Traverse City Record-Eagle

Prep Sports

MORE ON ST. FRANCIS' TITLE RUN

MORE PHOTOS

For more photos from this game with the option to purchase reprints, see today's photo gallery »

TICKET INFO

St. Francis is closed today for spring break. Fans wanting to purchase tickets for Saturday's noon final should email Tom Hardy at thardy@gtacs.org.

Related Photos

  • Traverse City St. Francis student Kenzie Feeney,17, celebrates Thursday's 63-54 win over Shelby in the Class C state semifinal game at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump

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  • Mike Eckert

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March 23, 2012

Glads get first shot at hoops title

By MIKE ECKERT meckert@record-eagle.com

There isn't room in the rafters at the St. Francis gym to display all of the state championship banners the Gladiators have accumulated over the years.

Ironically, the sport that plays under those banners has yet to hoist one of its own. They've never even played for one.

The St. Francis basketball program will get its first shot at a Class C state championship on Saturday, thanks to a 63-54 win over Shelby on Thursday at Michigan State's Breslin Center.

Standing in the way of the Gladiators will be Flint Beecher, the No. 1 team in the state with the two-time Player of the Year.

Not to mention, the Bucs have won three state titles, and have had four state runner-up finishes.

Something tells me, though, that St. Francis won't be intimidated by facing a state powerhouse with the biggest prize on the line, especially if Thursday's win is any indication.

Led by senior point guard Devin Sheehy's 12 first-quarter points, St. Francis grabbed an early lead that it held for most of the game. Shelby took a brief 45-43 lead late in the third quarter, but the Gladiators erased that deficit in 12 seconds and never looked back.

Because of the success of other sports, these Gladiators don't look like first-timers in a state final. They're here to win.

They're here to add another banner.

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