Athletic News
Basketball Drops Nike T.O.C. Opener against Centennial
PHOENIX, Ariz. – St. Francis fell behind early and lost to Centennial (Nev.) 55-45 in the opening round of the Nike Tournament of Champions at the Ray and Joan Kroc Center Thursday despite a valiant effort in the second half.
St. Francis (6-1) fell behind early as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-0 run and trailed 17-4 after the first quarter.
“I thought we played hard after the first quarter when we really got punched in the mouth,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton.
Basketball Travels to Arizona for Nike Tournament of Champions
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The St. Francis basketball team will open the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix against Centennial (Nev.) at 11:20 a.m. on Thursday, Dec 18 at the Kroc Center. It is the first of four games during the five-day trip.
“We want to use it as a learning experience to play four worthy opponents that we would not normally face in this area,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “It is a great character builder for girls.”
Four Players Selected for Volleyball Optimist All-Star Game
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Four St. Francis senior volleyball players have been selected to play in the 2014 Optimist All-Star game on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. at El Camino High School.
“It was such an honor to hear I was selected and to know I was one of the top players in the area,” said senior Ashley Sutter, who will play for the South team. “It was exciting. We are all hoping for a good game. I think we have a good chance to get the win.”
The Troubadours chosen include Lizzy Corfee, Marissa Gollnick, Kyle Green and Sutter.
Cross Country’s Worthen Earns All-America Honors
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Junior Chase Worthen earned All-America honors at the USATF Junior Olympic Cross Country National Championships held in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Dec. 12-13.
Worthen placed 21st with a time of 18:49 over the 5K course. The top 25 racers in each division and top three team earned the title of All-American.
Worthen was competing at Nationals for the eighth time in her career. She will return as one of the senior leaders for St. Francis cross country in 2015.
Varsity Defeats Center to Reach Claude Brock Memorial Final
ANTELOPE, Calif. – Junior Yvonna Molodanof sparked a big first half as the St. Francis basketball team posted a 64-45 win over host Center in the semifinals of the Claude Brock Memorial Saturday afternoon.
“She had three threes in the first half and she played some very solid defense on their point guard which really helped us to get in the passing lanes,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “It created a lot of turnovers for us and I think Yvonna was a big difference maker today.”
Freshmen Win Cosumnes Oaks Winter Shootout
ELK GROVE, Calif. – Nicole Frank scored a game-high 21 points to lead the St. Francis freshmen team to a 67-34 victory over Granite Bay Saturday afternoon to win the Cosumnes Oaks Winter Shootout. The Troubadours also won games over Hughson and Antelope on the way to the title.
“It was all team,” said Frank after the game. “We have good chemistry. It is all passing and we easily made these baskets.”
Basketball Wins Behind Huffman’s Career-High 22 Points
ANTELOPE, Calif. – Junior Kyra Huffman scored a career-high 22 points to lead St. Francis to a 75-38 victory in the opening game of the 27th Claude Brock Memorial hosted by Center High School.
St. Francis (5-0) led by double digits after the first quarter behind six points by junior Julia Razo, who was one of three players in double figures for the game with 10 points. The Troubadours led 37-25 at the break but finally pulled away behind Huffman in the second half.
Water Polo Banquet
Senior Lauren Charter was selected the team’s Player of the Year at the St. Francis water polo team banquet on Dec. 9.
Varsity Tournament Rescheduled
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Varsity Basketball game against Rosemont in the first round of the Claude Brock Memorial Tournament at Center HS has been rescheduled to Friday, Dec. 12 at 3:30 p.m. The tournament will continue Saturday and Monday.
Charter Headlines Water Polo Honorees at Banquet
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Lauren Charter was selected the team’s Player of the Year at the St. Francis water polo team banquet Tuesday night.
Charter scored a team-best 55 goals and 78 points to lead the Troubadours to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Division I finals for the third consecutive season. A two-time USA Water Polo Academic All-American, she earned all-section and All-Delta League first-team honors in 2014. She finished her career with 109 career goals and will compete for California next fall.
2014 Tennis Highlights
- The Troubadour tennis team advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section quarterfinals for the second consecutive season before losing 5-4 at St. Mary’s. They team advanced in the playoffs with wins over Franklin (S) and Gregori of Modesto.
