St. Ann's Takes Home 2008 CYM Y1 Division Title

Our Lady of Fatima Loses Close One, 37 - 34, in Overtime

Girls have a lot of fight in them these days, as this image of the struggle for a loose ball clearly demonstrates.

February 25, 2008

by Tom Dunn & Jim Charles

Maybe they should just hold the CYM Finals at Padua every year.  Well, that is, if we will be treated to exciting, nerve-wracking games like the C & Y1 Finals turned out to be this year. 

The Y1 Division is the second-most competitive conference in CYM.  What separates it from the higher ranked C Division is that it is home to first teams from smaller parishes and second teams from bigger ones.  Otherwise, it's governed by the same rules and policies as the C league.

For St. Ann's, the road to Broom Street was paved with a perfect 10 - 0 regular season record -- the only undefeated team in the Y1.  Our Lady of Fatima, the #2 seed for the playoffs, was only a game off that pace, finishing an impressive 9 - 1.  Both teams are stocked with talent that will soon be making itself felt at the high school level.

Fatima came out of the chute playing loose and confident.  St. Ann's, by contrast, looked nervous and tight.  The Knights took a 9 - 3 lead into the second quarter.  In the second frame, the Mustangs began to establish a rhythm, tallying 8 points to the Knights' 7.  Halftime score:  OLF 16, St. Ann's 11.

The third quarter was just as even with St. Ann's making up another point to cut the Fatima lead to 26 - 22 going into the fourth quarter.  It was in the final frame that the Mustangs melted away the deficit, bringing the score to 33 all. 

That meant overtime.  A fresh 3 minutes were put on the clock and the weary troops prepared for more basketball.  As often happens, the OT proved to be anti-climactic with St. Ann's cobbling together 4 points (all from Katie Desmond) while Fatima could only answer with 1 of their own.  The Mustangs prevailed, 37 - 34.

It was a long comeback for St. Ann's, consuming the 2nd, 3rd and 4th periods, during which time they were never outscored -- even if they only bested OLF by one point in the 2nd and 3rd.  All during this time, Kasey Kirker came up with 2-point baskets when the team really needed them while her partner-in-crime, Katie Desmond (pictured at left), was sinking vital free-throws that contributed mightily to eating into the opponents' lead.  Try this on for size:  Katie Desmond:  2 field goals (4 points) plus 9-for-16 from the free-throw line (13 points total).  Or how about this?  Kasey Kirker:  12 points on 6 field goals plus a free-throw (13 points total).  Together, Desmond and Kirker accounted for 26 of their team's 37 points!

On the Fatima side of the ledger, Elizabeth Biddle was high scorer with 10.  Sydney Lysinger and Ariel Hyderkhan chipped in 8 each.  Speaking of Hyderkhan, this player was especially impressive.  A fast, tenacious point guard who does everything full-throttle.  If basketball were played on a field, she'd have the dirtiest uniform.  Six of her points came on two three-pointers, the last of which contributed greatly to the game going into overtime.

All in all, this game was a wonderful showcase of some awesome 7th and 8th grade talent.  Both teams deserve much praise.

Images from the Y1 Final

Ariel Hyderkhan -- Tenacity on two legs.

The twin threats for St. Ann's -- Katie Desmond (with ball) and Kasey Kirker.

Fatima's Kimmi Scroger.

On Championship Sunday, CYM went the extra mile and brought out the best.

At left, Delaware sports legend, Joanna Pennell, refs the Y1 game.

At right, Sue Leonard, perhaps the very best game official in all of CYM, observes the action.

Jim Charles