St. James 8th Grade Girls WIN NWCC Conference Championship!

It was said in the news last week that this is the first January and February ever that no snow has been on the ground in our area. That certainly is worth cheering! Another thing worth cheering, that is far more common, is the St. James Girls Basketball team Conference Championship. The 8th-grade Girls emerged victorious from the St. Viator gym on Sunday putting and exclamation point on a great game, season and four years! Coach Jen Fahey knew it would not be easy saying, "We went into the game knowing we had to bring and be our best. The girls were challenged in practice to bring some new defensive strategy, and they raised their level of play. It has been an honor to work with these girls. They have left their mark on SJS basketball, and I'm going to miss them."

The team of CJ Lange, Lauren Anderson, Annie Lindgren, Maggie Kaepplinger, Callie Mulligan, Erin Neary, Mary McGrath and Mary Kate Fahey (or Fa HEY!) got off to a fast start in the championship game and were able to withstand a late charge by the Knights of St. Huberts. Everyone contributed all year long to a great season and Mary Kate Fahey put it like this, "We had a good game and that is a tribute to all of us who worked hard on both ends of the floor."

Coach Jerry Klopp reflected on how impressed he was with this team. "Jen has gotten these girls to buy into the team concept. Team offense, Team defense that is what she always stresses. That is what has made these girls special over the last four years, they love basketball, but they love their teammates even more."

So while next January and February may be back to more snow that is typical, the 8th-grade girls look to continue their typical success as they move on to High School. Congratulations to the girls who end their four-year career with a record of 91 and 9.