St. Joseph girls win back-to-back state titles

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Saint Joseph girls' basketball team claims its second 1A state championship title in a row. Courtesy photo/SJCHS

OGDEN — The Saint Joseph girls basketball team defended its title as the UHSAA 2013 1A state champions with a victory at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield Feb. 16. The Jayhawks beat Piute High School 39-29 to claim the championship. 

Jayhawks senior Katie Panushka was voted the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Sophomore Mady White and junior Liz Tomon both made the All-Tournament team. The Jayhawks also were the Region 17 champions and were undefeated in regular season play. Over the past two seasons they won 28 straight games, and 34 of their last 35 games.

To get into the championship game, the Jayhawks survived the semi-final double-overtime game against Rich High School. The Jayhawks were down 12 points in the third quarter but were able to come back. With time running out in regulation play and the Jayhawks trailing by three points, Panushka banked in a three-point shot that forced the first overtime. Panushka was actually trying to draw and foul when she threw up a prayer and it was answered, said Joe Cravens, St. Joseph head basketball coach.

Both teams scored two points in the first over-time. In the second overtime, White made a three-point shot that gave St. Joseph the lead and ultimately led to a 56-44 victory and the championship game.

"The girls showed great resolve in the game against Rich by getting behind early in the second half and then were able to maintain a level of concentration and make the game close in the end," said Cravens. "We got a little lucky in hitting a miraculous shot to send the game into overtime, but we kind of controlled both overtimes. So that was a great testament to the girls’ mental toughness and great concentration more than anything else."

In the final game against Piute, the Jayhawks took an early lead, but Piute got within three points at half time.

"Our center, Liz Tomon, got into foul trouble and had to sit out most of the first half," said Cravens, adding that Panushka and White helped control the game’s tempo. "We were able to create a separation at the end of the game and win by 10 points."

Alex Salvo, St. Joseph athletic director said, "We’re proud of the girls’ basketball team and the accomplishment of the coach. The girls conducted themselves well, with good sportsmanship and strong Catholic values. Coach Cravens is a scholar of basketball. His experience, knowledge and game strategies are unmatched with his experience as a former Utah and Weber State University coach."

At graduation, the team will lose seniors Panushka and Shannon Trout, the co-captains of the team, and Becki Wright. Panushka was the team’s leading scorer and "an odds-on favorite to be the 1A Player of the Year," said Cravens.

"We’ve been on a pretty good roll with our winning season," said Cravens. "It was very fulfilling to see the girls get behind a couple of times and play close games in the state tournament. We made big shots at big times and I think we played like a championship team. I was proud of their effort and very happy with back-to-back state championship titles."

Cravens has coached college teams and although he paced the sidelines during the state championship, he said he wasn’t quite as nervous, "but this was my team and we were playing for a championship, so I was totally committed," he said. "It’s fun to see your team win and it’s fun to see your team grow individually and collectively and create great memories."