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During the on-court celebration, Thomas found his way through the crowd and into the embrace of Holy Cross All-American Togo Palazzi ’54.
“I love the great tradition here,” says Thomas. “Having a Hall of Famer like Togo respect my game means a lot. He has treated me like one of his sons and taught me a lot.”
Against Bucknell, Ralph Willard’s defense lived up to its national reputation. Over one 9:08 stretch, the Crusaders held the Bison without a field goal as Clifford had six blocks in the first half.
Somehow a 46-27 lead didn’t seem safe enough against Bucknell, so well-coached by Pat Flannery. Some College die-hards remained edgy. Paul “Willis” Hart ’65, became so unnerved, he left his comfy seat to pace in the lobby. A few minutes later, when Bucknell went on a 13-0 comeback spree, Hart’s daughter Meghan ’96, joined him.
This time, however, Thomas was around for the second half (he had injured his knee in the 2006 championship encounter against Bucknell). Thomas capped his season-high performance (28) with a crucial three-pointer, putting the Crusaders up seven for keeps.
Simmons won the MVP trophy. Thomas and Clifford joined him on the all-tourney team. Willard, voted Patriot League Coach of the Year, captured his fourth tourney title. And the 25-8 Crusaders were on their way to the NCAAs where Holy Cross loves to scare beastie boys from places like Kansas, Kentucky and Marquette. Their foe: the 27-6 Southern Illinois University—nicknamed the Salukis after an ancient Egyptian canine that looks like a greyhound with a goatee.
The Lady Crusaders may have had a season of broken bones, but not broken dreams. They never gave up on themselves.
Already struggling at 3-6, the women’s team suffered a crippling blow as Laura Alosi ’08, its star guard, tore up her knee in Game 10 against Maine. So, too, did Jessica Pearson ’09, her excellent understudy.
Without guards to spearhead the attack, the rest of the season seemed, well, pointless.
“Everyone counted us out,” acknowledges Gibbons. Yet the Gibbons Girls had no quit in them. Relax, have fun and play hard, became their motto.
Brittany Keil ’07, hobbled after four knee operations, refused to let her sparkling career end with a whimper. She had to curb her enthusiasm, curtail her practice time and limit warm-ups. She started every game with a limp. She played with pain, knowing her career could end without notice. During one particularly dark moment, Keil wanted to quit. Amanda Wolf, the team trainer, pulled her aside and said, “Brit, we need your leadership!”
The Crusaders had other sources of inspiration.
Ashley Brennan-McBride ’07 is a 6-foot-5-inch Canadian. She arrived at Holy Cross highly-touted, expecting to play a lot. She mostly sat. She did not sulk. Her mother, Frances, a huge Crusader fan, died at the end of Ashley’s second year. She grieved. Her teammates, her coach and his wife, Lisa, provided her with solace, comfort and support. Chosen as a tri-captain, Ashley became the soul of the team, its constant encouragement, its emotional epicenter.
Kaitlin Foley ’07, a 6-foot-4-inch tri-captain, emerged as the heart of the Crusaders offense and defense. When the chips were down, Foley would rise to occasion and prove again and again why she would be named first-team all-league center. Ashley McLaughlin ’08 became a steady contributor and guards Bethany O’Dell ’10 and Briana McFadden ’10 showed amazing poise.
“Once we got it together, we never stopped believing,” remarks Keil.
Journey to the Big Dance, continued >>
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