    First Game Jitters (11/3/09) OK, so there were times when it wasn't pretty.  There were times when we weren't sure what the heck we were doing.  But the Lady Saints figured it out just well enough to earn their first victory of the new season with a 28 - 17 win over Annunciation.  Eight different players figured in the scoring for St. Theresa, led by a pair of 6s by Bri Betz-White and Jillian Marinelli.  In a clear disparity, Annunciation shot 11 foul shots while the Saints didn't make it to the line one single time.  The Saints defense played well in the first half, with Betz-White, Alex Lund, and Casey Dare swarming the court.  But the second half was a struggle as St. Theresa's team lost focus and repeatedly shot themselves in the foot with turnovers as Annunciation went on a 7 - 0 run to start the 3rd quarter.  Miranda Nixon steadied the ship with four points and the teams battled evenly in the 4th.    With this win, St. Theresa moves on in the winners bracket for a Thursday night (7:00) match-up versus Good Shepherd.       First Week of Practice In, Saints Looking Sharp (10/01/09) The Saints are looking good after this first week of practice.  With only two returning starters from last season's Diocesan champs, St. Theresa faces a rebuilding project.  But thanks to a lot of hard work on the part of the players over the summer, the varsity team is further along than expected.  With the start of the CYO tournament season a little more than four weeks away, that's a good thing.     Betz-White & Marinelli Named Captains (09/30/09) Keeping with a long-standing tradition throughout his coaching career, Coach Cicak announced the selection of the two captains from the ranks of the upper classmen for the 2009 / 2010 season.  "Bri and Jillian were unanimous selections among the coaching staff, for their leadership on the court, work ethic, and their tremendously positive attitude.  In the past, we've always selected captains from among the 8th Graders to emphasize the importance of maturity, leadership, and the reward that comes with paying your dues and helping to build our program.  Bri and Jillian are the latest in an illustrious line of captains who will lead their teammates by example and be excellent representatives of our team."             2008/2009 Schedule   FINAL    Date  Opponent/Tournament  Location / Score  Time/Record  Nov. 7  St. Leo   30 - 34 Loss   0 & 1  Nov. 9  St. Patrick  44 - 10 Win  1 & 1  Nov. 13  St. Joan of Arc  54 - 11 Win  2 & 1  Nov. 15  St. Joseph - Hanover  35 - 22 Win  3 & 1  Nov. 16  Resurrection  36 - 31 Win   4 & 1  Nov. 21  Annunciation   28 - 17 Win  5 & 1  Nov. 22  St. Joe's  36 - 30 Win  6 & 1  Nov. 23  Resurrection  47 - 37 Win  7 & 1  Dec. 6        St. Leo  31 - 18 Win  8 & 1  Dec. 7        Sacred Heart - Lancaster  37 - 32 Win   9 & 1  Dec. 13      Resurrection  33 - 23 Win  10 & 1   Dec. 20      Good Shepherd  29 - 15 Win 11 & 1  Dec. 21      Holy Name  33 - 42 Loss  11 & 2  Jan. 2         St. Thomas the Apostle  25 - 14 Win  12 & 2  Jan. 3  Immaculate Heart of Mary  47 - 34 Win  13 & 2  Jan. 3  St. Maximilian Kolbe  22 - 35 Loss  13 & 3  Jan. 4  Holy Name of Jesus  12 - 29 Loss 13 & 4  Jan. 11      Prince of Peace  48 - 44 Win  14 & 4  Jan. 18      St. Catherine  46 - 32 Win  15 & 4  Jan. 24      St. Joan of Arc  49 - 23 Win  16 & 4  Jan. 25      St. Joseph  42 - 20 Win    17 & 4    Jan. 30      Lebanon Catholic  45 - 24 Win  18 & 4  Feb.   1      St. Margaret Mary  30 - 18 Win    19 & 4    Feb.   7      St. Patrick  47 - 29 Win   20 & 4   Feb.   8      Good Shepherd  30 - 14 Win    21 & 4    Feb. 14      Lebanon Catholic  29 - 28 Win    22 & 4    Feb. 15      Holy Name     43 - 42 Win   23 & 4   Feb. 16  Holy Name  37 - 27 Win   24 & 4  Feb. 21   Prince of Peace  25 -   7 Win 25 & 4  Feb. 21  St. Catherine  36 - 20 Win 26 & 4  Feb. 22  Holy Name  35 - 32 Win (OT) 27 & 4  Mar. 8   St. Margaret Mary  38 - 16 Win  28 & 4   Mar. 12  St. Catherine  31 - 24 Win 29 & 4  Mar. 14  Resurrection  53 - 22 Win 30 & 4  Mar. 15  Holy Name  49 - 48 Win (OT) 31 & 4  Mar. 27  St. Maximillian Kolbe  33 - 42 Loss  31 & 5  Mar. 28  St. Michael's  36 - 22 Win  32 & 5  Mar. 29  Aquinas Academy  42 - 20 Win  33 & 5 2008 - 2009 A Season to Remember! Ladies, words can't begin to explain how I feel about this weekend, this season, and this team.  