St. James Basketball A Proud Tradition

There are few area junior high schools that can say they have the proud tradition of hosting their very own ten team tournament for 38 years.  This is the proud tradition and history our 7/8 grade boys basketball team cherishes and looks forward to every year.  The atmosphere is second to none come championship Sunday.  Our beloved facility is filled to capacity among hundreds of cheering fans, cheerleaders, coaches, and players.  This electrifying and charging experience cannot be duplicated and is recognized not only by our players, school, and church, but also by other competing schools as well.  

St. James Lutheran School is proud to offer competitive basketball in a Christian environment for both boys and girls from 4th through 8th grade.  St. James competes against other private, parochial, and public schools from all over the state and into Illinois. 

The 7/8 grade boys basketball season consistently averages a 24 game schedule. The season includes multiple weekend tournaments. Our season opening tournament features up to sixteen teams from across Indiana at the Lutheran High School gymnasium in Indianapolis.   We also travel to Illinois and play in Danville Lutheran’s ten team tournament and Our Savior Lutheran’s eight team tournament.  The 2010 season added a four team tournament hosted by Faith Christian School in Lafayette. 

The 7/8 grade boys 2008-2009 team were honored to represent St. James in our school’s first berth and appearance in the National Lutheran School Invitational.  This 32 team tournament is held at Division One Valparaiso University.  St. James lost the tournament opener in a heart breaking game by one point.  However, our team went on to play in the consolation championship semi-finals with a tournament record of 3-2 and an overall season record of 22-9. 

St. James has produced many young Christian male and female student athletes who have gone on to have very successful high school careers in basketball and other sports as well.