University School Edges Gesu in a Defensive Thriller, 27–22 (8th Grade)

The championship game kicked off with intensity as Gesu set the tone immediately. On their first possession, a crisp baseline drive led to a layup, and an and-one three-point play put them on the board and established their aggressive press. Gesu followed it up with another strong drive, building a quick 5–0 lead while showing sound fundamental basketball and dominance on the boards.

University School, however, refused to be intimidated. They got on the scoreboard with a clean layup and continued to attack the basket with confidence. Though several early shots didn’t fall, US displayed great patience and skill, setting up multiple scoring opportunities. Their persistence paid off when back-to-back plays—a step-through layup followed by a huge three-pointer—flipped the lead to 7–5 with five minutes left in the first half.

The game tightened into a defensive battle, with both teams playing solid, disciplined defense and forcing each other to make the most of every offensive opportunity. With just 35 seconds remaining, University School stole the ball and converted a quick layup, only for Gesu to respond immediately with a clutch three-pointer to take a 9–8 lead. University School called a timeout with 15 seconds left, and it proved to be a game-changer—they came out and drained a three as the half ended, taking a 12–8 advantage into halftime.

Both teams showed why they earned a spot in the championship, combining skill, hustle, and determination. Gesu’s aggressive drives and rebounding set the tone early, while University School’s resilience and clutch shooting gave them a late lead. The second half promises to be a thrilling showdown as both teams battle for the championship win. 

University School opened the second half with momentum, grabbing an offensive rebound and finishing an easy layup to extend their lead. But Gesu answered immediately, pushing coast-to-coast for a strong finish to stay within striking distance at 14–10.

US continued their hot start by knocking down a clean three-pointer, but Gesu refused to fade. They crashed the boards hard, turning offensive rebounds into points and slicing through the lane for another baseline finish. Every time Gesu closed the gap, US responded—this time with a smooth floater—to keep the game tight and tense. The championship energy was unmistakable, with both teams trading blows in a game destined to come down to the wire.

With six minutes left, US broke a brief scoring drought by jumping a passing lane for a steal and a fast-break layup, pushing their lead to 23–18. A timeout followed with 4:08 remaining, and after the break, Gesu stormed back. They scored a quick layup, locked in defensively, and nailed a pull-up jumper, cutting the game to just one point. Suddenly, the entire gym was on its feet—US clinging to a 23–22 lead with under three minutes to play.

US responded calmly, drawing a foul and sinking two clutch free throws to make it 25–22. As the clock ticked down, Gesu battled foul trouble, sending US to the line with 34.7 seconds remaining. US missed, giving Gesu a lifeline, but the defensive pressure forced Gesu into a tough possession, and US regained the ball under their own basket.

With 16.8 seconds left, still trailing 25–22, Gesu had no choice but to foul again. US missed once more, opening the door one final time. Gesu pushed the ball up the floor and got off a clean three-point attempt with just three seconds remaining—but it bounced off the rim.

Forced to foul again, Gesu sent US to the line, where they calmly knocked down a free throw to seal the championship. University School claims the title with a 27–22 victory in one of the hardest-fought, defensive battles.

Thriller at the Buzzer: Notre Dame Clinches Championship Over St. Adalbert (7th Grade)

The championship atmosphere was electric from both teams as Notre Dame Middle School and St. Adalbert tipped off. St. Adalbert came out firing, scoring the first two points on a smooth layup before immediately knocking down a three-pointer to set the tone. Their aggressive press and early energy showed they were locked in on bringing home the title.

Notre Dame, however, refused to be rattled. They stayed composed, pushed the pace, and hit back-to-back jumpers to keep the game close at 9–4. Both teams played with tremendous hustle, trading baskets, securing tough rebounds, and keeping the crowd fully engaged.

St. Adalbert impressed on the glass, grabbing five straight offensive rebounds and finishing the possession with a strong putback. Notre Dame responded with clean execution, running an inbounds play perfectly for an easy layup to pull within one at 11–10. St. Adalbert answered immediately with an and-one to make it 13–10, keeping the momentum on their side—at least for the moment.

But Notre Dame began to find their stride late in the half. Their ball movement against the press was sharp, leading to free throws that tied the game and eventually put them ahead. A fast-break layup followed by two clutch free throws gave Notre Dame an 18–15 lead with just minutes remaining.

In the final stretch, both teams continued to go back and forth, but Notre Dame delivered a huge three-pointer to extend the lead and cap off their run. Riding that momentum, Notre Dame heads into halftime up 23–15, but with the way both teams are battling, this championship is far from over.

