Judge Memorial wins Region 10 in boys basketball

SALT LAKE CITY — The Judge Memorial Catholic High School boys basketball team won Region 10 and secured a spot in the 2013 UHSAA 3A State Championship playoffs at Weber State University.

The Bulldog record this year was 19-7.

"Overall, we had a good season, it just ended in a disappointing fashion," said Dan Del Porto, Judge Memorial head basketball coach. "We could have easily won the quarter-final game we lost to Bear River High School. It was tied with a minute and a half to go and then Bear River went on to the championship game."

Judge Memorial athletic director Dan Quinn said the boys’ basketball team had a phenomenal preseason and season. "Unfortunately the team’s point guard, senior Pat Neville, was injured, and although he is one of 12 players on the team, he is a key player that kept the team motivated and inspired to move forward," Quinn said. "The benefit was that Dan could play about nine players throughout the season and that helped him keep advancing. But when it came down to the end, the team could have used Pat’s leadership and court experience."

Judge Memorial junior Tanner Riley came off the bench and did a great job, said Quinn, adding that Sean Sloan also stepped up and played a different role, which added to the game. "They had a great season and they had the talent to play for a state title."

Losing point guard Pat Neville "with a torn ACL with three games left really hurt us," said Del Porto. "But the kids played well because we won four games in a row after his injury."

The Bulldogs met their goal of having a winning preseason, said Del Porto. "We played a difficult preseason and had a 9-4 record," he said. "We had a 9-1 region record and won our region for the second straight year, and then won our first playoff game."

Six seniors will graduate from the team as will the senior manager, Louis Franciose, who is also senior core president, a peer minister, and member of National Honor Society.

"Louis was special to the team," said Del Porto. "I can’t say enough about the character of these kids; they are good students, good citizens and worked hard on the court."

Del Porto is confident in the younger classmen as well. "The junior varsity had a 17-5 record and the freshmen were 18-5, winning 14 games in a row," he said. "There are some very good players in the younger groups."