In the opening round, held in Sault Ste. Marie: …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Kingston La Salle Black Knights edged the 16th-seeded Manotick St. Mark Lions 39-35. The Lions led 14-6, 26-16 and 30-21 at the quarters. Nicolle Gaudet led the Black Knights with 15. Lilie Dixon added 7. Taylor Norton paced the Lions with 11. Emily Thomas added 9. …………………………………………………… The 4th-seeded Stratford St. Michael Warriors whipped the 15th-seeded Timmins E.S. Theriault Flammes 38-22 after leading 8-7, 18-9 and 26-18 at the quarters. Becky DeWetering led the Warriors with 17. Taylor Grasby added 9. Kayla Deschatelets led the Flammes with 10. …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded Sudbury Lockerby Vikings nipped the 14th-seeded Barrie Central Phoenix 34-33 as post Alysha Zandarin hit a trey at the buzzer to cap a rally from a four-point deficit with 20 seconds to play. Samantha Cooper had hit a trey to draw the Vikings within one with 15 seconds to play. The Vikings fouled the Phoenix, who hit one free throw. After a timeout with 10 seconds to play, the Vikings whipped the ball around the perimeter and found Zandarin at the top of the key. “I had no more timeouts left and 10 seconds is a lot of time, but why they went for the three instead of the two, I don’t know,” Lockerby coach Mike Sheridan told the Sudbury Star. “It wasn’t superior coaching, though sometimes the best thing is don’t talk to them and let them play. It came out of nowhere. I would like to take credit for designing that play, but the truth is we just winged it. … We couldn’t have played any worse. It was 32 minutes of pain. I kept thinking ‘they have to play better at some point,’ but it didn’t happen. Three of our starters (Cooper, Emily Paquin and Allie Chown) have had the flu all week. We played like we had no energy and I guess we didn’t. We did everything we could to get some enthusiasm, but it wasn’t very pretty. Cooper was running on fumes and our decision making was terrible. I don’t think it was nerves, we just were not ready to play. I tried to pump them up at half time and nothing changed, we had no energy for 32 minutes but somehow, we found a way to hit two miracle shots in the last 20 seconds. The coaches on the other team couldn’t believe it. … Ironically, it was the girls who didn’t have a good game that came up big in the end. The only reason I put Alysha in is that Allie fouled out. (Zandarin) had been benched because she didn’t play well and had four fouls in the third quarter and I wasn’t putting her back in. But Allie fouled out and who hits the three at the buzzer but Zandarin. Made me look like a genius. We’ll take it. That’s basketball. You give somebody a chance to hit the winning shot at the end and sometimes it happens. We found a way and we have done that a lot lately. They don’t panic and we executed and did what we wanted to do.” The Vikings led 7-6 after one quarter and 16-15 at the half. The Phoenix led 22-20 after three quarters. Samantha Cooper paced the Vikings with 20. Ally Schweitzer led the Phoenix with 14. Kylee Innes added 6. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Oakville St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders edged the 13th-seeded Cornwall E.C. La Citadelle Patriotes 52-48. The Patriotes led 17-16, 25-23 and 37-32 at the quarters. Kayla Celestini led the Raiders with 15. Madison Cvetas added 13. Sophie Bruyere led the Patriotes with 15. Myriam Fontaine added 11. