REGIONAL CHAMPS 1969

St. Mary's entered the District Tournament as a heavy favorite, and the three games played proved to be a showcase for the talented Raider team. Our opening game was against Holy Rosary, who had managed to slip by us twice in the regular class. But behind the fine shooting of Mike Haremski and John Looby, and the clutch performance from Ray Wickes, St. Mary's was not to be denied. We won 96-69. This was just the start of our revenge as the next game brought on St. Andrew's, a team that had given us trouble in both games so far this year.

With John Hansen and Mike O'Donnell showing their tournament experience, the Raiders put the game away in the first half, with reserves playing almost the entire second half, the Raiders recorded an 80-48 victory. The District final was played against a fired-up St. Joe's team. The outcome of the game was not decided until the final two minutes as St. Joe's burned the nets too often, but under the steadying influence of Mike Fournier, who threw in several clutch baskets, St. Mary's led almost the entire game and recorded an 83-75 victory. Thus St. Mary's added the first of a line of trophies that destiny seemed to lay in her path.