Junior High Basketball Teams Excel, Led by SDS Alumni

It was an exciting season for our St. Dominic Junior High basketball teams! Not only did our 7^th and 8^th grade Suns show work ethic, determination and perseverance-they did it under the guidance of three dynamic SDS alumni: James Crone (2010), Jeff Goodwin (2011) and our own legendary coach Jay Mathis (1973).

“The connection we have with our alumni-athletes is very special,” said SAA-SDS Athletic Director, Matt Nelson. “We have alums of all ages coaching both boys and girls. The energy they bring for their sports and the school is so positive for our students. They really take pride in carrying on a legacy of excellence in athletics.”

Coach Crone’s team were the regular season division champions and the PAA 7/8 Junior Varsity Bishop's Tournament Champions, finishing with a regular season record of 11-1, and 13-1 including the tournament wins.  

“The boys worked incredibly hard and well together,” said Coach Crone. “Every player knew their role, and everyone supported each other's success as well as the team. Our 8th graders were excellent from the start while the 7th graders each improved throughout the season, especially defensively. This team was the best defensive team in the league, and the guards were relentless in our full court press.

“The highlight of the season was definitely the 14-point comeback win at Westminster. After going down 14 at halftime, we went into full court pressure, forcing 7 turnovers in the third quarter and converting on 4 three-point shots in a row. This culminated in a third quarter run of 18-2,” Coach Crone added.

Coach Goodwin’s 7^th grade team finished the season with an overall record of 12-5 and 8-2 in league games.  He explained, “Our season ended earlier than we wanted with a tough upset in the first round of the in the PAA Bishop’s Tournament, but I am so proud of the way the guys worked this season. The growth these boys showed, both on and off the court, is something they’ll carry with them far beyond basketball. The trust and respect they’ve shown me as their coach is something I don’t take lightly.

“I would say the highlight of our season would be playing our rivalry game against St Louis at CBHS. It was an honor to coach these guys in the same gymnasium as the legendary Bubba Luckett,” Coach Goodwin shared.

Coach Jay’s team, finishing 6-6 in the 8^th grade Varsity Division, may not have achieved all their goals, but they showed tremendous growth and had some great highlights to the season.

“The boys had a good year and improved greatly from the start of the season,” Coach Jay shared. “The ball handling skills against pressure man to man was really limited at the start, but it improved greatly throughout the year.” His team won the first round in Shelby League Tournament but lost in semi-finals.

“We had a few games where we got behind by big numbers, and boys never got rattled. We came back to pull off some good wins. Our highlights were probably the two really exciting wins we had against the Tipton-Rosemark and Fayette Academy teams,” he said.

Coach Jay also spoke to just how special the alumni coaches are and how much they have contributed to our St. Dominic basketball program.

“It is great to have former players who want to come back and be involved in our basketball program. James Crone is one of the better shooters to come through St. Dominic but was never on a Varsity team. He will tell you, he is ‘a combo guy.’ He has always had a love of basketball and was part of some good SDS teams. He is the perfect person to coach our combo team and did a great job leading them to the League Championship this year.

“Jeff Goodwin was a point guard on one of the most successful teams in St. Dominic history, winning four straight League Championships. He has done an excellent job with our 7^th grade guys this year.”

Both young men say they are coaching at St. Dominic School because of the positive experiences they had as youth athletes on our campus.  

 “I loved my time at St. Dominic,” Coach Crone explained. “My brother and sister went here as well, so I've always felt a connection to the school. Now I've completed my seventh season as a coach, and I've developed a great relationship with all my teams. I love seeing them grow as basketball players, and I love running into them randomly at places like Huey's when they're older students at CBHS. It has been a really rewarding experience, and I’m already looking forward to next season. Go Suns!”

Coach Goodwin shared a similar sentiment: “As an alumnus, there is no better feeling then going from wearing the purple and gold to coaching the guys in purple and gold. The great bond that has developed between me and the boys means a lot to me. It’s a responsibility I hold close, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of their journey. I have to thank my former coaches at St Dominic who were also alums: Jeff Henson, Bobby and John Daush, and the living legend Jay Mathis. It is an honor to coach at the school that shaped me into the man I have become.”