A History Lesson

Let's start with some trivia: Name the only City League boys team to never win a GWAL basketball title… The answer below...

We’re right about the half way point of the City League schedule, so let’s take stock. We have a couple of interesting races – on paper. In reality? Don’t hold your breath. Heights is steamrolling toward another boys and girls sweep.

The Falcons boys (7-1) are up a game in the loss column over Northwest and East but have looked like an entirely different team since the return of Evan Wessel in early January. Since reinserting the junior guard into the lineup, Heights is 6-0 and has done it with ease. Their average margin of victory during that stretch – 25 points.

Northwest seems to be putting things together, beating East earlier this week to knock the Aces out of first. But a 30+ point loss to the Falcons earlier this month is hard to overlook.

East has been slumping. After winning seven in a row early in the season, they’ve dropped three of their last four. Injuries are taking their toll.

Heights will host East on Tuesday in a game that could blow the race wide open.

The Falcon girls (8-0) have even more impressive splits on their end. Against Kansas schools their margin of victory is 43 ½ points. Against the City League – even better – 45.4 a game.

Bishop Carroll is 8-1 and just a half game back but lost to Heights by 18 in their lone meeting. If Carroll can win out it potentially gives them a shot at a share of the title in their regular season finale on February 23rd.

Trivia Answer: Bishop Carroll

School, # of titles (Last title)

South - 12 (1996) – won 10 in a row between 1987 and ’96 under Steve Eck
Southeast – 10 (2008) – won a share of 4 of the last 7
East – 9 (2005)
Heights – 8 (2009)
North – 4 (1974)
Northwest – 3 (2004)
West – 3 (1983)
Kapaun – 2 (2006)
Carroll - 0

Carroll has made up for it on the girls side, winning a share of six of the last eight. Their eight total GWAL titles matches them with Heights for number one.
You have to go back to 2000 to find the last City League title not won by a team named Heights or Carroll.

School, # of titles (Last Title)
Carroll – 8 (2009)
Heights – 8 (2009)
Kapaun – 7 (2000)
Northwest – 7 (2000)
East – 4 (1984)
South – 4 (1978)
Southeast – 3 (1988)
North – 3 (1985)
West – 0

Only four times (since the girls officially began league play in 1973) has the same school won both a boys and girls title in the same year (Heights in 2009, Northwest in 2000, East in 1984 and South in 1978). If Heights can hang on and win both sides outright it will become only the second school to ever do it, joining East’s ’84 squads.