- The team posted a 14-4 overall record under Kristi Spector, including a 10-2 Delta League mark to finish second.
- Junior Avery Spector earned all-league honors for the second consecutive season, posting a 9-6 record at No. 1 singles for the Troubadours. She reached the Delta League singles finals for the second consecutive season.
Tennis Team Celebrates Season
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis tennis team celebrated their 2014 season during the team banquet last week.
The Troubadour tennis team advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section quarterfinals for the second consecutive season before losing 5-4 at St. Mary’s. They team advanced in the playoffs with wins over Franklin (S) and Gregori of Modesto.
2014 Golf Highlights
- St. Francis finished sixth at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament. Junior Kate Swanson and freshman Chase Saca tied for team-best honors with rounds of 88. The Troubadours advanced to the Masters with a fourth-place finish at the Division I tournament.
- Senior Victoria Ramirez was a three-year member of the varsity team. She carded a person-best three-over par 39 against Monterey Trail on Oct. 13.
- St. Francis went 6-1 in the inaugural season of the revamped Delta League, placing second overall.
Basketball Wins Viking Classic in Chico
CHICO, Calif. – The St. Francis basketball team defeated Eureka 58-32 Saturday in the championship game of the 41st Annual Viking Classic hosted by Pleasant Valley High School. Senior Susie Rogers was the named the tournament MVP and Lauren Craig and Angie Ortiz were both named to the all-tournament team.
“Susie was the catalyst the whole tournament,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “Lauren and Angie were both great on the offensive end of the floor.”
JV Basketball Drops Tournament Finale on Buzzer Beater
FOLSOM, Calif. – The St. Francis junior varsity basketball team lost a heartbreaker on a 35-foot buzzer beater 53-52 to El Dorado Saturday morning.
“I really hope this doesn’t go in,” said Nicolos of her thoughts during the final shot. “I really thought it was a million in one chance of it going in.”
Nicolos, who is from Elk Grove, led the team with 17 points. Freshman Logan Kelly added 12 points and sophomore Reina Deol scored 11 aided by three first-quarter three-pointers.
Myers Leads Trio at Footlocker West Regional Championships
WALNUT, Calif. – Senior Miranda Myers finished 17th overall in a field of 143 at the Footlocker Cross Country West Regional Championships Saturday morning with a time of 19:05. Teammate Peyton Bilo was 73rd overall (20:16), while junior Chase Worthen was 121st. (21:11).
The trio helped St. Francis placed third overall in the Division I race at the CIF State Championships on Nov. 29.
Myers, who has signed with Northern Arizona, finished one spot ahead of Mikayla Malaspina of Caldwell, Idaho, who will also run at NAU next fall.
Senior Cobile Sparks Foundation Win at West Campus
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Maureen Cobile scored eight points and sparked the Troubadours to a 55-45 win over West Campus in their Foundation Game Monday night to open the 2014015 season. Cobile missed her entire junior season due to an injury and responded with a big debut.
“I thought she was a catalyst,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “She gave us energy defensively and guarded their speedy guard. Offensively, she supplied us with eight points coming at the end of the first and beginning of the second which really helped. I thought she was the player of the game.”
State Championship Photo Gallery
With the third-place finish, St. Francis recorded a top-five finish for the third time in the last four seasons.
Cross Country Places Third at State Meet
FRESNO, Calif. – The theme for the weekend was Wizard of Oz and the Troubadours clicked their heels all the way down the yellow dirt road at Woodpark Park to find a top three trophy at the end of the road Saturday.
With the third-place finish, St. Francis recorded a top-five finish for the third time in the last four seasons. The Troubadours finished among the Top 10 for the fourth straight season and became the third Nor Cal team to earn a podium finish at the Division I state meet (St. Francis, 2012; Davis, 2013) and second in school history.
Myers and Bilo Passing on the Torch in Final Meet
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – For four years of workouts, hills, mile repeats, hugs, laughter and tears, the duo of Peyton Bilo and Miranda Myers have been the heart and soul of a St. Francis cross country team that has been among the best in the state. They will toe the line Saturday for the final time together in a quest for a memorable ending to their four-year varsity cross country careers.
“We are going to try to run personal bests and have fun out there,” said Bilo. “We are shooting for Top 10 overall. We will see what happens.”