Before the season began, the thought of St. Frances' winning the Catholic League tournament almost seemed anticlimactic.
After all, the Panthers had won the tournament title last year and were the overwhelming favorites to win both the league and tournament crowns this season.
But the Panthers' season was marred at times by inconsistent play, injuries and heartbreaking losses.
That's why No. 9 St. Frances' 58-39 victory over No. 18 Mount de Sales in the tournament final at Archbishop Spalding yesterday was anything but anticlimactic for Panthers coach Jerome Shelton.
"Winning the tournament for the first time last year was special," Shelton said. "But this means more because of all the adversity we had to deal with this season. The players had a singleness of purpose to win this thing."
Led by seniors Melba Chambers (30 points, eight rebounds, six steals) and Kristi Webb (17 points, 16 rebounds), St. Frances (20-7) won its second consecutive tournament championship after finishing in second place during the regular season.
Chambers, who finished strong the second half of the season after an early scoring slump, dazzled the Sailors with an array of slashing drives and outside shots.
"I know I had to step my game up," said Chambers, who totaled 83 points in three tournament games. "If I play better, the whole team plays better. We know we can beat anyone in the league."
The fourth-seeded Sailors (16-9), who advanced to the championship game with a stunning 44-43 upset of top-seeded Seton Keough Saturday, successfully slowed the tempo in the first half and were within 25-20 at halftime.
But the Panthers, winners of eight straight, got their transition game going in the second half. St. Frances built a 38-26 lead after three quarters and opened the fourth quarter with a 14-2 run to blow open the game.
Sailors coach Bill Held said his strategy was to shoot from outside, get the rebound and try to get St. Frances in foul trouble. But the Sailors, who were outrebounded 37-25, managed just six offensive rebounds.
Six-foot-2 senior center Amy Buck scored 16 points to lead Mount de Sales, which lost all three meetings with St. Frances this season, including a 59-41 defeat on Wednesday.
"We had our road to glory Saturday," Held said. "I think we were still thinking about Seton Keough. But St. Frances just beat us."