Coming out of halftime, Notre Dame wasted no time, sinking a three-pointer right out of the gate. But St. Adalbert responded immediately with an and-one play, keeping the tension high. Notre Dame quickly took a 28–23 lead and called a timeout, only to see St. Adalbert come back even stronger, drilling a clutch three to make it 28–26. The stage was set for a finish down to the wire.

The energy in the gym was electric as St. Adalbert trailed by six with just under six minutes remaining. They attacked aggressively, cutting the lead to four, but Notre Dame answered with a precise underhand layup on a drive to the hoop. Notre Dame followed that with another strong take to the basket, heading to the free-throw line to extend their advantage.

With 1:30 left, St. Adalbert hit a huge three to bring the game within three at 40–37. Notre Dame countered immediately with a layup, keeping their lead intact. St. Adalbert quickly stole the ball and converted a layup to cut the deficit to just three with 15 seconds remaining—they now needed a three-pointer to tie the game. St. Adalbert drew a foul, and Notre Dame called a timeout, setting up a nail-biting finish with just 3.1 seconds on the clock.

St. Adalbert gets a last-second shot out from the white line, but just misses it, and Notre Dame clinches the win and storms the court, with a fantastic championship game with a score of 42-39.

Saint Pascal Holds Strong in Back-and-Forth Battle Against Holy Trinity

Saint Pascal exploded out of the gate, building a dominant 24–10 lead with eight minutes left in the first half. Their defensive discipline stood out early—they stayed solid without reaching, held strong in low defensive stances, and communicated at a high level. On offense, Saint Pascal pushed the ball ahead in transition and knocked down several key threes to take control.

Holy Trinity refused to let the early deficit shake them. They moved the ball well, attacked the basket aggressively, and knocked down their free throws to stay within reach. Despite the slow start, Holy Trinity showed resilience by crashing the boards hard and disrupting passing lanes with active hands, especially on cross-court passes.

With one minute remaining, Holy Trinity drilled a big open three to trim the lead to 26–18, keeping momentum on their side. They then called a timeout with 28.4 seconds left to draw up a final possession before the break.

But Saint Pascal closed the half with a strong response—securing a tough defensive rebound and firing a cross-court pass that led to a clean layup, giving them a 28–18 lead heading into halftime.

Coming out of halftime, Holy Trinity puts on an aggressive press to try and stop Saint Pascal. Saint Pascal counters to excel and drive to the hoop and shoot some impressive floaters. 

Holy Trinity hits a huge three with 10 minutes to go in the second half, and they make the score close as they are only down 32-27. 

Holy Trinity looks to run a play to get an open look, so they call a 30-second timeout. 

Coming out of halftime, Holy Trinity opened with an aggressive full-court press, trying to disrupt Saint Pascal’s rhythm. Saint Pascal responded by pushing the ball, attacking the lane, and knocking down some tough floaters.

With 10 minutes left, Holy Trinity hit a huge three to cut the deficit to 32–27. Looking to draw up a clean look, they called a 30-second timeout. Out of the timeout, Holy Trinity executed perfectly, knocking down a two-foot bunny in the paint to make it 32–29—but Saint Pascal immediately answered with a three of their own. The game continued to swing back and forth, setting up what looked like a thriller.

Despite Holy Trinity’s strong ball movement and aggressive pressure, Saint Pascal kept their composure and stretched the lead to 41–29 with 3:32 remaining. Holy Trinity refused to back down, calling a timeout with 40 seconds left as they trailed 41–33.

In the end, Saint Pascal continued to execute late and secured a 45–35 victory. Saint Pascal played a disciplined, complete game, while Holy Trinity showed toughness and heart from start to finish.

US Closes Gap, Comes From Behind to Beat St. Francis 54-45 (7th Grade)

St. Francis opened the game strong, jumping out to a 14–9 lead behind crisp ball movement and a well-executed 4-out-1-in offense. They consistently worked the ball into the post and kicked out for clean looks, keeping their rhythm early.

University School matched their intensity with aggressive drives to the basket, drawing fouls and knocking down key free throws to stay within reach. Their smart decision-making and strong basketball IQ showed throughout the half, especially in transition, where they capitalized on 2-on-1 opportunities.

With six minutes left, St. Francis held a narrow 1-point lead in what quickly became a tightly contested matchup between two skilled teams. Both squads battled for loose balls and showed hustle on every 50-50 play. University School gained a slight edge late as St. Francis entered foul trouble with seven team fouls, but St. Francis held their composure.

In the final minute, University School hit a smooth pump-fake pull-up to close the gap, but still trailed by five. After a 30-second timeout from St. Francis University School jumped a passing lane on the inbound, turning it into a quick layup to end the half. St. Francis heads into the break with a 22–19 lead in a high-energy, evenly matched game.

