February 24, 2013 – Upper Darby, PA
The 2012–2013 GOYA basketball season came to an exciting close on Sunday with four games—two consolation matchups and two championship finals—at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.
The packed gymnasium, filled with families, friends, and parishioners from as far as Egg Harbor, NJ (Atlantic City) and Media, PA, created a spirited atmosphere for the league’s final day. Spectators lined the walls of the league’s largest gym, cheering on their teams and fueling up at the snack bar, where the beloved St. Demetrios Spanakopita once again stole the show.
Consolation Matchups
Girls Consolation Game: St. Demetrios 15, Evangelismos 14
In a tightly contested opener, the girls of St. Demetrios (Upper Darby) edged out Evangelismos of Philadelphia in a back-and-forth battle. Trading baskets down to the final seconds, St. Demetrios secured the one-point victory on their home court.
Boys Consolation Game: Evangelismos 48, St. George 34
The boys of Evangelismos (Philadelphia) nearly ran away with the game by halftime, but St. George of Media fought back in the second half. Still, Evangelismos held firm, finishing with a 48–34 win and claiming third place in the league.
Championships
Girls Championship: Holy Trinity 24, St. Luke 12
The girls’ final featured two worthy opponents—top-seeded Holy Trinity of Egg Harbor and a rising St. Luke squad from Broomall.
St. Luke, who came together as a team late in the season, put up a strong fight in the first half, showing resilience and hustle. But in the third quarter, Holy Trinity’s season-long consistency and tough defense began to shine. Their disciplined play proved too much, and they pulled away for a 24–12 victory to cap off an undefeated season.
Boys Championship: Elkins Park 51, Holy Trinity 47 (OT)
In one of the most thrilling games of the year, Annunciation of Elkins Park (Elkins Park, PA) claimed their second straight boys’ championship with a 51–47 overtime win against Holy Trinity of Egg Harbor.
Holy Trinity controlled much of the game, led by the dynamic play of Vasil Stoimenov. But Elkins Park’s fast-paced backcourt duo—Jimmy and George Armentani—kept the tempo high, pushing the game into a track meet.
Late in regulation, Stephan Zoubroulis became the difference-maker. His clutch three-point plays and relentless effort on the boards forced Stoimenov to foul out with under two minutes to go. Elkins Park took full advantage, closing the gap and tying the game just before the buzzer.
In overtime, Elkins Park’s pressure defense, transition offense, and a handful of key free throws sealed the win—and a well-earned repeat championship.
