St. Louis Wildcats Cinderella Story still has Storybook Ending at 6th Grade AAU Nationals

Every once in a while, everything comes together and basketball perfection is attained. Sometimes, by the most unlikely of teams; the St. Louis Wildcats didn't even compete in the previously in AAU. They arrived with 6 players and a dream; they didn’t have a large crowed or entourage. They didn’t have a large budget, pancakes, hotdogs, and grilled cheese filled were their main staples for the week – until they were adopted by Boo Williams staff who introduced the group to Bojangles Chicken.  

But when St. Louis played their game, they were the kind of club that opposing coaches feared. That fear grew during the Tournament as the Wildcats knocked off all pool opponents and the Wellington Wolves, New Jersey’s Team IZOD,  and the Tennessee Legends to reach the Final Four shocking the world.  There they almost shocked the overwhelming favorite and soon to be National Champions Oakland Soldiers falling 69-61 in a game that wasn’t decided until the last minute.  After that they lost by only one to defending national champion Wisconsin United 61-60 in another amazing performance.  

Throughout the tournament they were told not to play to lose, play to win.  That they were good enough to win and that they could beat anyone in the country and that is just what they did.  Without question they were the fan favorite and one of the most inspiring youth basketball stories seen in some time. Some may have felt that the Wildcats had to win it all to complete this unlikeliest of fairy tales; but that is far from the truth.  They allowed everyone for a week to know that its ok to dream big if you have put in the work, trust each other, play hard, and maximize talents – in doing so you can not only possibly win a national championship you can win at life.