February 24, 2013 – Upper Darby, PA
The 2012–2013 GOYA basketball season came to a thrilling close yesterday at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Upper Darby, where four games—including two championship matchups—were played in front of a packed gym.
Families, friends, and parishioners from across the region, from Egg Harbor, NJ to Media, PA, lined the walls of the league’s largest gymnasium. The energy was electric, the cheering nonstop—and the famous St. Demetrios spanakopita kept the crowd fueled throughout the five-hour event.
Consolation Games
Girls Consolation: St. Demetrios 15, Evangelismos 14
In a nail-biting opener, the St. Demetrios girls edged out Evangelismos of Philadelphia in a back-and-forth game that came down to the wire. Each team traded baskets until the final moments, with St. Demetrios holding on for a 15–14 win on their home court.
Boys Consolation: Evangelismos 48, St. George 34
Evangelismos dominated the boys’ third-place game early, nearly running away with it by halftime. St. George of Media mounted a brief rally, but Evangelismos stayed in control and secured a solid 48–34 victory.
Championship Games
Girls Championship: Holy Trinity 24, St. Luke 12
The girls’ final saw two deserving teams clash for the title: undefeated Holy Trinity of Egg Harbor and a late-surging St. Luke squad from Broomall.
St. Luke showed grit and hustle, staying within reach during the first half. But in the second, Holy Trinity’s depth, discipline, and season-long consistency took over. Their tough defensive play and confident shooting sealed a 24–12 win—and the championship.
Boys Championship: Elkins Park 51, Holy Trinity 47 (OT)
In what may have been the game of the year, Annunciation of Elkins Park claimed its second consecutive boys’ championship in dramatic fashion—an overtime thriller against a strong Holy Trinity squad.
Holy Trinity led for most of the game, thanks to standout performances from Vasil Stoimenov, who repeatedly delivered in key moments. But Elkins Park’s fast-paced backcourt duo, Jimmie and George Armentani, kept the pressure high all game long.
Late in the fourth quarter, Stephan Zoubroulis stepped up for Elkins Park, hitting clutch shots and battling hard on the boards. His efforts forced Stoimenov to foul out with under two minutes left, shifting the momentum. Elkins Park capitalized, tied the game at the buzzer, and pulled ahead in overtime through a mix of fast breaks, second-chance points, and made free throws.
Final Score (OT): Elkins Park 51, Holy Trinity 47
Back-to-back champions.