St. Mary’s 7th grade boys hoops win St. Catherine’s Tourney
MORGAN HILL – St. Mary’s seventh grade boys basketball team won two straight games Jan. 9-10 to claim the championship of the St. Catherine’s Tournament in Morgan Hill.
Gilroy opened with a 66-52 victory over Holy Family, of San Jose, and then edged host St. Catherine 46-42 in the championship game.
St. Mary’s was led by tournament MVP Jeff Smith and All-Tournament selection Tyler Harman as well as teammates Jake Aldridge, Justin Botill, Matt Dipietro, Cole Farotte, Dominic Filice, Nolan Filice, Kyle Hypes, Jordan Kiefer, John Pipkin, P.J. Ramirez, Devon Robeson, and Justin Wheat.
In Saturday’s championship victory, St. Marys took control early and built up a 8-1 lead, but St. Catherine’s stormed back and tied the score midway through the second quarter. Through the third quarter, the two teams took turns exchanging baskets and entered the final quarter all tied up.
The fourth period saw St. Catherine’s gain control of the game, stretching to a five-point lead with two minutes left. But Smith hit a three-pointer to close the gap to 40-38 to spark St. Mary’s.
Seconds later, St. Mary’s created a turnover and Smith drove the length of the court and hit a lay-up that tied the score and was fouled. His foul shot gave St. Mary’s a short 41-40 lead, but St. Catherine’s hit a basket in the last minute to reclaim the lead.
St. Mary’s came back down the floor and sealed the game when Wheat drained a basket to take the lead back. On the inbound play, Hartman stole the ball and was fouled. With St. Mary’s in the bonus, he hit his first basket to push the gap to 44-42. His second shot missed, but St. Mary’s was able to out-rebound St. Catherine’s and make another basket to put the game away.
In Friday night’s opener, St. Mary’s and Holy Family played close through the first half. But Gilroy came out gunning in the third quarter, led by high-scorers Hypes and Smith, and started to pulled away from Holy Family. The whole team, especially Ramirez, Kiefer and DiPietro, played well as 10 of the 13 boys found their way to the score sheet.
