In the opening round: …………………………………………………… The top-seeded Regina Harvest City Reapers clubbed the 16th-seeded Rosthern Huskies 83-18. …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded Paradise Hill Panthers clipped the 9th-seeded Moose Jaw Cornerstone Royals 68-58. The Royals included Chiamaka Aghamelu, Hinano Fujihara, Trista Lang, Eva Gray. …………………………………………………… The 13th-seeded Maidstone Huskies stunned the 4th-seeded Saskatoon Christian Centre Academy Cougars 52-46. The Cougars (coached by Jenna Kobiela) included Taylor Ferster, Kayla Wegner, Kyle Fredlund, MacKenzie Fredlund, M Masich. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Asquith Athletics torched the 12th-seeded Shaunavon Silhouettes 66-46. The Silhouettes (coached by Karl Wilkins and Jaime Wilkins) included Bryden Tremere, Neveah Folbar, Paige Erickson, Hanna Piquette, Kamryn McNabb, Layne Stevenson, Cara Greenslade, Tori Stearns, Kinae Wallis, Eddie Island and Charlene Hoffarth. …………………………………………………… The 2nd-seeded Wynyard Golden Bears clubbed the 15th-seeded Turtleford Titans 70-16. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Osler Valley Christian Academy Lions smacked the 10th-seeded Norquay Nikes 78-49. The Nikes (coached by Trevor Olson and Evan Rostotski) included Hana Key, Haylie Desjarlais, Kerri Kowch, Kayla Tomas, Shanae Olson, Audrey Vargas, Alexa Olson, Taylor Wasylyniuk, Tiara Yagelniski, Taylor Rubletz, Haley Griffith and Emily Livingstone. …………………………………………………… The 3rd-seeded Canora Cougars whipped the 14th-seeded Redvers Rams 75-54 after leading 42-23 at the half. The Rams were coached by Alaina Pirlot. …………………………………………………… The 11th-seeded Rosthern Junior College Longhorns dumped the 6th-seeded Foam Lake Panthers 58-52.
In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Regina Harvest City Reapers mauled the 8th-seeded Paradise Hill Panthers 68-45.
The 13th-seeded Maidstone Huskies clipped the 5th-seeded Asquith Athletics 52-43.
The 2nd-seeded Wynyard Golden Bears crushed the 7th-seeded Osler Valley Christian Academy Lions 69-31. The Lions were coached by Murray Neudorf.
In the last quarterfinal, the 3rd-seeded Canora Cougars rolled the 11th-seeded Rosthern Junior College Longhorns 81-43. “We played well today, and moved the ball around especially well,” said Jill Gulka told the Canora Courier. Felicity Mydonick said “it seems surreal to be going to HOOPLA again. We’ve been working for this all season and before that, since Grade 7 really, when most of us started playing junior basketball. It’s so good to be rewarded. … The whole team hangs out together a lot. We communicate really well both off and on the court. We know each other really well and know how we all play.” Mackenzie Gulka said “last year didn’t end like we wanted when we lost at HOOPLA. But it was good motivation for us to win regionals again this year and get back there.”
In the semis, the top-seeded Regina Harvest City Reapers stomped the 13th-seeded Maidstone Huskies 67-23 after leading 40-10 at the half. Asia Wells led the Reapers with 29. Ericka Alsager paced the Huskies with 6.
In the other semi, the 3rd-seeded Canora Cougars thrashed the 2nd-seeded Wynyard Golden Bears 60-43 after leading 31-18 at the half. Mackenzie Gulka led the Cougars with 21. Anna Wolitski paced the Golden Bears with 17. Cougars coach Curtis Baillie told the Canora Courier that ““Wynyard had won the last four provincial titles and were looking to make it five in a row, and six of the last seven. We worked extremely hard in the practices leading up to HOOPLA to game plan for Wynyard. They are a fast paced team, who press and can shoot the outside three-pointer very well. We knew that we would have to be able to break their press, and play tight defense on their shooters. The upside for us was our height and our ability to work the ball inside to score points from under the hoop.” The Golden Bears broke to a 9-0 lead. “I called a time out and tried to settle the girls down,” said Baillie. “I knew they were ready for the occasion, but the excitement and nerves were getting in the way. It didn’t take long until the girls made their first basket and the crowd went wild. We had so many fans in the stands watching the game and cheering us on, including parents, relatives, past players from CCS, former students, former staff members, the Norquay senior boys team (also competing at HOOPLA) and their families and even a few other teams we faced throughout the year that didn’t qualify for Hoopla, but made the journey to watch and cheer. As soon as the girls got to hear that crowd it was like they found another gear. We went on a 20 to 0 run to make the score 20 to 9 in our favour. … With 14 seconds left in the 3rd quarter Wynyard hit a big three-pointer to close the score to within four. We inbounded the ball and Felicity Mydonick raced it up the court and sank a buzzer beating three-pointer to end the third quarter. We then went on to pull away from the Bears in the fourth quarter to win by 17.”
In the bronze medal match, the 2nd-seeded Wynyard Golden Bears, winners of the previous four provincial tournaments, throttled the 13th-seeded Maidstone Huskies 82-58 after leading 38-34 at the half. Mary Latoski paced the Golden Bears with 29. Alana Olson led the Huskies with 24. The Huskies also included Ericka Alsager.
In the final, the top-seeded Regina Harvest City Reapers dispatched the 3rd-seeded Canora Cougars 64-56 after leading 26-9 early and 37-27 at the half. Selom Kumassah led the Reapers with 21. Megan Barteski paced the Cougars with 16. Cougars coach Curtis Baillie told the Canora Courier that “we started the final game very slow. A lot of emotions were running through our players’ heads before the game. For three of the girls, its hard not to think about this being their last game of their careers, and for the entire team, its hard not to think about this being the biggest game they have ever played in and on the biggest stage. … Regina Harvest City pressed us using a method we had not seen all year, and it took us until late in the second quarter to finally break it a few times. At one point I called time out and all I said to the girls was, ‘you’re a team that does not quit, don’t roll over now, let’s fight our way back into this game,’ and just like, that they did. By half time it was a 10-point game.” The Reapers finished (27-1) on the campaign, while the Cougars finish (26-2).
The bronze medalist Wynyard Golden Bears: Anna Wolitski; Mary Latoski; Cierra Prisiak; Jaclynn Leibel; Carlee Faye; Julie Newberry; Madison Gudmundson; Jesslyn Leibel; Ellian Singkala; Macey Tomblin; coach Richard Rink
The silver medalist Canora Cougars: Mackenzie Gulka; Megan Barteski; Emma Mykytyshyn; Emily Owchar; Jordelle Lewchuk; Rebekah Thomas; Ashley Stusek; Ally Sleeva; Saryn Leson; Gill Gulka; Felicity Mydonick; coach Curtis Baillie
The gold medalist Regina Harvest City Reapers: Asia Wells; Selom Kumassah; Eden Wells; coach Joel Wells