Cavaliers’ players take pride in competing with bigger schools
By Jeff Kurowski | On Mission
MARINETTE — Attend a basketball game at St. Thomas Aquinas Academy (STAA) and the smell and sound of corn kernels popping in concessions fill the air as you make your way to the gymnasium entrance.
Walk through the doors to the court and you view multiple banners displayed on the north wall. One banner recognizes the 1964 and 1983 boys’ state basketball championships won by Catholic Central High School, predecessor to STAA.
The current boys’ basketball team embraces tradition and relishes the opportunity to play in such a historic gym, said head coach Jack Farley, who’s in his fourth season leading the program.
“We have a lot of great people around the school who tell us about the history. We really appreciate that,” he said.
“It’s vintage,” said senior guard Teagan Anderson about the team’s home court.
The 2024-2025 team is working to leave its own mark. While Farley didn’t set a specific goal for wins this season, expectations were high amongst the players.
So far, so good for the Cavaliers.
“A winning season would mean a lot. We’re on track,” said Farley. “(The players) have that expectation. We knew this was our year. We had to grow up and really play as a team.”
The Cavaliers improved to 8-3 with an 80-56 victory over Stockbridge on Jan. 16. STAA’s last winning season was 2017-2018. Farley and assistant coach Christian Hornick were senior standouts on that team. Farley averaged more than 26 points per game and was the Marinette & Oconto (M & O) Conference player of the year. Hornick averaged more than 11 points and 10 rebounds per game.
The return of the team’s strong nucleus prompted optimism at the start of this season.
Anderson was a second team all-M & O Conference selection last season. He’s one of four seniors, along with guard Calvin Peters and forwards Henry Piasecki and Tug Paidl.
Junior guard/forward Caleb Duvall and sophomore guard Jake Farley, Jack’s younger brother, are returning starters. Both are averaging double figures in scoring this season.
“We’ve got contributors from every (grade) level,” said Jack Farley. “We have seniors who’ve been varsity starters for four years now. Their experience helps with the talent at the younger levels.”
STAA is by far the smallest school in its conference with 52 students in the high school. The other eight M & O schools have at least double the enrollment.
The Cavaliers have 13 players on this year’s roster. Half the boys in the school are part of the basketball program.
“We outperform our size every year. There are schools our size regularly winning two or three games a year,” said Farley. “We always take pride in being able to compete. We would prefer not to ever have to co-op. If we can field six kids, we would rather have our own team. We did that my junior year (six players).”
“It feels good to compete with bigger schools and win,” said Duvall. “I think (being small) makes it more like a family. We are there for each other.”
Anderson, who is on pace to top 1,000 career points this season, echoes the appreciation of the small school community at STAA.
“I love this school. Every day I enjoy coming to school, going to practice,” he said. “I love both of my coaches, Jack and Christian. I enjoy their presence and the friendships. Some of the friends I have on the team, I’ve been together with since preschool.”
Defense is the key to the team’s success, said Farley. He said he wants his team to apply constant pressure. The Cavaliers regularly utilize a 1-3-1 zone and trap when an opponent passes the ball to the wing.
“They’ve grown up with (that defensive scheme), but we can run other defenses,” he said. “Defense and effort can show up every night.”
“Defense is definitely our strong suit,” said Duvall, who plays out top in the 1-3-1. “Everybody likes offense, but, if we’re not making shots, we can rely on tough defense to keep us in the game until shots start falling.”
Farley said that in addition to development on the court, there is a focus to help the players grow as young men of faith.
“Teaching them Christian values,” he said. “I know they get that in school, but we definitely want to reinforce it and demonstrate good morals.”
Prayer is important for the team, he said.
“We pray before games. We always start right before breakdown,” said Farley. “We go out there for warmups, come back in and pray. We then go back out for the start of the game.”
The historic gym features new scoreboards. The floor was resealed last summer.
Farley said he appreciates the financial support that made the upgrades possible.
“I love our gym. Our athletic club and the school, all the fundraisers and donations, we have the best community here,” he said. “I can’t thank them enough.”
Farley, who scored 1,367 points during his high school career at STAA, said that he’s grateful to give back to the school that provided him with opportunities to grow. He wants the same for his players.
“We won three games three years ago. We’ve seen it building,” he said. “I love this program. I’m very proud that I came from a small school and was able to play with (my teammates) and that we had some success. I don’t think I would coach at any other school. This is where I want to be.”
Catholic Schools Week 2025
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Green Bay will be celebrating National Catholic Schools Week, Sunday, Jan. 26, to Saturday, Feb. 1. Schools typically observe the week with Masses, assemblies, events and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members to join the celebration.