I've been privileged to have had some great teams at St. T's, but none of them bought into my vision for the team as much as you did this season.  Individually and collectively, you improved your skills, your understanding of the game, and reached a level of excellence you didn't think possible just a few short months ago.  I saved a story from this weekend for right here on this page.  It speaks volumes about YOU and the TEAM.  I saved it for here because I'm getting way-too emotional in my old age. Coach Cantarino, the Women's B-Ball Head Coach at IU, stopped me after our game on Sunday.  She told me she was very impressed with how we played but more importantly, how we didn't play.  I asked her what she meant.  She told me, "I've watched every team play here this weekend and I've watched a lot of basketball in my life.  I have NEVER seen a team whose bench was more into the game than yours.  It made no difference whether it was the start of the game, the middle, or the end, whoever was on the bench at any given time was cheering, calling out encouragement, and giving it up for their teammates."  She told me she pointed it out to HER players and told them "You could learn something from the players on that bench."  High praise and a great tribute to you. So here we are at the end of an excellent season.  You've hung your own banner and earned a spot in St. Theresa girls' basketball lore.  You are a team that I will talk about as long as I continue to coach, when I point to the 08-09 banner and say... "Let me tell you about those guys..." The season is over... BUT the team goes on.  You are teammates, now and forever, linked by the united effort you made and the common goal you achieved this season.  And your coaches will ALWAYS be your coaches, five people who have come to care for you and who always will.    Coach C.     Saints Finish With a Bang! During the tournament, Aquinas Academy scouted St. Theresa and decided on the last day of competition to play a tight 2-3 defense because, "St. Theresa can't shoot from the outside and we're gonna outrun them in transition."  WRONG!  St. Theresa exploded with 18 points in the first quarter and better yet, played lock-down defense enroute to a 42 - 20 win over the representative from the Diocese of Greensburg.  Madison Castelli (the Saints leading scorer on the season) led the way again with 15 points.  Eight different players figured in the scoring for St. Theresa but all 12 Lady Saints joined in the defensive clinic that won high praise from the Immaculata University players and coaches in attendance.  And when Bri Betz-White finished a fast break with the sweetest spin move you've ever seen (one that left the Aquinas center cork-screwed into the hardwood), the Immaculata players went wild right along with our fans. Rebounding, passing, shooting, zone and man-to-man defense, St. Theresa just flat-out executed in this game.  The players put on a show that made it clear they've learned a lot this year.  And so the 2008 / 2009 season that began in the stifling heat of the Allen Middle School gym last June finally comes to a close.  This Lady Saints team finishes with a 33 & 5 record, laid claim to the Harrisburg League and tournament titles, and became the 7th girls' team in St. Theresa history to hang a banner as Diocesan champion.  They did all this with a style and grace that earned them high kudos from fans and opponents alike.  And they did all this is a way that made their coaches so very proud!    Saints Bounce Back, Down St. Michael's of Allentown Showing the resiliency they've had all season long, the Lady Saints came back strong Saturday in a 36 - 22 win.  All 12 Saints saw time in the game and contributed to the win.  Liza Porr led all scorers with 11 and Bailey King and Madison Castelli had 8 points each. On Sunday, St. Theresa ends the 2008 - 2009 season versus Aquinas Academy at 11:00 at Immaculata University.   Saints Fall in Opener, 33 - 42 Showing why they are the class of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, St. Maximillian Kolbe built a solid half-time lead and then weathered a fierce comeback attempt by St. Theresa and prevailed in the opening round.  Four Saints tallied 6 points each (Porr, Castelli, Betz-White, June) and Lisa Mirarchi had 11 for the victors. The Saints had tremendous support from back home and the kids were thrilled to see half the gym cheering their hearts out.  