Boys and girls basketball were hoping to make history March 6 at Vianney High School in the championship games of the district tournament.

The girls were going for their second district title in the last three years. It would have been the fifth district championship in school history. The boys, meanwhile, were looking for their first district championship since 2010.

Unfortunately, both teams fell short of their opponents. The Cor Jesu Chargers came from behind to defeat the girls 44-43 and the Mehlville Panthers surpassed the boys 56-46. 

“We should have won the game,” said Coach Laura Bishop, whose team led by six points in the fourth quarter. “Our second and third quarters were really good. First was slow and the second and third we played really well. It just wasn’t the outcome we wanted.”

“I think we could have gone a lot farther than we did,” said captain Angela Elguezabal (12). “But sometimes things don’t go the way we want them to go.”

The girls season ended 16-8. At the beginning of the season, they won their first eight games until a 35-27 loss against Nerinx Hall on Jan. 7.

“It was pretty exciting (being undefeated),” Elguezabal said. “It made us look forward to the rest of the season.”

Elguezabal later revealed that the team had “no idea how this season was going to play out” due to a valuable senior leaving.

Last year, Emily Kuntze finished her senior year averaging 11.2 points, earning the role of a valuable player and continued her basketball career at Missouri Southern State. However, they returned three starters — Elguezabal, Calynn Gicante (12)  and Amanda FitzWilliams (12) — and had a successful season with them.

“I’m proud of how they played,” Bishop followed-up. “It still was a great game.”

Boys basketball ended their season 15-13 after losing Friday’s game to Mehlville. The Tigers fell short of the Panthers for the second time this year. 

James Whitman (12) wrapped up his high school career with one of his best games ever, leading the Tigers with 28 points. Fellow senior Joe Beardsley (12) added 13 points.

Despite the loss, Coach Nick Traxler is proud of his team.

“I thought we played a great game,” he said. “I thought our boys played with heart, effort, and determination.”

He is not the only one pleased with their game.

“I’m satisfied on how we played,” said Captain Adam Leeker (12). “It didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but we had our chances. Great way to end my senior year.”

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