Title
Honoring the Father Judge High School Boys' Basketball Team for winning the 2025 Philadelphia Catholic League Championship and celebrating their remarkable achievement.
Body
WHEREAS, The Father Judge High School Crusaders have demonstrated exceptional determination, resilience, and teamwork in capturing the 2025 Philadelphia Catholic League Basketball Championship, ending a 27-year championship drought and bringing immense pride to their school and the Northeast Philadelphia community; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Head Coach Chris Roantree and Assistant Coach Jim Reeves, who both played on Judge's last championship team in 1998, the Crusaders executed a remarkable four-year rebuilding plan that transformed a program that had gone 2-12 in league play into Catholic League champions; and
WHEREAS, The Crusaders demonstrated exceptional resilience and competitive spirit in their championship victory, overcoming an early 10-point deficit against Roman Catholic, the league's preeminent powerhouse seeking its 35th championship and third consecutive title, ultimately prevailing 41-34 in a defensive showcase at the historic Palestra; and
WHEREAS, Senior guard Kevair Kennedy, senior center Everett Barnes, and teammates Derrick Morton-Rivera, Rocco Westfield, Nazir Tyler, Max Moshinski, and the entire Crusaders roster embodied the values of perseverance, teamwork, and mutual trust, with Kennedy's leadership and clutch performance, Barnes' defensive dominance, and significant contributions from all team members proving essential to their championship success; and
WHEREAS, The Father Judge High School community, including students, faculty, alumni, and Northeast Philadelphia residents, provided tremendous support throughout the season, filling the Palestra with a sea of blue on championship Sunday and creating what Coach Roantree described as an atmosphere comparable to "the Eagles winning the Super Bowl" for the Northeast Philadelphia community; and
WHER...
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