Resolution 200489

..Title Honoring and congratulating the West Catholic girls basketball team on their successful 2019-2020 season and overall 22-6 record in the Philadelphia Catholic League girls basketball championships. ..Body WHEREAS, The West Catholic Girls basketball team is led by Beulah Osueke, the first Black coach to take the Philadelphia Catholic League title; and WHEREAS, Players Tamiah Robinson, Destiny Mcphaul, Safara Mcintyre, Ciani Montgomery, Daizy Wilson, Kaori Saunders, Ti Eisha Walker, Tamia Wessels, Layla Reid, Destiny Epps, Janell White, Beautiful Murray-Bey, Lemarah Samson, Serenity Peterson, Amina Reid, Crystal Smith, Amina Fowler, Layla Thompson showed determination, strength, and skill to become Philadelphia Catholic League champions; and WHEREAS, The team has ranked 1st overall in the Pennsylvania Division AAA, 4th overall in Pennsylvania, and 5th overall in Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, West Catholic worked to defeat rival teams like Archbishop Wood, once in early February and again at the Palestra in late February. West Catholic had spent the whole season working hard to find their way to the championship, as this was their first time in over 22 years to win the championship game. In a hard-fought game going into overtime, Girls West Catholic was eager to prove themselves and won with a final 65-60 score; and WHEREAS, Junior Destiny McPhaul, Junior Ciani Montgomery, and Senior Tamiah Robinson were responsible for 61 of the 65 points scored by the Burrs during the championship game, with McPhauls 30 points scored, she was integral in helping secure the Burrs victory; and WHEREAS, The team still mourns the death of the 1,000-point scorer and 3rd in her graduating class, Akyra Murray. Murray, one of the 50+ victims of the Orlando Pulse Shooting over 4 years ago, has left a permanent mark on the team and has made the hard work, determination, and success of the team all the more worthwhile; and WHEREAS, The West Catholic Preparatory High School's mission is to prepare " each student to face the challenges of everyday life, embrace leadership positions in the community and value service in an ever-changing global society. " and has demonstrated their commitments to "faith, service, and community" with a 88% graduation rate and 100% college acceptance rate for the class of 2018; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby congratulate and honor the Burrs of the West Catholic Girls basketball team on their championship win in the 2019/2020 Philadelphia Catholic League. End