St. Pius Weekly Sports Recap

All four winter sports saw action last week as the second semester began at St. Pius. After hosting the 12th Annual St. Pius X Christmas Classic, both basketball teams returned to action against local teams while wrestling and swimming and diving competed in meets over the weekend. Girls’ basketball continues to sit in the No. 2 position in the latest Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) AAA poll and is ranked No. 2 in the first Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll of the season.

Fresh off a runner-up finish to nationally-ranked Archbishop Carroll in the Christmas tournament, the Golden Lions boys’ basketball team dropped two tight contests last week. On Tuesday evening, Wesleyan outlasted St. Pius (6-7, 1-2 in Region 5A-AAA), 61-57. The Golden Lions returned to region play, travelling to Riverwood where the Raiders won, 49-46, on Friday. The Golden Lions travel to North Atlanta tonight at 7pm before returning home to face Grady at 7:30pm on Friday in two pivotal region match-ups. Senior Collin McKay and sophomore Nick Harris were named to the Christmas Classic All-Tournament team over the holiday break.

The girls’ squad split its contests last week after finishing as runners-up in the Christmas tournament. No. 1 Wesleyan (A) defeated the Golden Lions, 44-34. Freshman Asia Durr scored 15 points in the loss, while senior Anne Lloyd Bean chipped in six. Durr led the Golden Lions (11-2, 3-0) with 20 points as the ladies claimed a 51-43 victory over Riverwood on Friday. Emma Ucinski had eight points in the win, with Elizabeth Elliott scoring seven. The ladies travel to North Atlanta Tuesday at 5:30pm, host Grady on Friday at 6pm and take on No. 8 Greater Atlanta Christian (AA) on Saturday at Wesleyan at 10:30am. Durr and senior Dylan Krause were selected to the Christmas Classic All-Tournament team during the holidays.

Wrestling went on the road to Woodward Academy for the Area Duals over the weekend where it finished in third place defeating Druid Hills, losing to McNair and beating Arabia Mountain. The Golden Lions host Westminster on Tuesday at 5pm before travelling to the State Duals in Macon this weekend.

Boys’ and girls’ swimming and diving finished in third place at the Southeast Catholic Schools Invitational at Emory on Saturday. Senior diver Taylor Halbig qualified for the state meet with her performance. The team travels to Lovett on Tuesday at 5pm.