Freshmen win championship basketball honors

Intermountain Catholic

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The Judge Memorial Catholic High School Freshmen boys win the 27th Annual Freshmen Basketball Championship Tournament Feb. 18 on their home court. They host the tournament every year against other 3A and 4A teams in Region 10.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Judge Memorial Catholic High School freshman boys basketball team capped an incredible season Feb. 18, with a win in the 27th Annual Freshman Basketball Tournament Championship game. Judge Memorial Catholic High School hosted the tournament.

"The Bulldogs finished with a 17-4 record, and ended the year winning 14 of their final 15 games," said Jeff Baird, Judge Memorial freshmen basketball coach and freshmen and sophomore English teacher. Baird has coached the freshmen team for four years.

"In the tournament, the Judge Memorial freshmen defeated Juan Diego’s freshman in the quarterfinals with a score of 49-41. Judge Memorial’s freshmen followed that win with a 42-38 overtime win against Mountain Crest in the semifinals. Judge went on to defeat Sky View in the championship game 33-31.

"This was the seventh time Judge Memorial won the freshman basketball tournament in the 27-year history of the tournament," said Baird. "Judge Memorial plays a mix of 3A and 4A teams because not every school in Region 10 has a freshmen team that is considered a first-year high school team.

"Our team really came together well this year," said Baird. "The two things that really stood out about them were how good they were defensively, and how much team spirit they had among them that built a team community. They had Judge Memorial’s ‘We’ philosophy working for them."

Baird said they talked about Judge Memorial’s "We" philosophy and how to develop that kind of attitude on and off the floor regardless of each player’s role on the team. They learned to support each other in their individual roles.

"The teams’ parents also played a big role in their success this year," said Baird. "Dan Del Porto, Judge Memorial’s Athletic Director, does a really good job at the beginning of the year explaining to the parents what is expected of them. He tells them how important it is to support their sons in whatever role they have on the team, and how important it is to show their sons they are proud of them. The parents all really supported this team."

"The team practiced hard every day after school, and they were ready for each game," said Baird. "We would have a spiritual reading once in a while, and a team prayer before and after every game. They would also practice on Saturday morning, and have a team breakfast in one of the player’s homes to try to build community among the team. They also played pick-up games with the players’ fathers, which also helped build community among the team as well and was fun.

"This team was unique in that we collected and distributed about 100 pairs of socks to the homeless as a Christmas service project," said Baird. "So they learned to give back to the community as well."