LAMORINDA WEEKLY | The Lady Panthers of St. Perpetua win Diocese again


Front row, from left. Mia Mastrov, Ellie Palma, Claire Rowe; back row, from left: Jim Gebhardt, Kiana Thorson, Grace Gebhardt, Julie Haggerty, Zoe Edelman, Rosie Grant-Hudd, Steve Haggerty (not pictured: Alexandra Wecsher) Photo provided

The eighth-grade American girls' team from St. Perpetua finished their CYO experience by winning their fourth CYO Diocese Basketball Championship in five years. This year's playoffs were once again exciting.St. Joan of Arc's seventh-grade girls team played up in the eighth-grade American division for the first time and upset undefeated Good Shepherd's 8th grade girls team in a game that went down to the wire. With the win St. Joan of Arc advanced to the finals to play a St. Perpetua squad who beat Immaculate Heart 47-41 in the semi-finals on Saturday. The championship game on Sunday saw the seventh-graders from St. Joan of Arc off to a blazing start with a 13-4 lead over the defending Diocese champions. Slowly St. P's chipped away at the deficit with great teamwork, determination and hustle. St. P's held a comfortable lead for most of the second half. The girls from St. Joan of Arc wouldn't give up, though, scoring a three-pointer with seconds remaining to bring the final score to 38-34. Way to go girls!