University School came out of halftime with urgency, scoring three straight baskets to take a 25–22 lead. Their relentless ball pressure forced key turnovers that immediately turned into offense. Crisp ball movement—often four or five passes before a shot—kept St. Francis scrambling, and a dominant run pushed US ahead 31–24, forcing a St. Francis timeout. Their aggressive diamond press continued to disrupt passing lanes as they took firm control of the game.

St. Francis refused to back down. Out of the timeout, they attacked the rim for a quick basket and brought their own pressure, trying to shift momentum. But, US calmly broke the press with smart passing and strong communication on the floor.

The energy ramped up as US drilled a big three to take an eight-point lead, 40–32. Their shot-making stretched the margin even further, hitting floaters and tough finishes to go up 46–32. Still, St. Francis fought back, answering with a pull-up jumper and a steal-and-score to stay within striking distance.

An and-one finish by St. Francis cut the lead to 48–41, forcing US to burn a timeout with five minutes remaining. Out of the break, St. Francis continued their surge with another steal and quick bucket, trimming the lead to just five. With under two minutes to play, another St. Francis steal led to a layup, prompting a full timeout from US.

US responded with poise, taking their time on offense and forcing St. Francis to foul. They converted a clutch and-one to extend the lead, then locked in defensively—no fouls, active feet, smart rotations. As St. Francis was forced to foul late, US executed their end-of-game strategy perfectly, holding on for a hard-fought win in a thrilling matchup with a score of 54-45.

LCA Completes Comeback, Defeats St. Adalbert 49-44 (8th Grade)

The matchup between St. Adalbert and Lakewood Catholic Academy opened with both teams firing on all cylinders. Offense came early and often, as each squad traded buckets in a fast-paced start. St. Adalbert built its early momentum behind hot three-point shooting, knocking down multiple key shots from deep throughout the first half. Lakewood answered every punch with strong offensive possessions of their own, keeping the game tight despite the Falcons’ long-range success.

As the half wore on, St. Adalbert’s perimeter shooting created just enough separation, sending them into halftime with a 31–22 lead.

Lakewood came out of the break rejuvenated, stringing together several strong offensive possessions to quickly chip away at the deficit. They called a timeout trailing 31–27 with 17:00 remaining, and although St. Adalbert responded with a smooth mid-range jumper, both defenses tightened up afterward. Open looks were rare—and when they came, neither side consistently capitalized.

Lakewood eventually broke through, finding a rhythm on offense while clamping down defensively. Their run brought the score to 35–34 before St. Adalbert called a timeout with 11:56 to play. Out of the break, St. Adalbert buried a clutch three, only for Lakewood to answer immediately with one of their own. The Royals continued to push, stringing together multiple buckets to seize the lead 45–40, forcing St. Adalbert to burn their final timeout with 6:49 remaining.

The final minutes turned into a defensive slugfest. St. Adalbert snapped a scoring drought with a layup, prompting Lakewood to take a timeout up 45–42 with 2:49 left. The Royals emerged with a crucial second-chance basket to extend the lead, but St. Adalbert refused to go away, converting a tough layup to close the gap to 47–44 with 49 seconds remaining.

The Falcons applied heavy defensive pressure, trapping aggressively in the backcourt, but Lakewood stayed poised—beating the trap and finding the open teammate to seal the game. A late bucket pushed the lead out of reach as Lakewood Catholic Academy completed a resilient comeback, securing a 49–44 victory.

St. Francis's Late Surge Not Enough As Sts. William and Robert Holds Strong, 44-39 (7th Grade)

Sts. Robert & William opened the game with a fast start, scoring off an early steal and setting the tone with an aggressive 1–3–1 press. Their pressure created transition opportunities and second-chance looks, and despite some early misses, their work on the offensive boards helped them build an 8–2 lead, forcing a timeout from St. Francis.

St. Francis responded with energy out of the timeout, using their length to contest shots and protect the rim. Robert & William knocked down a key three to go up 12–2, but St. Francis answered immediately with a deep three of their own to stay within striking distance at 12–5.

As the half continued, St. Francis settled in defensively, finishing strong at the rim and battling for rebounds. Their aggressive baseline attack and well-executed press created momentum, and they capitalized at the free-throw line as Robert & William picked up fouls. Meanwhile, Robert & William continued to control the glass and force turnovers to maintain their advantage.

At halftime, Ss. Robert & William lead St. Francis 22–13. Robert & William’s energy, rebounding, and defensive pressure have been strong all half, while St. Francis has stayed composed, created quality shots through teamwork, and kept the game close with hustle and smart play. The second half is set up to be a competitive finish with both teams showing plenty of fight.