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Thunder Bay St. Ignatius Falcons obliterated the 17th-seeded Clarington Courtice District Cougars 83-8 after leading 27-0, 50-2 and 66-3 at the quarters. Katelyn Andrea led the Falcons with 20. Cassandra Soulias added 12. Emily Martin paced the Cougars with 3. …………………………………………………… The top-seeded Amherstburg General Amherst Generals clipped the 12th-seeded Toronto Oakwood Barons 44-30. The Barons led 8-7 after one quarter. The Generals led 17-13 at the half and 33-17 after three quarters. Lindsay Kondracki paced the Generals with 20. Sarah Bondy added 10. Avolyn Sharp led the Barons with 13. Barbara Johnson added 5. The Generals only generated seven points in the opening quarter, but picked up the pace. “That’s definitely not the start we wanted,” General Amherst head coach Domenic Silvaggio said. “We missed a lot of the easy shots, but got it going in the second quarter.” The Generals came out firing in the second half, outscoring Oakwood 16-4 in the third quarter. Kondracki fuelled the Generals offensively, netting 18 of her 20 points in the second half. “Lindsay played well,” Silvaggio said. “She was strong as the game went on.” …………………………………………………… The 2nd-seeded St. Catharines St. Francis Phoenix clubbed the 11th-seeded Sault Ste. Marie St. Mary’s Knights 49-20 after leading 6-4, 22-11 and 34-15 at the quarters. Jelena Mamic paced the Phoenix with 20. Nancy Kessler added 11. Hannah Murray, Lydia Murray and Brooke Bellerose each scored 4 to pace the Knights. …………………………………………………… The 3rd-seeded Guelph Bishop Macdonell Celtics stomped the 18th-seeded Toronto Cardinal James McGuigan Cardinals 61-14 after leading 16-3, 36-5 and 50-11 at the quarters. Katie Labron paced the Celtics with 16. Jessica Morris added 13 and Rebecca Morris 12. Michelle Boahen led the Cardinals with 6. Grace Detoya added 4. …………………………………………………… The 9th-seeded Welland Centennial Cougars clipped the 10th-seeded Belleville St. Theresa Titans 49-28 after leading 16-14, 28-22 and 43-24 at the quarters. Bridget Atkinson paced the Cougars with 19. Rebeccah Fuaco added 13.
In the second, elimination round: …………………………………………………… The 16th-seeded Manotick St. Mark Lions dusted the 18th-seeded Toronto Cardinal James McGuigan Cardinals 39-12 after leading 14-2, 24-3 and 32-8 at the quarters. Emily Thomas paced the Lions with 12. Stephanie Seruna added 7. Michelle Boahen led the Cardinals with 4. …………………………………………………… The 15th-seeded Timmins E.S. Theriault Flammes crushed the 17th-seeded Clarington Courtice District Cougars 68-9 after leading 17-0, 37-3 and 48-7 at the quarters. Cassidy Sabourin led the Flammes with 12. Kayla Deschatelets added 11. Reagan Macdonald paced the Cougars with 4. The Cougars also included Clemence Ngandu, Maddie Perrault.
In the third round: …………………………………………………… The 12th-seeded Toronto Oakwood Barons stunned the 6th-seeded Kingston La Salle Black Knights 30-27 after leading 12-0, 24-11 and 28-18 at the quarters. Barbara Johnson paced the Barons with 14. Nicolle Gaudet led the Black Knights with 11. Chelsea VanCamp added 8. The Black Knights (coached by Jason Reynolds, assisted by Sheri Hodgins and Paul Coulter) also included Lilie Dixon, Sarah Beech, Erica McDade, Jamie Burns, Gabrielle Gaudet, Madison Lloyd, Danielle Long, Maggie Roberts, Kaymin Roorda and Kristen White. …………………………………………………… The 3rd-seeded Guelph Bishop Macdonell Celtics nipped the 14th-seeded Barrie Central Phoenix 34-30. The Celtics led 14-13 after one quarter. The score was tied at 21 at the half. The Celtics led 27-25 after three quarters. Andrea Priamo paced the Celtics with 12. Rebecca Morris added 9. Corinna Mageen led the Phoenix with 12. The Phoenix (coached by Bob Caville and Robin Lawrence) also included Emily Belches, Ally Schweitzer, Holly Schwietzer, Kylee Innes. