Flu epidemic shuts down school, but won't deter St. Ignatius

It's been a challenging return for St. Ignatius (San Francisco, Calif.) boys basketball coach Tim Reardon.

Five of his players didn't start practicing until early December because they were contributors to the school's second-ever Central Coast Section championship football team.

"It took us some time to jell to get to know each other," Reardon said.

The Wildcats managed a pair of three-game win streaks in December, but the rugged West Catholic Athletic League is unforgiving. After an opening league win over Riordan, they lost five straight, four of them winnable.

"In the last two minutes something eventually went wrong," Reardon said of the five-game skid.

But following a second win over Riordan last week, the Wildcats (8-11) hit a high point, even in defeat. They took host and defending state champion Mitty to the mat, before losing 67-63.

Reardon, who left after the 2007-08 season to spend more time with his family, thought finally his team had jelled, found its groove, or at the very least, gained momentum.

But then this. … the unthinkable.

A flu epidemic hit the school Monday. By Wednesday, 20 percent of its students – 325 students – and 30 teachers went down with the virus. This was tabbed norovirus and associated with ones on cruise ships that spread quickly.

The state's health department intervened and shut down the school Wednesday and it won't re-open until Monday. All students and faculty were placed under a 72-hour quarantine.

Not only were all games postponed after Tuesday, but all practices canceled. Not that the Wildcats had enough healthy players to scrimmage anyway.

All 14 players and both of Reardon's assistants came down with the virus. As of Thursday afternoon, Reardon was the only one left standing, apparently unscathed.

"Knock on wood," Reardon said.

All but a couple are up and around now and they will take the court for the first time Saturday morning for a quick shoot-around before a late home game against Valley Christian. The school is being bleached to a deep clean before Saturday's coed varsity doubleheader. The St. Ignatius girls (17-3), ranked 28th in the state, will play at 6 followed by the boys' game. Three lower-level games precede the double dip.

"No doubt, it's been a trying, unusual week," St. Ignatius athletic director John Mulkerrins said. "Never heard or seen anything like this in more than 20 years of education."

Fortunately, the rest of the WCAL school's have been accommodating, Mulkerrins said.

"They've all been a pleasure to work with," Mulkerrins said. "Everyone has been very compassionate and accommodating to our situation."

Tonight's girls basketball game at St. Francis was re-scheduled for next week as is Friday's boys game with the Lancers.

The boys basketball game at arch-city rival Sacred Heart Cathedral that was postponed Wednesday has been moved to Monday.

That means the Wildcats will play four games in eight days before the league playoffs. It's tough enough when the WCAL schedules three games in a week. But four?

"Teenagers are very resilient," Reardon said. "Hopefully we'll be up for the challenge. … Who knows. Maybe the week off will be good for us."

St. Ignatius has some tools, particularly in 6-foot-6 wing Stephen Domingo, regarded as one of the top juniors in the state, and 5-9 sophomore guard Trevor Dunbar, who had 16 points in the loss to Mitty.

"You have to see him in person to appreciate him," Reardon said of Dunbar. "He's still a sophomore and he makes some mistakes, but by the time he's a senior he should be the best point guard in the league. … Best ball-handler I've ever coached."

Domingo, fighting through an extended shooting slump, drilled three 3-pointers against Mitty and two other players – Nick Johnson and Al Waters – also scored in double figures.

If the Wildcats can somehow pick up where they left off, they could make a run in the CCS playoffs.

"Riordan won the CCS title one year and entered with a sub-.500 record," Reardon said. "So it's possible and the boys know it."