For the first time since 2013, the Washington Blue Jays are champions of the St. Francis Borgia Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament.
Playing in the 67th Annual Borgia Turkey Tournament, fourth-seeded Washington knocked off second-seeded Ft. Zumwalt North in the championship game 61-52 on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Washington (3-0) opened the tournament with a 54-46 victory over fifth-seeded Normandy and followed that with a 57-49 win over top-seeded Borgia in the semifinals.
“It’s been six years since we’ve won the championship at Borgia, and it couldn’t have happened to a better group of kids,” said Washington Head Coach Grant Young. “We had a great crowd with a great atmosphere (against Borgia) and to come back in this came with our pressure and our stamina, having nine guys rotating in throughout the game was huge. We were able to wear them down and we made some big shots in the third and fourth quarter. It’s going to be any given player on any given night with our kids.
“You have to credit our kids’ defense and their intensity level. They’re fun to watch with how hard they guard and what they’re capable of doing. That’s them buying in to what we preach every day. It’s a great start to the season for these kids and the effort they’ve put in during the offseason and the first three weeks.”
Representing the Blue Jays on the all-tournament team were junior forwards Todd Bieg and Ryan Hoerstkamp and senior guard Jeremiah Broadbent.
Bieg was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
“Having the big win over Borgia and then coming back to win the championship game, it makes it special,” Bieg said. “It’s great for us to have this type of success. Hopefully we can keep it going all season.”
Seeing action in the championship game and contributing throughout the tournament for the Blue Jays were Brigham Broadbent, Jeremiah Broadbent, Connor Vollmer, Ryan Hoerstkamp, Todd Bieg, Jason Sides, Jack Lackman, Zac Coulter and Jarrett Hamlett.
The Blue Jays are coached by Grant Young, Adam Meyer and Bill Juengel.
Photos from the championship game between Washington and Ft. Zumwalt North are below.
