It’s the Class B, Section V Championships at Gates Chili High School as Nazareth Academy takes on Wellsville for the title. This game, however, has a special meaning for the Naz girls as one of the oldest high schools in the Rochester area prepares to close its doors.

It was a larger than usual crowd cheering on the Nazareth girl’s basketball team on its quest for the Class B, Section V Championship.

"These are my girls," said Nazareth Middle School Teacher Sue Gutknecht.

Gutknecht knows each and every one of the Nazareth girls and knows the dedication each player has put into the game.

"Tonight's game, it means a lot. These girls have worked really, really hard,” she said. “They are beautiful girls and it would be good to go out winning."

Nazareth Academy announced a partnership with Aquinas Institute back in February that would move grades seven through 12 to Aquinas. That means this basketball run is Nazareth's last. It’s something teachers and parents alike say makes this game even more special to the Nazareth players and students.

"Unfortunately, the school is closing this year and that makes the game a little bigger and a sweeter when we win," said parent Mark Brado.

As the clock begins to wind down on what is the final basketball season for Nazareth Academy, those who were once on the court say the girls are not only playing this game for themselves, but for everyone who passed through the halls of Nazareth before them.

"They have potential to go all the way again,” said alumni Megan Morrell. “It's all up to them and hopefully they can make us all proud, but I hope they do it for themselves first."

"It's like a fairytale, Cinderella ending for the school,” said alumni Megan Coates. “It's just if they won tonight, it would just be amazing. It would bring tears to everyone's eyes because you know it will never happen again."

Nazareth made all those fans proud taking the championship 60 to 50 over Wellsville. That means Nazareth's season will continue as the team goes to the State Class B Qualifier Tuesday.

Nazareth Academy