St. Theresa will regroup and now faces St. Michael from the Allentown Diocese Saturday morning.       This is it!  Key the ESPN music... it's time for the BIG SHOW!  In the first week of October, with the Lady Saints lined up looking at a wall of banners in the Bert Leo, we talked about this as a possibility.  That if we sacrificed and worked hard, and bought into the strategy of the Blueprint for Champions Under Construction, we could put ourselves in a position to hang a banner and chase a dream to States.  Then we put those thoughts aside and took each game one at a time, working to improve, bouncing back when we stumbled, and taking our game to a higher level one notch at a time.  The players did everything asked of them... and more.  The players achieved more than many thought possible.  And having come through the crucible of head-to-head competition with the best in our Diocese, the players earned the right to hang THEIR own banner.  We've earned our shot at States.        Rising Stars Go Down Fighting; Show Lots of Promise In a neck-and-neck contest the whole way through, St. Theresa came up a little short, falling to St. Joe's of Hanover 23 - 22.  It was an exciting game to watch and the Lady Saints gave it their all.  Jillian Marinelli led St. Theresa with 10 points and Alex Lund added 6.  The downfall in this game for the Saints came at the foul line, where as a TEAM we shot only 4 - 15.  This proves once again, EVERY foul shot is important, not just the ones in the 4th quarter.  The coaches were very pleased with the effort of the players.  This team shows promise for the future and we're excited about working with the girls over the summer. Rising Stars' Parents: The girls all received flyers with information about the CVYBA Summer League and our Summer Hoops Program.  The members of the Rising Stars squad have first shot at positions for the Summer League team.  However, if entry forms are not returned by April 15th, additional players will be added from the Intermediate and/or JV ranks.  The Summer League TEAM is separate and distinct from the Summer Hoops Program.  The Summer League team will compete in the CVYBA league (no practices, just games).  The Summer Hoops Program is designed for skill improvements on an individual basis and will be open to ALL rising 7th and 8th grade girls and rising 6th graders by invitation.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Coach Cicak.    St. Theresa Lady Saints: Diocesan Champions! Is there anyone surprised that it came down to St. Theresa versus HNJ for the Dio title?  Or that for the fourth consecutive time the game between these two familiar foes would be a classic battle for the ages and wouldn't be decided until the end of overtime?  Or that the most diminutive player on the floor, amid a host of giants on both teams, would hold the keys to victory?  OK, enough waxing philosophic; in a game that swung back and forth more times than you could count, St. Theresa once again eked out the victory: 49 - 48.  The refuse-to-lose Lady Saints absorbed bullets from a trio of HNJ Jets (Brianna True, Precious Martin, & Perfect Martin 19, 13, 11 respectively) who did their best to pull it out.  St. Theresa's heart and soul, Briana Betz-White answered with 17 of her own including 10 points in the 4th quarter and overtime.  Playing with 4 fouls, she did a masterful job of defending without picking up a fifth foul and then repeatedly sacrificed limb and body on fearless drives to the hole.  Nici Ciccarelli joined in with 11 hard-earned points and a solid effort as usual.  Liza Porr and Dani June added 6 each while Madi Castelli had 5 and Bailey King and Angela Rossi each added 2 (and all five did so much more than scoring shows).  So it's the Saints advancing to the State Tournament at Immaculata University.  And it's another Diocesan Championship banner we'll be hanging in the old Bert Leo gym.  That's 7 Dio Championship banners in case you were wondering... the most of any girls' program in the Harrisburg Diocese.   Your Diocesan Champions are:    Name # Grade Betz-White, Briana 15 7 Bour, Jordan   5 8 Brennan, Molly 42 8 Castelli, Madison 14 8 Ciccarelli, Nicole   3 8 June, Danielle 22 8 King, Bailey 32 8 Laubach, Colleen 21 8 Marinelli, Jillian 23 7 Porr, Liza 12 8 Rossi, Angela 24 8 Spishock, Emily 34 8   Diocesan Championship Game! St. Theresa earned the right to play for the Diocesan title for the third time in the last four seasons with a 53 - 22 win over Resurrection.  