Kearns-St. Ann sixth graders win championship

Photo courtesy of Kearns-St. Ann School

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The Kearns-Saint Ann sixth grade basketball team hangs on in the final game to win the championship. They had to play three back-to-back games on Saturday with only 30 minutes rest in between games.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Kearns-Saint Ann sixth grade girls’ basketball team traveled to Pocatello, Idaho, to attend the annual Sacred Heart Basketball tournament March 20-22.

The sixth grade basketball team faced a field of 19 girls’ teams from Utah and Idaho and came home with the championship trophy. The tournament did not start out in Kearn-St. Ann’s favor as the team was the only team in a field of 45 who did not start to play on Friday night, March 20.

The scheduling had them now playing three games on Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. in the morning and ending at 7 p.m. Saturday night. The scheduling on Sunday gave them no favors either. A last-minute switch resulted in them playing three games back-to-back with only about 30 minutes rest in between the games.

The championship game was against a tough Saint Mary’s team from Boise, Idaho. The St. Mary’s team knocked the St. Ann sixth grade team out of the tournament in 2008. St Ann jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead and did not look back until midway through the fourth period where they gave up the lead briefly before gaining it back. They held their lead and went on for the victory.

The team played a very fast paced running game. Their success was a result of running, passing, and tenacious defense. A quick transition game and the ability of all girls on the team scoring, led to their success.

Kearns-Saint Ann school was proud of the girls and their success.