Robert & William opened the second half the same way they started the game—attacking the rim with intensity. Their pressure quickly forced a St. Francis timeout. Out of the break, Robert & William locked into a half-court 1–3–1 and immediately converted back-to-back layups while pulling down four straight offensive rebounds to extend possessions.

St. Francis refused to go away, responding with a pair of tough finishes to make it 28–15. Their discipline on defense and fundamental play kept them in striking distance, and with 10 minutes left, a big three from St. Francis gave them a needed spark. Robert & William answered right back with a quick-hitter to the post, maintaining control.

Momentum swung again when St. Francis drilled a deep three and followed it with a defensive stop. The crowd erupted as they cut the lead to seven, creating a true comeback atmosphere. But Robert & William’s press turned the tide once more—they generated multiple steals during a key run, pushing the lead back above double digits and forcing another St. Francis timeout at 40–28 with 3:53 remaining.

St. Francis came out of the timeout energized, but Robert & William continued to finish strong at the rim. The difference on the offensive boards began to show, as Robert & William secured nearly every loose rebound to control the pace.

With under a minute to go, St. Francis kept fighting, knocking down a corner pull-up to stay within 10. St. Francis then hits a three at the end, but Robert & William closed the game with poise, sealing a 44-39 victory behind relentless rebounding, defensive pressure, and consistent finishing inside.

St. Dominic Stays Firm and Steady, Bests St. Joseph (8th Grade)

The matchup between St. Dominic and St. Joseph Avon Lake opened with a defensive tone that never truly let up. Both teams came out locked in, contesting shots, cutting off driving lanes, and forcing early turnovers. It took nearly three minutes for either side to break through, but St. Joseph struck first with a strong and-1 finish at the rim. Moments later, they buried a deep three to take a 6–0 lead with 14:00 remaining in the first half.

Both teams continued to pressure the ball, creating multiple steals and jump-ball situations as neither offense found much room to breathe. St. Dominic defended the paint well but surrendered several open looks from beyond the arc, and St. Joseph took advantage to maintain their lead. The two teams traded baskets midway through the half before St. Joseph called a timeout up 9–2 with 7:39 left.

St. Dominic began finding momentum late in the half, turning their defense into transition opportunities. A few key steals led to fast-break finishes, allowing the Knights to cut the deficit to 9–6 at the break.

The defensive battle carried over into the second half, as both teams continued to force tough shots and grind through possessions. Points came slowly, with each side trading buckets until St. Joseph called a timeout holding a slim 14–12 lead with 7:39 to play. Out of the break, St. Dominic delivered a huge momentum-shifting three to take their first lead of the game, 15–14.

That shot sparked a surge for the Knights. Their relentless work on the glass created second-chance points, helping them rattle off a series of key baskets to build a 23–17 advantage with four minutes remaining. Both teams tightened defensively once more, and St. Dominic used a timeout with 2:14 left to settle in for the final stretch.

In the closing minutes, both squads applied full-court pressure, desperate to generate extra possessions. But St. Dominic held firm, controlling the tempo and securing enough stops to close out a hard-fought 25–17 victory.

University School Gets Lots of Looks, Shoots Their Way Past St. Francis 52-18 (7th Grade)

The final game of Saturday evening’s slate featured the St. Francis Cougars taking on the hosting University School Preppers.

The Preppers came out on fire to start the first half, and the Cougars had no answer for the early scoring barrage. University School’s run lasted nearly fourteen minutes before St. Francis finally got on the board, making it 14–2. Six different Preppers scored in the opening stretch, spreading the ball well and keeping the Cougars off balance. The theme remained the same throughout the half, as the Preppers pulled away and entered halftime with a commanding 22–7 lead.

Out of the break, the Preppers continued their fluid offensive attack, consistently finding open looks. For the Cougars, shots simply refused to fall despite quality efforts. Daniel Reynolds led the charge for University School, creating space and scoring six points midway through the second half. The Preppers’ physical play around the rim led to easy finishes, extending the lead to 34–11.

University School continued to move the ball well, delivering crisp passes down low for high-percentage layups. St. Francis managed to find a few baskets late, but the Preppers maintained control from start to finish, closing out the game with a dominant 52–18 victory.

St. Francis Outlasts Sts. William and Robert in a Stunning Game, 38-37 (7th Grade)

St. Francis of Assisi and Ss. Robert & William opened their matchup with high-energy defense, battling fiercely for rebounds and loose balls right from the tip. Both teams found pockets of space to knock down tough shots, and with 7:20 left in the first half, Robert & William held a narrow 9–7 lead.