The Lady Saints hit the floor running and never let up.  A close 9 - 4 lead at the end of the 1st quarter blossomed into a 28 - 14 halftime lead as Angela Rossi hit 10 of her 11 total points in the critical 2nd quarter.  Bri Betz-White spread her 11 points over all four quarters and went 7 for 9 from the foul line.  Forwards Liza Porr and Madi Castelli each tallied 8.  In the 3rd quarter the Lady Saints locked down the defense and gave up only a single point while adding 14 more of their own.  Molly Brennan off the bench had two sweet moves to the hoop and finished both.  Jordan Bour helped control the offense in the 4th quarter.  Emily Spishock, Bailey King, Jillian Marinelli, Dani June, and Colleen Laubach all added points for St. Theresa.  Nicci Ciccarelli, held to one point herself, did her damage with defense as she shut down Resurrection's dangerous point guard (Spica #4) and allowed her only 6 points.    A familiar foe awaits in Sunday's championship game: Holy Name.  The Jets took St. Leo's best shot, wore them down, and then finished strong in the 4th quarter to earn their own trip to the finals.  The championship game will be played at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joe's of Hanover.      Diocesan Final Four! On a night when St. Theresa went 0 for outside, the Lady Saints fought and scratched and found a way to win.  Upset minded St. Catherine gave a heck of an effort but in the end St. Theresa prevailed 31 - 24 on the strength of some excellent foul shooting.  Defensively, the Lady Saints played tough and committed only five fouls for the entire game.  They also controlled the boards for most of the second half.  Offensively, it was another story.  St. Catherine packed it in and dared St. Theresa's guards to shoot.  Unfortunately, we couldn't find the range and St. Theresa was held to just 8 field goals.  But good teams find a way and for the Lady Saints, that meant making our foul shots.  Nicole Ciccarelli and Briana Betz-White were each a perfect 2 for 2.  Madi Castelli and Angela Rossi both went 4 for 6 and Liza Porr went 3 for 6.  Madi Castelli led all scorers with 12 points.  Bailey King gave a great effort rotating at the forward spot and Emily Spishock stepped up and helped fill the void for Dani June who was still under the weather. So it's on to the Final Four and a rematch with Resurrection.   Lady Saints Earn a Ticket to the Big Dance! During the final rounds of the Dio preliminaries, St. Theresa displayed the hustle and aggressiveness that has seen the team run off 15 consecutive wins.  But the Lady Saints also displayed the lack of focus that has allowed opponents an opportunity to slip off the hook and make some noise of their own.  In the end, there was enough of the hustle to overcome the lack of focus (and some rust since we haven't played in two weeks) that allowed St. Theresa to cruise to a 38 - 16 win over St. Margaret Mary.  Bri Betz-White and Dani June each had 8 points, Angela Rossi turned in an excellent defensive effort, and JoJo Bour off the bench rang up a solid performance in the #2 guard spot. The Lady Saints are now poised to open the Diocesan Finals with a Thursday night game versus a familiar foe: St. Catherine.      Lady Saints Win in Overtime 35 - 32! St. Theresa Takes League and Tournament Titles 2/22/09   Think: North Carolina vs Duke.  Neighboring rivals, located just a few miles apart.  Top contenders annually in their league with proud traditions of excellence.  Then picture them playing three times... in SEVEN days.  That's the way scheduling, playoffs, and bracketology worked out for St. Theresa and Holy Name.  #1 versus #2 in the league faced off last Sunday in their final league game.  Holy Name had already defeated the Saints twice earlier this season and had run the table in the league at a perfect 11 & 0.  In the first thriller in the series of three, St. Theresa downed HNJ when Dani June's foul shot with 00:00 on the clock hit nothing but net for a 43 - 42 victory.  Round two saw both teams slugging it out like tired fighters in a single game tie-breaker for the league title on Monday night.  