The 2024-25 St. Bernadette Bulldogs

Where do I even begin? For nearly a decade, this group of guys has repped the blue and gold St. Bernadette jerseys with the exception of Tommy Graham (second to the left), someone who became an eventual bulldog. Starting back in 3rd grade, we were all playing for the same Bernadette basketball program, something that went all the way through 8th grade. When high school came around, the bulldog program lost Riegler for a year, as well as my brother Danny and I for two years—as we were playing basketball for Ed’s. Technically, the reunion started in the 2023-24 season as juniors, but there were still some missing parts and meshing to do. Regardless, we were still nearly city champs. Fast forward to senior year, everything started coming together. Off-season moves were made to add one of the original Bernadette’s hoopers, Matthew Hopkins (pictured second to the right) to help get this bulldog team rolling in their final season. The regular season had been marked with Bernadette dominance—finishing the regular season 8-0, also having the highest point differential of any Cleveland team. The city playoff had then rolled around, and we were given a bye week for having the number one seed. Eventually, we were scheduled against St. Mary of the Falls, the previous state champs who also represent St. Ed’s. In a fun game of runs, our bulldogs came out on top, clinching a spot in the state tournament and matching up with division rival St. Basil the Great in the city semifinals. Despite having previously beaten St. Basil, we collectively had a bad performance, dropping the game against our divisional rival. However, we were still heading to Toledo to compete for a state championship. You heard that right folks, a CYO basketball team traveling well over an hour away and even staying the night in Toledo in hopes of a championship. Friday, February 21, we had been scheduled to play at 6:30 after school. After a long road trip, we all arrived with energy and jumped out to a twenty point lead at halftime, starting the tournament strong. In a scattered second half, we took home a thirteen point victory, now being matched up with the Toledo city champions in round two. The fellas had to be up bright and early for this one, having been scheduled for 8:30 in the morning. This game was a thriller. A high scoring first quarter, a Danny Ottiger half court buzzer beater, a career high 32 from myself, a twelve point comeback, and some defensive troubles made this one a classic in Toledo. Unfortunately, our bulldogs came up a point short, losing in the state tournament. Regardless, it had been an incredible season from the fellas and it was great to suit up with the lifelong Bernadette friends. A Nick’s Cafe team breakfast followed by an emotional Bernadette CYO team post stirred a very melancholic mood among the guys, reportedly bringing Mrs. Coach Garlock to tears, having coached many of us for nearly a decade. It was all our last game playing for the school we had repped for so long, something that’s still setting in. I wouldn’t have wanted to suit up with any other guys, and it’s surreal to think this nearly decade long group of bulldogs will be heading off on their own journeys now. We will forever be bulldogs, and it’s been a pleasure.