The Tommies pose after winning the national championship. Montero and Saarela combined to score 53 of the team’s 82 points over Benedictine on Saturday, March 19. (Lauren Andrego/TommieMedia)
Tommie forward Ryan Boll anticipates a rebound before the team’s narrow 69-68 victory over long-time rival St. John’s. The St. Thomas basketball team earned its 16th straight win and a share of the MIAC regular-season title for the 11th consecutive season on Wednesday, March 9. (Carlee Hackl/TommieMedia)
Coach John Tauer motivates the Tommies from the sidelines. Tauer spoke to local high school and college coaches from surrounding states about ways to motivate their teams at the Nike Basketball Clinic on October 18 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jake Remes/TommieMedia)
Guard Taylor Montero goes up against a Central College (Iowa) player during the NCAA tournament on Friday, March 4. The St. Thomas men’s basketball team advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament after its 78-66 victory over Central College. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
St. Thomas fans cheer on the team with just minutes left in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday, March 6. Nearly 885 fans attended the game. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia).
Montero goes up for a shot against Elmhurst College in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday, March 6. The Tommies earned a spot in the Sweet Sixteen after blasting Elmhurst College 94-81 at Schoenecker Arena. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia).
Forward Ryan Johnson strains as he powers past a Whitman College guard. The Tommies advanced to the Elite Eight after their 99-73 victory over Whitman College in Rock Island, Illinois on Friday, March 11. (Andrew Brinkmann/TommieMedia)
Tauer and the rest of the team pose joyously for pictures with the sectional championship trophy after the team’s victory over Augustana in the Elite Eight on Saturday, March 12. The team’s 86-76 victory led them to the Final Four. (Andrew Brinkmann/TommieMedia
Montero, Tillman and center Ryan Saarela pose for an NCAA photo shoot on Thursday, March 17 before facing Christopher Newport University in the national semifinals. The Tommies spent their first full day in Salem participating in community service, interviewing with media and practicing in the Salem Civic Center. (Lauren Andrego/TommieMedia)
Guard Grant Shaeffer speaks on behalf of St. Thomas at the Final Four banquet at the Salem Civic Center before the national semifinals this March. The banquet included speakers from each team, D3 Hoops, the City of Salem and the NCAA. (Lauren Andrego/TommieMedia)
Guard Cortez Tillman goes up for two against Christopher Newport’s Rayshard Brown. After St. Thomas’ victory in the national semifinals, the team headed to the national championships for the second time in six seasons. (Lauren Andrego/TommieMedia)
Montero goes head-to-head down the court with Christopher Newport guard Aaron McFarland at the national semifinals on Friday, March 18. St. Thomas defeated Christopher Newport 66-62, which secured the team’s national semifinal victory at the Salem Civic Center. (Lauren Andrego/TommieMedia)
President Julie Sullivan gives Montero a congratulatory hug after being named the Most Outstanding Player of the Game in Salem, Virginia. The team’s win was the final game for six seniors: Montero, Tillman, Saarela, Jimmy Remke, Thomas Sjoberg and Cullen Ogren. (Lauren Andrego/TommieMedia)
Coach John Tauer celebrates the Tommies’ win over Benedictine in the Division III national championship. The team secured the national championship with its 82-76 victory over No. 1-ranked Benedictine at the Salem Civic Center on Saturday, March 18. (Jesse Krull / TommieMedia)
The No. 8-ranked St. Thomas men’s basketball team celebrates after winning the national championship. Sullivan posed with some of the champions. (Lauren Andrego/TommieMedia)
Chief photo editor Carlee Hackl compiles some of the best photos of the St. Thomas men’s basketball team on its road to an NCAA championship win in March.