Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools on Feb. 24 presented Father Judge High School with $10,000 in scholarship money and doughnuts for the whole school in celebration of the Crusaders winning the Catholic League basketball championship the day before.
Rob Delany, CEO of BLOCS, made the presentation in front of the whole student body in the Bill Fox Jr. Gymnasium.
“We’re here to celebrate you, the Philadelphia Catholic League champions,” Delany said.
The scoreboards were turned on to show the score of the championship game: Father Judge 41, Roman Catholic 34.
Roman led 10-0 before Judge began its comeback.
BLOCS sponsored the championship game, played at the Palestra.
“Twenty-seven years. Let’s give it up for the 2025 Philadelphia Catholic League champions,” said Judge major gifts officer and celebration emcee Jason Budd, noting the last time the Crusaders won the title, in 1998.
The celebration also included an appearance by the Crusader mascot and a performance by the school drum line.
Coach Chris Roantree was in attendance along with a few of his assistants.
The players were given the rest of the day off.
The Crusaders have already clinched a spot in the PIAA Class 6A playoffs, which begin March 8, against a team to be determined from District One.
BLOCS provides some 25,000 scholarships to about 400 schools in 40 counties in Pennsylvania. ••