Defense continued to be the driving force of the game, with neither team giving an inch on any possession. The score stayed locked when Robert & William called a timeout with 4:59 remaining. Out of the break, both teams settled in offensively, trading baskets and matching each other's intensity. Robert & William closed the half holding onto a 15–13 advantage after a late timeout by St. Francis produced no final shot.

The second half picked up right where the first left off—fast, physical, and competitive. Robert & William attacked the paint with confidence, while St. Francis battled relentlessly on the boards for second-chance opportunities. An and-one three-pointer from St. Francis kept things close, but Robert & William still led 20–17 with 13:20 remaining.

From there, the game turned into an offensive showcase. St. Francis connected on big threes, while Robert & William answered consistently with strong finishes inside. That back-and-forth rhythm forced Robert & William to take a timeout after falling behind 32–30 with 7:28 to play.

As the clock wound down, both teams turned up the defensive pressure while still finding ways to score. St. Francis clung to a 34–33 lead with 4:25 left, then a 36–35 edge with only two minutes remaining. The crowd matched the intensity on the floor as every possession grew more tense.

Robert & William stepped to the line and hit a clutch free throw to take a 37–36 lead with 36 seconds left, then called a timeout to set their defense. A foul put them back at the line with 12 seconds remaining, but a lane violation erased the shot and gave St. Francis one final opportunity.

After a timeout, St. Francis inbounded at midcourt, attacked the paint, and finished a high-pressure layup to take a dramatic 38–37 lead. Their defense held in the final seconds, securing a thrilling come-from-behind victory in one of the most exciting finishes of the season.

Gesu Makes it Back to the Morrissey Classic Championship with a Solid Win over Holy Trinity 46-32 (8th Grade)

Gesu opened the game on fire, scoring early and often to set a fast-paced tone against Holy Trinity Avon. Their aggressive on-ball defense made it tough for Holy Trinity to get clean looks, while their own ball movement was sharp and consistent, creating open shots almost every possession. A big three midway through the first half stretched the lead to 21–4 with 5:45 remaining.

Holy Trinity battled through the pressure and began finding scoring opportunities, staying aggressive on both ends and fighting for rebounds to keep the game competitive. Still, Gesu’s strong presence on the boards prevented Holy Trinity from cutting too far into the lead. After a determined defensive stand, Holy Trinity called a timeout with 17.8 seconds left in the first half, trailing 30–13.

The second half started with a burst from both sides — Holy Trinity knocked down a three, and Gesu immediately answered with one of their own. Gesu continued to build momentum, adding more buckets until Holy Trinity signaled for a timeout down 35–16 with 18:14 left. Out of the break, Holy Trinity dug in defensively, slowing Gesu’s scoring and beginning their comeback effort, closing the gap to 38–22 with 10:50 remaining.

But Gesu’s persistence on the offensive glass proved crucial, as second-chance shots helped them regain control. Holy Trinity continued to play tough, physical defense but still trailed 42–26 with 5:30 to go. Both teams brought effort from tip-off to the final whistle, trading stops and buckets down the stretch. In the end, Gesu’s energy, rebounding, and early scoring run were enough to hold off Holy Trinity’s late push, securing a 46–32 victory.

A hard-fought battle throughout, with both teams showing grit on offense and defense from start to finish.

University School Last Second Three Puts Them in The Morrissey Classic Championship, Beating St. Paschal 39-38 (8th Grade)

One of the final games on the 8th grade Saturday slate featured the St. Paschal Knights taking on the hosting University School Preppers.

The Preppers came out firing to start the game, jumping to a commanding 10–0 lead by capitalizing on turnovers and missed shots from the Knights. The scoring run was short-lived, however, as St. Paschal called a timeout to regroup and responded with eight straight points of their own. The back-and-forth scoring continued throughout the half, with the Preppers holding a narrow 15–14 lead midway through. Strong defense from both squads kept scoring limited, and University School entered halftime up 21–18.

Out of the break, both offenses struggled to find rhythm, as turnovers and low-percentage shots slowed the pace. Although each team found occasional baskets, neither could pull away. A run of consecutive threes by the Knights gave them a 29–26 lead with just under eleven minutes left in regulation. The Preppers answered minutes later, regaining the lead 34–31 on a big-time three from Connon McDonnell.

The next stretch was dominated by defense, as both teams forced turnovers and fouls without converting on the other end. Coming out of a timeout, the Knights caught fire—Christian Payne knocked down a three, followed by a tough layup from Tristian Lee—to push St. Paschal ahead 38–36 with just 30 seconds remaining.

