Hey guys, it has been forever since I was on.  I miss it.  Senior year is wrapping up and Spring sports have gotten a couple weeks in.  I am planning on hitting a couple baseball and tennis games before I graduate!  For now however, I get to cover the final basketball game.  It will be a great game with some really impressive athletes that I have watched all year. 

The game will be hosted by the NJCAA National Champion JCCC Cavaliers.  So it will be at JCCC at 6:30 on Saturday.  Be there!

Aquinas will be most likely be represented by the Bourquin brothers, Zach and Beau.  There is some question as to whether or not they will be available for the game.

Tonight the boys team played the Highland Park Scots in the quarterfinals of the state tournament.  The boys lost 54-41 after a hard fought final game.

The score was tied at eight after the first quarter, but the Scots broke out their 3-point shooters scoring 20 points in the second quarter to the Saints' six.  Through the second half the lead fluctuated between 16 and nine before Highland Park pulled it out to 13 and won.

Over-all it was a good game for the Saints, The worked hard and had a lot of great plays.  The high-light reel would feature one play in particular.  Zach Bourquin blocks shot on the defensive end, baseball pass down the court to his twin brother Beau, the pass goes long and Beau flies after it.  While air born he passes behind-the-back to Kevin Sweeney for two points.

Aquinas was matched up with Wyandotte in their sub state final today hosted by Gardner Edgerton.  The Saints pulled off a 55-51 victory over the Bulldogs.  They join the Aquinas girls team who qualified for state after defeating Gardner Edgerton last night. (Check out that blog too if you are interested.)

The game was hard fought with long scoring runs by each team.  Wyandotte led most of the first half by five points or so leading by only one at the half.  The Bulldog attack was led by 11 3-pointers in the game.  My dad always says, "It's hard to beat a three with a two." That was a problem for Saints during the first half, but they got the Bulldogs under control holding them for only five points in the third.  That allowed the Saints to take the lead which they kept for most of the second half.

In the fourth quarter the Saints' lead vacillated from nine points to two.  The last minutes of the game were the most interesting as it came down to free-throws which the Bourquins took a hold of hitting seven between the two of them.

The Aquinas game tonight was quite a trek.  It was nearly two hours from Overland Park to Pittsburgh on a school night, but I made it for you.  Aquinas won by 24 with a final score of 41-17.

The Bourquins were kind enough to invite me into the team parent caravan as the team photographer and reporter.  Five other students showed up.  This was the first round of Sub-state which the boys have passed setting them up against Wyandotte on Saturday at Gardner-Edgerton.

The most interesting and controversial play of the game came in the first quarter when senior Zach Bourquin took the ball on a fast break and finished with a powerful two-handed dunk.  The play was re-called and Zach received a technical because he hung on the hoop after the play.  He said the "T" was worth it though.  That marks two games in a row in which he has dunked. 

The Dance Team sparkled on senior night while the boys fought back for a hard earned victory over the Huskies.  Though the Saints trailed by as many as 9, they were able to take the lead in the 3rd before trading off baskets and eventually drawing the lead to 12 for a 50-38 win in the third match of the year between these two teams.

I can't say that the start was surprising when the Huskies' sophomore star Brett Comer hit a shot on the first possession.  It was not shocking either that the entire team was on fire behind the arch.  But the Saints were able to overcome the talented huskies with a couple forced turnover which resulted in easy baskets.

Once again, the Saints were led by their seniors: Zach and Beau Bourquin, Kevin Sweeney and Alex Keith.  The Saints played together well and piled up the assists making the extra pass when it was beneficial for a basket.  The Saints also played one of the best transition games that I have seen; from steals and lay-ups to getting set for their press after a made basket. 

Tonight, the Saint Thomas Aquinas Saints faced the O’Hara Celtics in the first round of the Jim Draper Classic hosted by Blue Valley Northwest.  They won 63-51 and will face Blue Valley Northwest tomorrow night at 7:00.

The Saints entered the game after a frustrating first game which resulted in a 2 point loss on a last second shot in overtime to the Southeast Knights.

Zach Bourquin made the first basket of the season for the Saints, Tommy Harrison hit the first three pointer and Kevin Sweeney pulled down the first rebound.  Beau Bourquin led the team with 16 points.

The Saint's won tonight in a 17-12 rout of Garder-Edgerton for the sub-state championship, propelling Aquinas to it's first ever state championship game appearance.

The team scored first with a touchdown from a quarterback keep by Ricky Nachbar.  We followed that up with a field goal by David Baska.  The first half ended 17-7.  The Saints accomplished two interceptions and a blocked punt along with the scoring.

Early in the second half, Nachbar went down with an injury, (I was literally right where he lunged out of bounds and called for Lillis and Travis the trainer, it was ugly).  Head coach Kevin Kopecky went to former starting quarterback and current Linebacker, Beau Borquin.  Bourquin did a a great job stepping into the job with several passes to brother Zach Bourquin.     

Yes, that is a cheer courtesy of our Saint's cheerleaders. 

Tonight we had a school bonfire aptly named the "Go Saints, Beat Gardner" Bonfire.  Around 100 people showed up for the event.  The Saphire Dance Team performed, along with the cheerleaders and the Brigade band.  Head Coach Kevin Kopecky gave a couple words along with seniors Ryan Nelson, Zach Bourquin, David Baska and Kyle Brown.

The school is hyped up and is planning to show up in force with spirit buses.  The team is going for a histoic Aquinas record of getting past the state semi-finals.

So, when I left you in the first blog (Part 1) the score was 42-14 at the half. The half time show featured the Saphires Dance Team and then the Brigade Marching Band and Color Guard performance.  As the players filed back, there was a crowd of fans ready to high-five them as they ran onto the field.  Yes, I was one of them. 

I have to admit that I missed some of the game, when I left briefly to warm up.  Each team scored again and the final score was 49-20.  Zach Bourquin scored again on a 30-yard pass.

The Saints ended the game decisively on a fumble recovery with 27 seconds left in the game.  It was recovered at the Topeka 19 yard line.  There the teams ended the game and parted ways. 

Tonight Aquinas is playing Topeka Seaman High School in a sectional football contest.  The score at the half it 42-14.  You might wonder why this is just a half time update, well, it is so cold that I came home during Half-time to warm up and write for all of you loving fans.

The fans gradually gathered in and soon were huddling for warmth while cheering for the team and the managers alike.  It might be as cold as Russia in Rocky IV.  (Probably not, but the movie was on today and I love it.)

The game was started by an amazing kick-off return by senior Jordan Brandenburg that placed the Saints inside the 1.  Two plays later, Quarterback Ricky Nachbar ran it in, 1 yard, for a touchdown.  The Saints were on the board.  Soon after, Gabe Cunning ran in another touchdown after a 30 yard pass play giving the Saints a 14-0 lead.  David Baska's PATs have been perfect so far.  With 1:44 left in the first quarter, Topeka scored.