ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — The St. Paul Crusader seventh and eighth-grade boys basketball team took third in the 2024 Lutheran State Championship tournament over the weekend. The Crusaders went 3-1 over four games, opening the tournament with a 47-27 win over Mt. Prospect St. Paul and a 43-32 win over Bloomington Trinity to reach the semifinal round.

After a 70-28 loss against Peoria Christ, St. Paul finished strong, defeating Yorkville Cross 48-43 to take third place in the state tournament. Crusader athletes Braxton Bruns and Cohen Haedt each received All-Tournament Team honors for their efforts throughout the weekend. 

St. Paul finished the 2023-24 season with a 38-4 overall record. The Crusaders won the Meridian Conference and Fox Valley Lutheran Conference titles while finishing first at the St. John's Lombard Eagle Invitational and the 24th Annual Cross Lutheran  Tip-Off Tournament. St. Paul also won the E.I.B.T. Tournament this season.