Seminarians top priests in overtime during Vocation Week hoops game

All the signs of a high-stakes basketball game were there when the Borromeo and Saint Mary seminarians faced the diocesan priests during their annual benefit hoops game on Nov. 1 in the gym at Holy Name High School in Parma Heights.

It was the eighth year for the friendly rivalry. The game, normally played in January, was moved this year to Vocations Week in November to avoid the inclement weather that canceled last year’s contest. This was the fourth consecutive win for the seminarians.

The 11-member priest team was coached by Father Kevin Bertleff, a Saint Mary Seminary alumnus who was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Youngstown in 2024. He previously coached in the game. Father Eric Garris, diocesan vocation director, was the assistant coach.

The 12-member seminarian team was coached by Bryan Liberatore.

Although the seminarians found the basket first, the priests kept things competitive through most of the game. At halftime, the seminarians had an 11-point lead. But the priests didn’t give up, battling back to tie things up 35-35 with 5:05 to play in the second half. They jumped ahead with a 37-35 lead with 3:33 left to play before the seminarians tied it up again.

The priests grabbed the lead again, 39-37, with 1:38 to go, but the seminarians struck again, tying the score at 39 all with 1:20 to go. And that’s how regulation time ended.

During overtime, the seminarians scored first, grabbing the lead again, 41-39, with 4:28 to play. The priests didn’t give up. They scored again, as did the seminarians, making it a 1-point game, which is how it ended, with the seminarians eking out the win 44-43.

Top scorer for the priests was Father Chuck Cairnie, who was ordained in May and is parochial vicar at St. Anthony of Padua in Parma. He scored 12 points.

Chris Yankay, a Discipleship II Borromeo seminarian, hit 17 points to earn top scoring honors for the seminarians.

“We’re here to pray and play,” Father Garris said. He opened and closed the game with a prayer. An acapella group sang the National Anthem.

There were plenty of enthusiastic fans in the stands, some with signs and some with giant photos of their favorite player, Father Jon Hawkins, parochial vicar at Holy Family Parish in Stow. Father Hawkins even donned one of the large photos briefly during a break in the action.

Gate proceeds benefited the Father Krizner Foundation, a nonprofit that aids children living in poverty. The late Father Ken Krizner, who died April 1, 2023, was the longtime chaplain at Holy Name High School and the former pastor of St. Colette Parish in Brunswick.