[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6996]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE 2008 ST. PAUL CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL MINUTEMEN GIRLS 
                          BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 24, 2008

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, 1 year ago, I rose to 
congratulate the 2007 St. Paul Central High School Minutemen girls 
basketball champions. Today, I have the privilege again--
congratulations to the 2008 St. Paul Central High School Minutemen 
girls basketball team for winning the State championship! The Minutemen 
girls team successfully defended their title by defeating the same 
team, the number one top-seeded Minneapolis South Tigers, in the final 
State championship class 4A on Saturday, March 15, 2008, at the Target 
Center.
  Although the St. Paul Central High School girls basketball Minutemen 
were trailing by 9 points at half-time, they fought back hard and 
overpowered their opponents in the second half with their outstanding 
talent, power, speed and resiliency. The Minutemen went on to beat 
their opponents with the final scores of 49-44 over the Tigers.
  I am so proud of these fine young athletes and wish to extend my 
heartfelt congratulations to them and the entire Central High School 
community. These back-to-back championship titles bring the school's 
record to four State championship titles, including 1976 and 1979. Last 
year, the Minutemen had a perfect season record of 32-0 and set a new 
record in post-season of Minnesota girls basketball championship 
history with the final score of 81-63 over the Minneapolis South 
Tigers. This year, the Minutemen are ranked third in the conference and 
were defeated by the Tigers once during the regular season, but in the 
post-season the Minutemen once again proved that they are the 
champions.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the students, teachers and staff of 
Central High School as well as the entire St. Paul Public Schools 
District, please join me in honoring the 2008 St. Paul Central 
Minutemen girls basketball State champions.

                          ____________________