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Oakville St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders nipped the 10th-seeded Belleville St. Theresa Titans 52-47 after leading 14-12, 28-24 and 40-36 at the quarters. Marisa Parsons paced the Raiders with 14. Kayla Celestini added 13 and Melody Wyslobicky 13. Piper Kehoe and Anna Brennan each scored 9 to pace the Titans (coached by Lyndsey Gauley), who also included Mikayla Brennan, Sarah Doucette, Sara Doucette, Athena Papadatos, Brittany Callahan, Katie Britt, Shena Madrigal, Emily Vallee, Jenne Milligan and Rachel Clarke. …………………………………………………… The 9th-seeded Welland Centennial Cougars clipped the 8th-seeded Sudbury Lockerby Vikings 50-29. The Vikings led 9-6 after one quarter. The Cougars led 30-13 at the half and 45-23 after three quarters. Elizabeth Holmes paced the Cougars with 20. Bridget Atkinson added 11. Samantha Cooper led the Vikings with 20. The Vikings (coached by Mike Sheridan, assisted by Sean Green) also included Katherine Uttley, Emily Paquin, Alysha Zandarin, Kelly Nootchtai, Brittney Gouthro, Noelle Schmidt, Julia Sosterich, Allison Chown, Samantha Bajc and Jamie Marrs. …………………………………………………… The 4th-seeded Stratford St. Michael Warriors edged the 13th-seeded Cornwall E.C. La Citadelle Patriotes 46-41 in double overtime. The Patriotes led 6-5 after one quarter. The Warriors led 24-17 at the half and 30-29 after three quarters. The score was knotted at 36 after regulation. Bridget O’Reilly led the Warriors with 20. Rachel Dotzert added 8. Sophie Bruyere paced the Patriotes with 12. Myriam Fontaine added 10. The Patriotes (coached by Steph Fontaine) also included Melanie Leger, Sarah Lefebvre, Marissa Richer, Sam Bourdeau, Michelle McPhee, Chantelle Saucier, Emilie Lefebvre, Marni Campeau and Melanie Leger. Starting point guard Laura Vere and post Becky Dewetering fouled out but rookies Taylor Grasby and Rachel Dotzert went a combined 10-for-12 from the free throw line and fellow Grade 10 Olivia Valiquette drained a monster three with under 20 seconds left in regulation in the Warriors’ 46-41 double-overtime triumph over the Cornwall school. “Taylor and Dotz clutched up at the line,” Warriors coach Steve Goforth said. “And Olivia took her game to a new level. She made that three when we absolutely had to have it, and then she turned into a terror on the defensive boards in overtime. And Lauren Quinlan (another Grade 10) had yet another strong day guarding our opponents’ best players. I can’t say enough about how I feel about all of these girls and the way they’ve performed, not just here this week but all season long. They continue to amaze me. We lose our star players to fouls and then our younger girls step in and compete at the highest level.” …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Thunder Bay St. Ignatius Falcons dumped the 11th-seeded Sault Ste. Marie St. Mary’s Knights 43-26 after leading 9-8, 19-11 and 33-19 at the quarters. Katelyn Andrea paced the Falcons with 24. Brooke Bellerose led the Knights with 12. “We’re just focusing too much and thinking too much about our shots,” Brooke Bellerose told the Sault Star. The Knights (coached by Pat Murray) also included Hannah Murray, Stacie Cain, Lydia Murray, Paige Wurdemann. …………………………………………………… The top-seeded Amherstburg General Amherst Generals stomped the 16th-seeded Manotick St. Mark Lions 47-26 after leading 26-11 at the half. Lindsay Kondracki paced the Generals with 14. Sarah Bondy added 10. Emily Thomas and Michela Barresi each notched 8 to pace the Lions (coached by x), who also included Stephanie Seruna. …………………………………………………… The 2nd-seeded St. Catharines St. Francis Phoenix crushed the 15th-seeded Timmins E.S. Theriault Flammes 48-24 after leading 10-4, 29-8 and 45-9 at the quarters. Christine Sirignano paced the Phoenix with 16. Nancy Kessler added 11. Kayla Deschatelet led the Flammes with 7. Kelsey Vorano added 6. The Flammes (coached by Rick Cornell) also included Cassandra Sabourin, Kelly Giguere, Josee Cossette, Nat Arcand, Celeste Lalande, Mel Blier, Desiree Groulx, Kelly Giguere and Megan Roy.
