LADY PANTHERS CAPTURE STATE RECORD 6TH STRAIGHT STATE TITLE

Richmond, Virginia 3 March. Head Coach Scott Allen said he felt the pressure on the drive to Richmond Friday morning. Following a convincing 70-31 victory on Wednesday against down State opponent and #8th seeded St. Ann Belfield the PVI Lady Panther's had to travel to Benedictine High School to defend the Virginia Independent School State Championship that they had captured for the past five seasons. Standing directly in their way in the Semi-Finals was the formidable cross-town rival Flint Hill Huskies that had taken the Panthers to overtime in the past two State title games. Coach Allen commented on how "long the bus ride seemed" as each mile passed and the worries in his mind mounted.

The pressure of being the #1 seed and winning such an unprecedented number of consecutive championships appeared to be too much for the Panthers to handle as they got off to a slow start in the Semi-Final, trailing 14-8 at the end of the 1st quarter of play. During the break, the coaches challenged the girls to play "their game" and relax! They did just that in the 2nd quarter - out scoring Flint Hill 29-9 by executing a ferocious full-court press that led to a 14 point half. Throughout the second half they never let up the pressure on the senior-that at one point reaching a 24 point lead. The final score was 69-52, with Ariana Freeman (26 pts) and Marlena Tremba (22pts) leading the scoring for the Panthers. The signature PVI defensive pressure was the key to victory though, as the girls simply never let Flint Hill get on track offensively.

Saturday brought the VISAA State Championship game and opponent #3 seed Liberty Christian Academy from Lynchburg, upset winners Friday over #2 seed St. Catherine's of Richmond. Even though the LCA team featured an outstanding and experienced (and tall) lineup, the coaches implored the team in the pre-game to show what the "Paul VI on our shirts stood for and to apply the pressure that only we could bring!" And that they did making it extremely difficult for LCA to get the ball up the court to its talented inside tandem, limiting them to very few opportunities to take advantage of their height advantage over the Panthers. Once again, however, the Panthers had to overcome a slow start offensively, and were clinging to a narrow lead mid-way through the 2nd quarter when Junior guard Marlena Tremba put LCA in shock with a sizzling four 3-pointers within a four minute span to distance the Panthers from the stunned LCA team. The final score after a total team effort was - PVI - 67 Liberty Christian 45 - left no doubt in anyone's minds that Paul VI continues to be the premier team of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association.  

The Panthers placed two players on the VISAA Division I All Tournament Team, Marlena Tremba whose scoring throughout the tournament (18.6 ppg) was critical to the team's success in the tournament, and Junior point guard Lauren Cox, who in addition to providing stability and leadership to the Panther attack, took on the responsibility of defending the oppositions best shooter in each game. Taking Tournament Most Valuable Player honors was Sophomore Ariana Freeman who in addition to leading PVI in scoring in the tournament (averaging 25.6 points per game) also was a totally dominate force on the defensive end of the floor causing havoc at the top of the stifling PVI full-court press and on the boards pulling down team leading rebounds in each game.

In addition to the unprecedented 6th straight VISAA title the 2011-12, no other basketball team in the history of the VISAA has won six consecutive state championships and it is up for argument that no other sports team has won six straight in any sport in the history of the VISAA. Also, PVI tied their own girls basketball school record for most wins in a season with 23 and finished 4th in the WCAC for the year. Time to relax and rest on their laurels? Not really!. Number 7? Why not? There are #13 VISAA State Titles now on our banner in the PAC (out of last 15 years). Next year's goal - #14!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE LADY PANTHERS!!! Lauren Cox, Kasey Curtis, Annie Kane, Marilisa Morales, Mariel Simko, Josey Swanberg, Marlena Tremba, Ariana Freeman, Lindsey Oblitey, Kendall Hunter, Megan Plombom, Kayla Meador, and Lauren Alger. Student Assistants Nicole Miller and Veronica Mercado. And to the entire PVI Coaching Staff - Scott Allen, Parker Roach, Jeff Benjamin, Christina Stepanovich, Kelly Brabec, Tony Conques, Leanne Conques, and Julie Jones. The entire Paul VI community is proud of your accomplishments!!