The Lady Saints showed a second half spark and had just a little more left in the tank as St. Theresa pounded out a 37 - 27 victory.  Madi Castelli's 10 points led the Saints. Then after both teams ran their respective sides of the bracket in the league tournament, came the third game in seven days.  And once again, both teams did their fans proud.  After Precious Martin went down on the first possession of the game, HNJ stepped up and kept it close, trailing only 17 - 12 at halftime.  Martin returned for the second half and HNJ cut the margin after 3 quarters to 19 - 17 as the Saints offense stalled.  In the pivotal fourth quarter, the Jets overtook the Saints and led by four with under 90 seconds to go.  But Dani June hit an outside jumper and Bri Betz-White dead-eyed two foul shots to send the game into overtime.  In the extra three minutes, the Saints went 5 - 7 from the free throw line and simply refused to lose.  In the end, St. Theresa outscored HNJ 9 - 6 in OT for a thrilling 35 - 32 win.  Bri Betz-White, proving the adage that foul shots win games, went a perfect 6 for 6 at crunch time and ended with 10 points.  Dani June led all scorers with 11 (and her own perfect 3 for 3).  St. Theresa will now set sights on the Diocesan tournament.     Lady Saints Win in OT 35 - 32!  (2/22/09) Think: North Carolina vs Duke.  Neighboring rivals, located just a few miles apart.  Top contenders annually in their league with proud traditions of excellence.  Then picture them playing three times... in SEVEN days.  That's the way scheduling, playoffs, and bracketology worked out for St. Theresa and Holy Name.  #1 versus #2 in the league faced off last Sunday in their final league game.  Holy Name had already defeated the Saints twice earlier this season and had run the table in the league at a perfect 11 & 0.  In the first thriller in the series of three, St. Theresa downed HNJ when Dani June's foul shot with 00:00 on the clock hit nothing but net for a 43 - 42 victory.  Round two saw both teams slugging it out like tired fighters in a single game tie-breaker for the league title on Monday night.  The Lady Saints showed a second half spark and had just a little more left in the tank as St. Theresa pounded out a 37 - 27 victory.  Madi Castelli's 10 points led the Saints. Then after both teams ran their respective sides of the bracket in the league tournament, came the third game in seven days.  And once again, both teams did their fans proud.  After Precious Martin went down on the first possession of the game, HNJ stepped up and kept it close, trailing only 17 - 12 at halftime.  Martin returned for the second half and HNJ cut the margin after 3 quarters to 19 - 17 as the Saints offense stalled.  In the pivotal fourth quarter, the Jets overtook the Saints and led by four with under 90 seconds to go.  But Dani June hit an outside jumper and Bri Betz-White dead-eyed two foul shots to send the game into overtime.  In the extra three minutes, the Saints went 5 - 7 from the free throw line and simply refused to lose.  In the end, St. Theresa outscored HNJ 9 - 6 in OT for a thrilling 35 - 32 win.  Bri Betz-White, proving the adage that foul shots win games, went a perfect 6 for 6 at crunch time and ended with 10 points.  Dani June led all scorers with 11 (and her own perfect 3 for 3).  St. Theresa will now set sights on the Diocesan tournament.   Slow Starting Saints Win Again (2/21/09) Down 10 - 7 to St. Catherine's after the first six minutes, the Lady Saints needed another wake-up call to get rolling.  And roll they did, outscoring their opponent 29 - 10 for the final three quarters and a 36 - 20 win that wasn't as easy as it sounds.  Madi Castelli led all scorers with 12 points.   Saints Look Sluggish In Opening Win (2/21/09) Maybe its Saturdays.  Maybe it's full moon.  Or maybe it's just a bad matchup.  Whatever the reason, St. Theresa looked off their game as they battled Prince of Peace in an ugly match-up in the first round of the league tournament.  At the half it was 12 - 7 Saints who looked at times as if they couldn't throw it in the ocean.  A sincere wake-up call was offered by the coaching staff and the Lady Saints responded on the defensive side of things by holding PoP scoreless in the entire second half.  But the offensive execution still left much to be desired.  It wasn't until Bri Betz-White rang up five points in the 4th quarter that things looked a lit