With possession, the Knights attempted to drain the clock, but the Preppers came up with a clutch steal and called timeout, setting up one final play to decide the game. After pushing the ball up the floor, University School found Cade Nelson in the corner, where he buried the game-winning three.

In an absolute thriller, the Preppers emerged victorious, 39–38.

St. Aldabert Advances to Morrissey Classic Championship, Escaping St. Joseph 46-36 (8th Grade)

St. Joseph won the opening tip, and off was game number five on the afternoon. St. Joseph would draw first blood on their second possession thanks to a Peter Faltenovich steal and score. Minutes later, Kamari Small would notch St. Adalbert’s first points of the game, evening the score at two. After a back and forth first ten minutes, St. Adalbert would unleash a 9-0 run in the waning stages of the first half, leaping ahead 21-12 with five minutes to play in half number one. St. Joseph’s would then respond with a run of their own, capped by a Henry Smolko triple. With two minutes remaining in the opening half, St. Joseph’s trailed 21-17. Both teams would trade buckets to finish out the half, at the break St. Adalbert held a 25-19 advantage.  

The back and forth would continue to begin the second half, with St. Adalbert clinging to a 31-27 lead with 13 minutes to play. Included in the scoring was one of the highlights of the game, a beautifully executed spin move by Faltenovich that resulted in a layup. For St. Adalbert, Kesean Wilson was putting up an offensive clinic to begin the second half, boasting a game-high 16 points with ten minutes to go. Despite attempts to get back in the game, St. Adalbert did a nice job extinguishing any St. Joseph momentum with instant offense. In need of a run, St. Joseph trailed 42-33 with two minutes remaining. With the clock hitting zero, St. Adalbert escaped with a convincing 46-36 victory. Kesean Wilson shined in the win, finishing with a game-high 19 points for St. Adalbert.  

LCA, Down to Only Four Players in the Final Seconds, Fights Off St. Dominic's Surge, 40-35 (8th Grade)

The matchup between Lakewood Catholic Academy and St. Dominic kicked off with both teams showcasing tough, competitive defense. Every rebound was a battle, and neither side backed down from the physical play. When scoring opportunities appeared, both teams capitalized, keeping the game tight. A big three from Lakewood gave them a 15–14 lead with seven minutes left in the first half.

St. Dominic answered shortly after with a tough shot to reclaim the lead at 16–15 with 3:45 remaining. From there, the game turned into a defensive slugfest, with both teams stringing together stops and forcing empty possessions. St. Dominic finally broke through with a couple of hard-earned buckets, heading into halftime with an 18–15 advantage.

Lakewood came out of the break energized, scoring strong inside and knocking down a three to jump ahead 22–18. Their defensive pressure forced St. Dominic into a timeout with 18:43 left in the second half. After the huddle, both teams found their offensive rhythm, trading baskets in an exciting stretch that tied the game at 25–25 with 15 minutes remaining.

The pace then shifted back to a defensive grind, with each side giving up only a few points. Lakewood called a timeout while holding a narrow 29–27 lead with 11:48 to play. The timeout proved effective, as Lakewood emerged locked in defensively and hit a pair of huge threes to stretch the lead to 38–29 with 7:30 left.

St. Dominic wasn’t done yet — they rallied with strong shot-making and cut the lead to 38–33, prompting another timeout with 4:24 to go. Despite their late surge and relentless defensive pressure, St. Dominic couldn’t quite close the gap. Lakewood held strong in the final minutes, securing a hard-fought 40–35 victory.

Both teams battled from start to finish, but Lakewood’s timely shooting and tough second-half defense made the difference.

St. Aldabert Fends Off US in the Final Minutes, Wins 42-38 (7th Grade)

The matchup between University School and St. Adalbert opened with fireworks on both ends, as each team came out scoring early and often. University struck first and built a quick 14–10 lead thanks to crisp ball movement, steady rebounding, and confident finishing at the rim. St. Adalbert matched that pace with strong passing of their own, finding open teammates and battling on the boards to stay right in it.

University continued to make their presence felt defensively, turning stops into fluid offensive possessions that led to open looks — and they knocked them down. St. Adalbert responded by finding soft spots in the defense and hitting tough shots, keeping things close at 22–15 with three minutes to play in the first half.

In the closing stretch before the break, St. Adalbert made a strong push, stringing together defensive stops and converting them into tough buckets. But University answered right back with big shots of their own, maintaining momentum and taking a 28–19 lead into halftime.

Early in the second half, University’s defense once again made an impact, leading to transition opportunities that extended the lead to 32–21 with 15 minutes to play. Both teams played with tremendous energy, and St. Adalbert capitalized by knocking down key shots and slowly chipping away at the deficit. Their surge forced University to call a timeout as the lead shrank to 32–26 with 11:34 remaining.

