Six-Peat

I don't usually follow high school sports nor do I usually talk about them in this blog. Permit me to make an exception.

Congratulations to the Lady Villains of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School of Kernersville, NC for winning their sixth consecutive NCHSAA Class 1-A girls basketball state championship. Their win in Chapel Hill tied North Carolina state records held by Hayesville High for most consecutive championships and for most championships.

The Lady Villains won the game 57-43 against Southwest Onslow High.

Megan Buckland, McGuinness' only senior and far and away its top player, spent much of her time doing the dirty work and passing the ball to teammates because the Villains led by 23 less than 11 minutes into the game.

Coach Brian Robinson of McGuinness, humble until the end, called off the dogs and called on the matador defense in the second half, during which the Stallions outscored the Villains 30-21.

"As long as you have the game in hand, there is no use to press or trap," Robinson said. "We just wanted to win the game. This is bigger than basketball. We had enough to win and we will never win by running the score up."

Given the youth of the team - only one senior - it is quite possible that next year I will have a post entitled "Seven-Peat". Great play, great coaching, and great sportsmanship will get them there.

Besides, Bishop McGuinness has one of the coolest team names going - Villains. The only other name that I think can compete is the University of Idaho with the Vandals.

And yes, I am an alumnus of Bishop McGuinness, Class of 1975, from when it was located in Winston-Salem.