Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — St. Bernard’s Academy enjoyed a memorable week on the basketball court as the SB boys secured a second NorCal championship in four seasons.

On Tuesday night, the Crusaders held their nerve late on the way to a 48-46 win over top-seeded Redding Christian in the Division-6 decider at Shasta College, getting the better of a Lions team that had beaten them twice in two regular-season matchups.

The hard-fought victory capped a memorable run through the postseason, and even though the players didn’t play their best game of the season in the final they did enough to win, especially at the defensive end.

And that make them our team of the week for the second straight week.

Since taking over from longtime head coach Steve Thrap, who had led the program to a first-ever NorCal title in 2016, current head coach Issac Gildea and his staff have done a tremendous job establishing the Crusaders as one of the most dangerous small-school teams in all of Northern California.

In his four seasons in charge, Gildea has now led the Crusaders to a pair of North Coast Section titles and two NorCal championships.

While it’s not officially a state championship — California does not hold a SoCal or state championship at the D-6 level — the Crusaders will consider it as such, and they should.

This is a team that went as far it could in the state playoffs and closed out the season as the most successful Division-6 boys team in all of California.

They also became the first team in H-DNL history to win a conference title, an NCS crown and a NorCal championship in the same year.

Our athlete of the week, meanwhile, goes to a key member of this year’s team, sophomore Garrett Shanahan.

The young standout has quickly become an integral part of a deep and balanced team and played one of his best all-around games in Tuesday’s championship game.

Shanahan led the Crusaders with 14 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three blocks.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK 

Garrett Shanahan 

St. Bernard’s Basketball, Sophomore

Several players stepped up big time for the Crusaders on their remarkable playoff run this year, including Little 4 MVP Liam Dyer, but I’m not sure any of them have played a more important role than Shanahan.

The young standout makes his presence felt in many ways and his performances in the paint opens up opportunities for his teammates to thrive.

And the best is yet to come for Shanahan, who should only continue to improve over the next two seasons.

For more on his big week, see History is made as the Crusaders hold their nerve in NorCal decider …

Submitted photo

TEAM OF THE WEEK 

St. Bernard’s Boys Basketball

Perhaps the most impressive thing about this year’s run to NCS and NorCal titles is the fact that the Crusaders did not have any seniors on their roster.

But this is a team that has come together quicker than anticipated and that’s a testament to the job Gildea and his staff have done and all the work the players have put in.

For much of the postseason, the head coach has been quick to point out how well his players connect with each other and how much of an impact his assistant coaches have had on the path to success.

The players all know their roles and there is tremendous team chemistry, which more than anything has paved the way to their quicker-than-anticipated success.

In addition to Shanahan and Dyer, players like Carson Costa, Tyler Hinrichs, Prince Latimer, Luke Brunton and Trenten Hagler, among others, have all made big contributions and provided valuable minutes.

And you can be sure this group won’t rest on their laurels and will come back as hungry for success as ever next winter.

For more on their big week, see History is made as the Crusaders hold their nerve in NorCal decider …