Our Lady of Fatima School's eighth-grade Boys AAA basketball team won an exciting championship game Sunday, Feb. 20, beating Holy Rosary West Seattle, 47-31, before a nearly full house at O'Dea High School.
It was the Falcon's third straight year the team has won the CYO city basketball championship, and they hold a 10-0 record in CYO playoff games since 2003. After the sixth grade championship, Fatima was placed in the AAA division with the eight highest-ranked teams.
The Falcon's overall record was 29-4 in the last three years, including wins in two AAA "non-counters."
After starting their CYO careers undefeated in the fourth- and fifth-grade non-playoff years, the Falcons began an impressive run. As sixth graders they went 11-0; as seventh graders, 10-1; and as eighth graders their record was 8-3, including the quarter- and semi-final championship rounds against Lakeside (57-36) and St. Joseph's (45-42).
Fatima team members are Erik Alfstad, Nick Bates, Johnny Goodman, JJ Heinrich, Brian Matous, Kevin McBride, Bobby Santucci and Ethan Szmania.
The Fatima Falcons team has been coached the last three seasons by Tom Herche and assistant Jeff Wise, with additional coaching assistance from O'Dea High seniors Charlie Herche and Pat McHugh.
Final game statistics included terrific offense with Matous (15 points), Goodman (11), Santucci (9), McBride and Heinrich (5 each) and Alfstad (2).
As a team, the Falcons played very aggressive defense and out-rebounded the taller Holy Rosary team.
Father Jim Johnson, along with many Fatima teachers, was on hand to cheer on the team.
In a classic battle, Fatima took a four point lead at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw them expand their lead to double digits thanks to the hot 3-point shooting of Matous. Heinrich's excellent point guard play culminated with several backdoor points from forwards Santucci and McBride.
As they have done all year, the front line of Goodman and Szmania dominated on both the offensive and defensive glass. The tenacious full-court defense and controlled guard play of Bates and Alfstad allowed Fatima to build their lead up to 20 in the fourth quarter.
This same class of boys has also been sixth-grade CYO soccer champions, played for the 6th grade baseball championship and were seventh-grade baseball semi-finalists during the past three years. They will all be going on to either Seattle Prep or Bishop Blanchet high schools next year.
-Submitted by Julie Szmania
The Magnolia Little League Parade is set for March 19 at 10:30 a.m. through Magnolia Village (between 32nd and 34th avenues on West McGraw Street). The parade will be followed by opening ceremonies at the field one block north of Magnolia Village (32nd Avenue West and West Smith Street).[[In-content Ad]]
