| Summit
girls win Hallissey Sportsmanship trophy
A Summit Academy girls team participated in the Hallissey Tournament held in Boise last weekend. This Catholic Basketball Tournament, started by the late Monsignor Hallissey 54 years ago, focuses on Christian Sportsmanship. This year thirty-four teams played a combined seventy-four games over the course of the weekend. That's a lot of basketball!!! The Summit team, comprised of two 8th graders, two 7th graders, two 6th graders, and one 4th grader, competed against 7th and 8th grade teams from other Catholic schools or parishes around the diocese. The Summit girls, coached by Norm and Julie Sonnen, won their tournament opener Friday night against a St. Mark's 7th grade team. This win paired them against a tough 8th grade team from St. Joes for their second game of the night. A tough press and turnovers plagued the team early on, but they were able to close the point gap to within 8 by the final buzzer. The next morning the Summit team, facing elimination, worked their way through the loser bracket playing four more games in just seven hours. Their amazing ability to find the energy to come back and play with such few players astonished the spectators. The girls' winning streak ended with their 4th game on Saturday, losing once again to the tough St. Joe's 8th grade team, but by only five points this time. The girls' great sportsmanship and love of their teammates impressed the Tournament committee, and they were selected as the recipient of the Girls' Hallissey Sportsmanship Trophy. This is the coveted award for the weekend and is presented after the tournament Mass on Saturday night. The team thanks the student council for a fun filled spirit week and pep rally before the tournament, as well as all the parents, alumni, and high school students who made the trip to Boise to cheer them on. Cheering non-stop and often standing throughout the game, the fans were amazing in how they encouraged the team for every point, rebound, and steal. We will never forget how the stands erupted after the three-point-buzzer-beater-shots, and when the team switched their offense to help every player try to score. Every girl on the team felt needed, loved, and appreciated! Thank you to the Saint Anthony's Society for helping sponsor the team, as well as the Tri-Parish team members for joining us for a pizza party Saturday night; it was a great way to celebrate the success of all of the teams from Cottonwood in the tournament. 
Summit’s Hallissey team with the Sportsmanship Trophy. Front from left: Noelle Biltz, Makayla Rose, Dani Sonnen, Rachel Sonnen. Back: Claira Osborne, Jade Prigge, Kelly Stubbers and coaches Julie Sonnen and Norm Sonnen. Photo provided by Summit Academy. |
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