Upper Darby, PA – Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 16, 2012
While the nation paused to reflect on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the gym at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Upper Darby was alive with energy as three competitive GOYA basketball matchups unfolded.
Game 1: St. Demetrios (B) Boys vs. St. Luke (B) Boys
Two undefeated B teams tipped off the afternoon in a highly anticipated clash. The first half was tightly contested, with St. Demetrios holding a 21–14 lead at the break. But the second half was all St. Demetrios.
St. Luke attempted to run the ball early and then shifted to a full-court press, but their offense stalled—scoring no points in the third period. Missed opportunities and cold shooting hurt them, while St. Demetrios capitalized with solid rebounding and sharp shooting to run away with the win.
Final Score: St. Demetrios 47, St. Luke 20
Game 2: St. Demetrios Girls vs. St. Luke Girls
This game carried high stakes for St. Luke’s girls, who needed a win to secure a playoff spot. They led 15–10 at halftime and stretched the lead to eight points in the second half. But St. Demetrios fought back, applying heavy pressure and dominating the boards to close the gap in the final minutes.
In a chaotic final sequence, St. Demetrios mistakenly attempted shots at their own basket—twice within seconds. Fortunately for them, none went in. The confusion gave St. Luke just enough time to hang on.
Final Score: St. Luke 24, St. Demetrios 22
Game 3: St. Luke Boys vs. St. Demetrios Boys
In the final game of the day, St. Luke’s boys faced a win-or-go-home scenario. Not only did they need to win—they had to win by at least 16 points to make the playoffs.
They led 16–12 at halftime and held the edge through strong outside shooting. St. Demetrios kept pace by attacking inside and controlling the boards, but St. Luke managed to close out the game.
Despite the victory, the margin wasn’t enough to push them into the postseason.
Final Score: St. Luke 38, St. Demetrios 32