The girls’ varsity CYO basketball team of St. Andrew Parish, Newtown, is heading to the eight-team, statewide CYO basketball tournament in Reading this weekend. It will be held at Berks Catholic High School, 955 East Wyomissing Boulevard in Reading.

St. Andrew’s girls captured both the Region 19 title and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia championship, thereby representing the archdiocese in the state tournament against the other Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania.

Under the direction of head coach Jim Staudt, assistant coaches Greg Gerber and John Coleman, the Lady Crusaders advanced to the archdiocesan championship game by first winning four games against Our Lady of Good Counsel (Southampton), Annunciation (Havertown), St. Bernadette (Drexel Hill), and SS. Simon and Jude (West Chester).

St. Andrew’s then played St. Patrick, Malvern in the championship March 1 at Archbishop Wood High School. The Crusaders’ stifling man-to-man defense contributed to St. Andrew’s 50-30 victory.

St. Andrew’s girls’ team last won the archdiocesan and state tournaments in the 1999-2000 season.

St. Andrew’s girls celebrate their 50-30 archdiocesan CYO title win over St. Patrick’s, Malvern, March 1 at Archbishop Wood High School.