In the quarterfinals, the 3rd-seeded Guelph Bishop Macdonell Celtics clubbed the 12th-seeded Toronto Oakwood Barons 61-39 after leading 18-9, 27-14 and 45-18 at the quarters. Rebecca Morris paced the Celtics with 19. Mackenzie Bernhardt added 10. Barbara Johnson led the Barons with 17. Avolyn Sharp added 14.
The 4th-seeded Stratford St. Michael Warriors defeated the 5th-seeded Thunder Bay St. Ignatius Falcons 49-42. The Warriors led 17-8 after one quarter and 27-19 at the half. The Falcons led 35-33 after three quarters. Bridget O’Reilly led the Warriors with 18. Becky Dewetering added 17. “They had us down by two and it was obvious the girls were worried,” Warriors coach Steve Goforth said. “During a timeout I said to them, ‘if I had told you back in August that we’d be trailing by two points with six minutes left in the OFSAA quarter-finals, would you take it?’ Every one of them said, ‘yes, of course we would.’ I told them, ‘well, that’s exactly where we are right here, right now. Get back out there and give me your best’.” Rachel Dotzert drained back-to-back threes to turn that two-point deficit into a four-point lead. “After Dotzy hit those threes we never looked back,” said Goforth. “Dotzy had the courage to hoist those shots and let me tell you, those were no fluke threes. She hit nothing but net on both.” Kathryn Andrea led the Falcons with 18. Cassandra Soulias added 11. The Falcons (coached by Matt Erdmann and Franco Veneruzzo) also included Theda Van Fallois, Maggie Murphy, Emily Hirslund,
The top-seeded Amherstburg General Amherst Generals dumped the 9th-seeded Welland Centennial Cougars 49-34. The Cougars led 13-11 after one quarter. The Generals led 25-21 at the half and 40-27 after three quarters. Sarah Bondy paced the Generals with 15. Christine Belcher added 13. Sarah Holmes led the Cougars with 10. Bridget Atkinson and Elizabeth Holmes each added 8. The Cougars (coach Phil Mosley, assistant Kelly Spiers, manager Steph McCorriston) also included Robyn Johnson, Rebeccah Fuaco, Lauren Laidlaw (Ludlow?), Hilary Sadler, Beth Thorne, Hilary Sodtka, Kathleen Sherwin, Kelli McCord and Robyn Johnson.
In the last quarterfinal, the 2nd-seeded St. Catharines St. Francis Phoenix clipped the 7th-seeded Oakville St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders 56-43 after leading 21-2, 27-11 and 49-24 at the quarters. Nancy Kessler paced the Phoenix with 16. Jelena Mamic added 12. Marisa Parsons paced the Raiders with 13. Melody Wyslobicky added 11. The Raiders (coached by Mike Giammichele) also included Madison Cvetas, Kayla Celestini, Nicole Lopes.
In the semi-finals, the top-seeded Amherstburg General Amherst Generals clubbed the 4th-seeded Stratford St. Michael Warriors 46-18 after leading 14-10, 29-11 and 35-15 at the quarters. Sarah Bondy paced the Generals with 13. Robin Kellam added 10 and Aleah Morton 10. Bridget O’Reilly led the Warriors with 10. Becky Dewetering added 8. The Generals blitzed the Warriors with a 15-1 run to start the second half.
In the other semi-final, the 2nd-seeded St. Catharines St. Francis Phoenix clocked the 3rd-seeded Guelph Bishop Macdonell Celtics 57-42. The Celtics led 14-13 after one quarter. The Phoenix led 28-19 at the half and 39-28 after three quarters. Jelena Mamic led the Phoenix with 25. Christine Sirignano added 12. Rebecca Morris paced the Celtics with 14. Katie Lebron added 9.
