Diocesan middle schools St. Joseph and St. John Neumann fared well in Knoxville Independent School League basketball tournament play in February.
St. Joseph’s boys varsity team completed its season with a 21-0 record, claiming the KISL small school regular-season and tournament championships. The Bulldogs’ perfect season included wins over St. John Neumann, Sacred Heart and St. Mary of Oak Ridge.
St. Joseph was led by KISL tournament MVP Luke Smith. Joining Luke on the all-tournament team from the Bulldogs were eighth-grade post Lucky DePersio and sixth-grade shooting guard Walter Pickering. Luke and Bulldogs wing Caleb Morgan were All-League selections.
St. John Neumann’s boys varsity team claimed the 2012-13 KISL tournament championship in the large school division, defeating Episcopal School of Knoxville in the championship game.
The Mustangs, who finished second in the KISL regular season, were led by tournament most valuable player Joseph Fluker, All-Tournament selections Sean Purcell and JB Schaffer and All-League selection Jack Sompayrac. JB also made the All-League team.
St. Mary concluded a successful season as tournament runners-up, with Darryl Bonner and Austin Vinyard named to the All-League team and Al Ferre and Austin selected to the All-Tournament team.
