A successful season for YRHS Junior Varsity basketball was wrapped up as the Regional Grade Nine girls finished their season at East Central Districts with gold. Going into the tournament undefeated in games against their age level, the Raiders had the target on their backs as favorites in this tournament and anything short of gold would likely go down as a disappointment for the Raiders, who set the bar high during their regular season going into the tournament at Sacred Heart's Halo Dome.
Quarterfinal action would see the Raiders go up against Melville Composite in the opening round of the district finals on Friday night. The Raiders would survive a second half scoring drought with tough team defense, holding on to a 28-23 victory in a game that was much narrower than the first half indicated, with the Raiders fourth quarter scoring woes allowing the Cobras to nearly pull off the upset and give the YRHS their first loss of the season.
In the semifinal the Raiders offense was rolling, earning them a 43-17 win over Langenburg. Double digit scoring performances from Olivia Tomcala, (11 points) and Kaitlin Krochak-Mak/Breanne Krochak-Mak (10 points) the Raiders a berth in the district championship where they would face the Esterhazy Warriors for the gold. In the final the Raiders came out strong, stifling the Warriors on defense, but could not manage to find buckets themselves throughout the game, allowing Esterhazy to stay in the mix heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth the Raiders offense hit a brick wall, failing to find any semblance of offense, the Raiders needed to rely on their defense to hold the Warriors from making a comeback, they did and despite ample chances for Esterhazy at the free throw line and off offensive rebounds, the Raiders held on to their undefeated season with a 28-21 victory that saw Esterhazy give an effort that they could be proud of in an entertaining championship game.
"Our defense was really the key to our weekend because our offense kind of sputtered in fourth quarters this weekend against Melville and Esterhazy" explained head coach Chad McDowell. "We had great third quarters all year so I think a huge factor of our woes in the fourth were fatigue and looking a bit too much at the clock and trying to hold onto our leads instead of making them larger and it almost cost us twice this weekend" concluded McDowell.
McDowell said that this crop of Jr. Raiders was probably "One of the more talented teams I have ever coached in my short time here" and that "While I would enjoy to coach them longer it is exciting to know that these players are ready to play at the next level and while growing pains are always a part of making the next step I feel that most of them can contribute right away in their own areas at the senior basketball level."
The Raiders held their opponents to under three points in six of the twelve quarters they played in the district tournament. A team that proved defense does win championships can hold their heads high with an undefeated season and bright futures for a rebuilding YRHS Sr. program.