In the bronze medal match, the 3rd-seeded Guelph Bishop Macdonell Celtics smacked the 4th-seeded Stratford St. Michael Warriors 46-28 after leading 16-11, 24-22 and 37-26 at the quarters. Rebecca Morris paced the Celtics with 24. Andrea Priamo added 9. Becky Dewetering paced the Warriors with 9. Bridget O’Reilly added 8. The Warriors (coached by Steve Goforth, assisted by Jim Hurley and Pete Straus) also included Laura Vere, Olivia Valiquette, Tayler Grasby, Malissa McClocklin, Rachel Dotzert and Lauren Quinlan. “We were absolutely out of gas at the end,” Warriors coach Steve Goforth said. “The first three games took a lot out of us and then we ran into a great team in General Amherst in the semis Saturday morning. The girls were pretty much spent by the time we took the floor against MacDonnell. We kept the score close into the intermission but had nothing left for the second half. The bird was already baked. MacDonnell had more depth than us but they were beatable. On another day we may well have left with bronze. It wasn’t just the girls that were tired. The coaching staff (Goforth and assistants Jim Hurley and Pete Straus) was also exhausted. We worked so hard on the bench getting through Friday that we were worn out as well. I said to the girls during the day Saturday, ‘I haven’t played a single minute in this tournament and I’m drained.’ I can only imagine how tough it was on them. There is nothing more I could have asked of these girls. It was a great year and I’m proud of all of them.”
In the final, the 2nd-seeded St. Catharines St. Francis Phoenix nipped the top-seeded Amherstburg General Amherst Generals 34-32. The Phoenix led 10-3 after one quarter and 18-13 at the half. The Generals led 30-27 after three quarters. Christine Sirignano paced the Phoenix with 17. Jelena Mamic added 6. Aleah Marton paced the Generals with 11. Katie Breault added 10. The Phoenix capped a 37-0 season. “It was a defensive battle more than anything else,” St. Francis coach Pat O’Leary told the St. Catharines Standard. The Generals had a chance to tie it with 15 seconds to play but the ball hit the back of the iron. “It has been a long road for our girls and it was fairly emotional for them because they are such a close group,” O’Leary said. “Just the fact that we actually pulled off the win was awesome for them.” It was the first OFSAA gold medal for the St. Francis girls’ program and avenged a 29-10 loss in the 2011-12 semis. “We couldn’t score against them last year but we defended well,” O’Leary said. “We added some scoring punch this year and I thought if we got back and played them again it would be a battle. And that’s what ended up happening.” O’Leary felt the team’s cohesion led to its success. “We have some incredible leaders,” he said. “My Grade 12 girls — Jelena Mamic is unbelievable — and I have a few other Grade 12s like Val Burtnik and Jessica Menchella who are real leaders. I have Grade 10s who really look up to them.” O’Leary also had 6-foot-3 Nancy Kessler in the post. “She is a rock in the middle and is a wonderful kid. When your best players are such good people, it brings everyone closer.”
The bronze medalist Guelph Bishop Macdonell Celtics: Rebecca Morris; Katie Lebron; Andrea Priamo; Mackenzie Bernhardt; Jessica Morris; Kaitlyn Phillips; Vicky Lin; Sandra Clark; Sabrina Cazzola; Hannah Larmer; Anna De Lange; Ellie Young; coach Karen Bremner; assistant Emily Nienhuis, assistant Emily Josilin; assistant Rebecca Keil; manager Ryan Driscoll
The silver medalist Amherstburg General Amherst Generals: Sarah Bondy; Aleah Marton; Katie Breault; Robin Kellam; Christine Belcher; Lindsay Kondracki; Rebecca Krug; Robin Kellam; Kayla Dauguerre; Alex Leroux; Chelsea Thistle; Rebekah French; Jaylin VandeBovenkamp; coach Dom Silvaggio; assistant Don Parks
The champion St. Catharines St. Francis Phoenix: Christine Sirignano; Jelena Mamic; Nancy Kessler; Val Burtnik; Jessica Menchella; Deanna Pacecca; Briar Cookson; Katrina Hennecke, Karly Ruetz; Sabina Stodulski; Celina Valvano; coach Pat O’Leary; assistant Barb Scott; manager Toni Laschowski