Sports

Academy Basketball takes on rival Tampa Catholic

Megan Bajo, Senior Staff Writer|December 11, 2015

It has been over 4 years since Academy has beaten Tampa Catholic at home.

Jaguars sing the national anthem before the start of the game (Photo Credit: Megan Bajo)

On Thursday, December 3, The Academy of the Holy Names faced Tampa Catholic in a fast pace and high intensity rivalry game. Coming into the game, the Jaguars were the underdogs and Tampa Catholic was the favorite to win. Losing four impact senior players last year, the Jags knew they were going to have to give it their all in order to come out on top. To Academy’s advantage, Tampa Catholic junior guard and leading scorer, Maya Blocker, was out with an injury and did not play in Thursday nights game. When the Jaguar’s head coach, Christopher Severini was asked about Blocker’s absence from the game he stated, “It doesn’t matter to me whether she plays or not. We are going to treat it like she is in the game and continue to play tough and fight for a win.”

Despite Academy's struggle from the free throw line, the jaguars continued to dominate the game. — Credit: Megan Bajo
Despite Academy’s struggle from the free throw line, the jaguars continued to dominate the game.

The game started out with Academy and TC tied 6-6 within the first few minutes of the first quarter. The Jaguars pulled through and gained a lead at the end of the quarter, and eventually continued to win the next 3 quarters. Early in the third quarter the Crusaders made a run and came up with a one point lead over the Jaguars. Leading scorer for Academy, sophomore Lindsey Perez, commented, “At that point it was we either let them build on that lead, or fight and get back in the game.” And that is exactly what they did. The Jags won every quarter and beat Tampa Catholic 43-36.

#2 Kayla Eckerman (10) played outstanding defense on Tampa Catholic’s #3, Dominique Eule, and later some comments were tweeted about Eckerman’s hustle.

Tampa Catholic's #3 tweeted after Thursday nights game. The tweet was later deleted after several Academy girls responded having Ackerman's back. — Credit: Megan Bajo
Tampa Catholic’s #3 tweeted after Thursday nights game. The tweet was later deleted after several Academy girls responded having Eckerman’s back.

Junior shooting guard, Devin Folkman, commented “This win was very big for our team. I’m happy we finally beat TC on our home court and gave our two seniors a win to remember!”