The St. Dominic' s CYO 8th Grade Girls Division "A" team won its season finale on Sunday Jan. 8 defeating Good Shepherd of Holbrook by a score of 33-24. After trailing at the end of the first quarter 11-4, the Bayhawks opened the second quarter with four quick baskets and never looked back. Playing tenacious defense and solid fundamental team oriented ball, the girls were able to pull away and ice the victory with excellent ball handling by Kelsey Todd, clutch free throws by Maddie Howes, Kerri Apicella and Emily Hoffmann and key rebounds by Maria Moreno, Kristina Thomopoulos and Maddie Howes.

Enroute to the victory they were led by Kristina Thomopoulos with 11 points and Maddie Howes with 6 and a balanced attack that also included 3 points each from Kerri Apicella and Emily Hoffmann and Jocelyn Cistneros, Keri Bongiovanni, Lauren Meares, Kelsey Todd and Melissa Tiyaloglu each contributing 2 points. Kristina Thomopoulos and Maddie Howes also dominated under the boards with 17 and 11 rebounds respectively. Melissa Tiyaloglu also had 7 rebounds, Keri Bongiovanni had 6 and Maria Moreno also grabbed 5 rebounds.

It was a fitting end for the Bayhawks and their coaches. After only winning two games in fifth grade, Randy Todd took over the coaching duties assisted by Fred Hoffmann and Jack Howes. They not only got the team into the playoffs the next year but in seventh grade they finished the regular season 11-1 and lost a close game in the playoffs to the championship team. As a result, the team earned a promotion this year to the prestigious "A" Division. More important than wins, the team twice won CYO's highest honor - the Sportsmanship Award.

Although it's the end of years of weeknight practices, early Saturday morning and late Sunday evening games, as the girls move on to their high school teams, they are thankful to the many hours of time and effort devoted to them by Randy Todd, Jack and Barbara Howes and Fred Hoffmann teaching them team defense and good sportsmanship!