Making their way to the Catholic Youth Organization championship game (at time of this printing), the St. Thomas Aquinas varsity boys basketball team is riding a championship high --- and is taking the rest of the school with them.

"I am so excited about my boys," says Principal Rita Duran about the Monterey Park team. "They have been playing together for two or three years and know each other so well. The whole school is excited and behind them. Our bleachers have been full for these last games."

Indeed, the St. Thomas Eagles have had a good year regardless of the final outcome on March 28 at Salesian High School. With a regular season record of 10-0 and a playoff record of 5-0, the Eagles are flying high. Duran credits Coach Manny Gonzales for much of the success.

"It has been so much fun to work with the guys who understand basketball and work very hard," says Gonzales about his team of seventh and eighth graders. "After the season is over, I will miss them very much."

Duran adds that the fans have emotionally supported the team with pep rallies, signs and banners. The noise at some of the games, according to player Christian Robles, is "very loud…and it helped us. It's a great feeling."