Saint Gilbert’s 8th Graders Finish the Year Fighting

Saint Gilbert School’s 8th Grade boys began their second season in the Northern Illinois Catholic Conference (NICC) with high hopes. The group began playing together in 5th grade, so these boys had known each other and relied on one another over many games in the past three years.

Led by coaches Jeff Zimmer and Jason Burke, the team was going to have to navigate a 12 game regular reason schedule as well as 2 non-conference games and 4 tournaments. The pair, who had led the boys throughout their entire SGS basketball careers, saw this year as special. And they were right. The boys swept their conference schedule, finishing the year 12-0 and thereby being named the top seed in the NICC conference. In addition, with non-conference games and tourney play, the squad ended the year 22-6. Hence, to say they were ready for the conference tourney was an understatement.

The boys came out with the attitude to take the championship in their last year of competition for the school. Winning their first round game against East Lake Academy by a score of 49-35, they also dispatched Saint Joseph’s Gold team 41-34 to earn their chance to play in the championship last Thursday night against longtime rival, Saint Joseph of Libertyville.

Back row (LEFT-RIGHT): Owen C. Mario D. Joseph B. Jon B. Luke Z. Kyle H.

Front Row (LEFT-RIGHT): Joaquin F. Anthony V. Connor S. Collin W. Tommy S.

In a wire to wire game that saw several lead changes and comebacks, the Rebels of Saint Gilbert fell just short, losing 47-45 on a buzzer beater put back as time ran out. The game of basketball turns on little things, and this one turned on a single rebound.

The development of young men in 5th and 6th grade, many of whom are just learning the basics of basketball, into young men who strive for championships is testimony to the boy’s growth, hard work and the program that they are proud to represent. According to Coach Zimmer, “I am so pleased to see how much they have grown as a team since 5th grade. I had always preached them to trust one another, make the extra pass and to not let the opponent be able to concentrate their efforts on just a couple of our players. They took it to heart, worked hard on it and it resulted in an undefeated regular season conference record in 8th grade.” The coaches, as well was the entire school, wishes the boys well as they close out their Saint Gilbert Rebel careers and knows they will succeed in whatever scholastic and athletic endeavors they pursue in high school and beyond.

Saint Gilbert is a Pre-K through 8th Catholic School celebrating 73 years of providing quality education to the Grayslake Community. It was named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the Department of Education and is an IESA member school, offering boys’ and girls’ basketball, volleyball, cross country, track and girls cheer. Their coaches are volunteers – parents of the school children. Interested in

learning more? Come visit us on the web at www.stgilbertschool.org or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Saint-Gilbert-Catholic-School-126504574087725/. You can arrange a tour by calling 847-223-8600 or by emailing school.office@saintgilbertschool.org.