Coming out of the huddle, St. Adalbert turned up the pressure with a full-court press that created problems for University. While University managed to break it at times and get a bucket, St. Adalbert’s scoring run continued, eventually tying the game at 34–34 with 6:24 left and prompting a St. Adalbert timeout.

From there, St. Adalbert kept rolling. They hit a series of tough shots — including a momentum-swinging and-1 — and backed it up with strong defensive stands. University made a hard push in the final minutes, refusing to let the game slip away, but St. Adalbert held steady and finished off an impressive second-half surge to secure a 42–38 victory.

Both teams left everything on the court in a fast-paced, competitive matchup, but St. Adalbert’s late-game execution proved to be the difference.

Notre Dame Makes Key 2nd Half Adjustments, Beats Sts. Williams and Robert 37-28 (7th Grade)

The next contest in 7th grade pool play featured the St. Robert & William Warriors taking on the Notre Dame Lions.

Both teams opened the first half looking evenly matched on both ends of the floor. Tough defense and crafty passing from each squad kept the score tight, sitting at 4–4 early. Defense defined the first half, as both teams struggled to score for long stretches. Around the 12-minute mark, each side finally found some momentum, trading fast-break buckets and tough layups to knot the score at 10–10. Scoring opportunities remained hard to come by, but both teams continued to match each other’s efforts, sending the game into halftime tied at 14–14.

Coming out of the break, the Warriors seized early control, scoring nine straight points off fast breaks and a corner three to take a 23–16 lead. Notre Dame initially had no answer for the Warriors’ full-court press, burning a timeout early in the half. However, the Lions fought back. With a series of tough finishes at the rim and second-chance points, they took the lead 27–25 with just ten minutes remaining. From that point on, they never looked back. Notre Dame continued to apply pressure, exposing gaps in the Warriors’ defense and converting easy baskets down low.

The Warriors made a late push, but their comeback attempt fell short, and the Lions claimed the win, 37–28.

Gesu Comes Out Swinging, Beats LCA 42-25 (8th Grade)

What seemed like a fairly even matchup today, the Gesu Bulldogs came out swinging, putting the first three points on the board against LCA. Both teams kept solid pressure and a continuous moving offense. The passing game and ball handling was stronger for the Bulldogs as they take an early 10-2 lead. The Saints ran a great defensive press and have been able to slow the Bulldogs offense down. Gesu ended the first half 19-6. 

The LCA Saints came in strong the second half, determined to turn the score in their favor putting on the offensive pressure. The Bulldogs were able to execute their shots well and keep a comfortable lead off of the Saints. However, the Saints did not back down and slowly added points to the board closing the point gap only by 10. Gesu stayed composed and continued to play their game, resulting in the final score of 42-25.

University School Plays Both Sides of the Ball Tough, Rolls St. Joseph 46-16 (8th Grade)

The matchup between University School and St. Joseph Avon Lake opened with high energy and physicality on both ends. Each team battled hard on the boards, contesting every rebound and refusing to give up anything easy at the rim. St. Joseph opened with a full-court press, but University School handled it well, breaking through the pressure and settling into their offense.

The fast pace and tough defense from both sides led to plenty of fouls and turnovers in the early minutes. Both teams earned good looks around the basket, but the shots just wouldn’t fall. University’s defense, however, began to stand out — repeatedly deflecting passes and disrupting St. Joseph’s rhythm. Eventually, those stops turned into offense, as quick outlet passes and confident finishes helped University School build momentum.

By halftime, University School held an 18–7 lead, though St. Joseph delivered the highlight of the half with an incredible half-court buzzer-beater to add three points going into the break.

Coming out in the second half, University School continued to move the ball well, finding open shooters and knocking down clean looks. St. Joseph attacked the basket and earned trips to the free-throw line but struggled to convert, allowing University to extend its lead to 28–7 with 14:30 remaining. Despite the deficit, St. Joseph’s effort never wavered — diving for loose balls and forcing a key timeout after a hustle play with 11:24 left and the score at 30–7.

University School kept finding gaps in the defense, pushing the score to 42–13 with 5:30 to play. Even as the score tilted heavily, St. Joseph continued to compete, fighting for rebounds and playing tight defense until the final whistle.

Both teams battled hard from start to finish, but University School’s consistent defense and balanced offense carried them to a 46–16 victory.

Holy Trinity Edges St. Dominic in a Tight Battle; 34-33 (8th Grade)

Another year, another Morrissey Classic on the beautiful campus of University School. The first game of the 8th grade pool play featured the Saint Dominic Bulldogs and Holy Trinity Eagles.

