On Friday night, January 25th, the finals of the 2008 Tiger Tournament - an annual mid-winter tradition hosted by St. Anthony of Padua - were held.  While the tournament is a double-elimination event, no team can make it to the Title Game with even one loss.  It's "winners only" at the end.

For the host team, the St. Anthony's Lady Tigers, the road to the finals was paved with victories over St. Joe's on the Brandywine and St. Matthew's - neither opponents to be taken lightly.

For Ursuline, the path to Finals Night led the team through wins over St. Elizabeth and Corpus Christi, the latter contest a come-from-behind affair.

On this night, however, Ursuline broke out of the starting gate fast and never looked back.  The Lady Raiders' talented trio of Lindsay Henzes, Meghan Carter and Diva McGreevy were doing their usual damage (14 points, combined).  But, outpacing any of them in scoring was Brenna Williams with 16.  She put together a very solid and smart game.  So impressive was her smooth and composed performance that DGB.com was forced to break precedent and bestow upon her the much coveted iPOW Award - an honor heretofore given exclusively to high school players.  The truly amazing thing?  She's just in 7th grade!  Her future appears to be very bright indeed.

It had to be a long night from St. Anthony's perspective.  And I know the team was very disappointed.  There really wasn't a whole lot they did wrong.  Perhaps the worst that could be said is that there appears to be a little more hesitation on offense than what you'd like to see.  Plays and passes aren't as "bang-bang" as they could be.  Other than that, it was simply a question of Ursuline being the better team on this given night.

Special props to Charnae Dixon of the Lady Tigers.  She was ready, willing and able to keep shooting the ball while most of her teammates were content to pass, dribble or hold it.  Shots are what scores points.  Her team needed points.  Charnae understood the equation. 

Despite the loss, Coach Dan DiFrancesco of St. Anthony's believes that there is more parity in the C Division this season than there has been in many years.  It's no longer just 2 or 3 phenomenally great teams and the balance struggling, below average rosters.  Almost all the teams have a legitimate chance as the season heads into its last month.  St. Anthony's no less than anyone else.

Perhaps these two lineups will meet again before the curtain falls on the '07/'08 campaign.  And, perhaps, St. Anthony's will apply the lessons learned from this encounter, make the proper adjustments, and have a happier result.

This game featured more floor fights than a political convention!  Here, the main principals are Catherine Herron for the Tigers and Maddie Boland for the Raiders.

In a moment of relative calm, point guard Monica Dawyot ponders the future.

Mimi Hrivnak mixes it up with Lindsay Henzes.