The first half started off strong with both teams exchanging buckets back and forth. Early on the story of the game was defense, both teams defending the floor well forcing multiple turnovers. The Eagles shortly thereafter found their stride from the three point line, connecting on consecutive shots to give themselves an early 14-6 lead. It wouldn’t be easy for either team to take a commanding lead as the tough defense from both parties stalled the scoring for the time being. The Bulldogs were the first team to break this scoring drought as 4 consecutive fast break buckets gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the game at 20-18. Nearing the end of the half both teams received multiple free throws, both teams being unable to connect at the line leaving the game deadlocked at 20-18 in favor of the St. Dominic Bulldogs.

Coming out of the half, it was evident both teams made strong half time adjustments. For having such a defensive first half both teams seemed to have sacrificed their defense to play strong offense. As both teams traded baskets St. Dominic still maintained an early 25-24 lead. The spurt of offense would be short lived as both teams showed strong defense, but the fundamental offense was fluid for the Bulldogs as they gained their biggest lead of the game at 31-26. The Eagles wouldn’t go down easy as the lead for the Bulldogs was quickly erased after a few turnovers flipped the game on its head giving the Eagles their first lead since the first half of 32-31. The Eagles would collect one more bucket making the lead 34-31 with a minute thirty remaining on the clock. The Eagles made an attempt to try and stall the last few seconds of the game when a loose ball caused a jump ball that went in favor of the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs had one last chance at a victory with their final possession of the game. After a few last desperation shots like Bulldogs couldn’t find the open three pointer, ending the game on a layup. Thus giving the Eagles the 34-33 win in a thrilling game.

St. Pascal's Zone Defense Holds Off a Tenacious St. Aldabert, 52-42 (8th Grade)

The matchup between St. Pascal Baylon and St. Adalbert opened with St. Pascal setting the tone defensively. Their 2–3 zone immediately caused problems for St. Adalbert, forcing tough looks and limiting early scoring. With strong effort on both ends, points were hard to come by in the opening minutes, but St. Pascal found just enough inside to build a slim 6–2 lead five minutes into the first half.

St. Pascal continued to control the glass, using offensive rebounds to generate second-chance points and defensive boards to jumpstart transition. As the half progressed, St. Adalbert began to slowly break through the zone, knocking down soft mid-range shots to stay within reach. Even with their unselfish ball movement and patient possessions, the shots weren’t falling consistently, allowing St. Pascal to stretch its lead to 14–4 around the 10-minute mark.

A timeout helped spark St. Adalbert, as they drilled a big three and tightened up defensively, trimming the deficit to 21–10 with eight minutes left in the half. From there, both teams found ways to attack the paint, trading baskets in a lively stretch that brought extra energy to the gym. By halftime, St. Pascal held a solid 31–17 advantage, thanks to their rebounding and steady interior scoring.

St. Adalbert came out of the break with renewed intensity, turning up the defensive pressure and finishing at the rim to cut the margin to 39–29 within the first 10 minutes of the second half. Physical defense on both sides led to fouls and tough possessions, keeping the game competitive.

Out of the timeout, St. Adalbert continued attacking the paint, trimming the score to 41–33 with eight minutes to play. St. Pascal responded with a trapping defensive look, but St. Adalbert still found ways to score, forcing St. Pascal to burn a timeout with their lead narrowed to just 41–39 and 5:48 remaining.

The huddle proved crucial, as St. Pascal came out firing — knocking down a three and then converting a strong layup to regain momentum. The second half featured several jump balls, a sign of how physical both teams were battling on the boards. St. Adalbert made a strong push down the stretch, but St. Pascal held firm, squashing the comeback attempt and closing out a hard-earned 52–42 victory.

St. Adalbert's Onslaught Too Much for St. Francis (B) (7th Grade)

The Black Jacks started off strong in the first half being the first to put points on the board. Defensive steals made by the Black Jacks to keep a steady lead early in the game. The Cougars did their best to offset the Black Jacks’ tight defense, beginning to close the point gap with a three pointer from #24. The Cougars started to pick up their defensive play trying to slow the Black Jacks down. However, the Black Jacks ran an intense offense and defense, being able to get key rebounds maintaining a heavy lead to end the first half 29-9.

The Cougars started off the second half with a technical foul, contributing to the Black Jacks’ lead. The Black Jacks continued to make deep threes and fast layups building up the point deficit. The Cougars had good ball movement around the court trying to turn things around. The Black Jacks were able to read the defense well and find the gaps to keep good offensive pressure. After a hard fought game, ultimately he Black Jacks took the victory 67-15.