In the opening round, held in Timmins: …………………………………………………… The top-seeded Welland Ecole Secondaire Catholique Jean Vanier Lynx bombed the 12th-seeded Ottawa Hillcrest Hawks 46-13 after leading 10-7, 27-10 and 37-13 at the quarters. Natasha Desjardis and Julia McPhail each scored 7 to pace the Lynx. Shannon Plaunt led the Hawks with 7. …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Oshawa G.L. Roberts Collegiate & Vocational Institute Lakers blasted the 16th-seeded Burlington Lester B. Pearson Patriots 41-18 after leading 11-1, 26-1 and 36-1 at the quarters. Jayden Ball led the Lakers with 12. Freda Oseibonsu paced the Patriots with 4. …………………………………………………… The 3rd-seeded Timmins O’Gorman Knights dusted the 18th-seeded South River Almaguin Highlands Secondary Highlanders 66-7 after leading 27-0, 40-0 and 56-0 at the quarters. Gabby Shaffner led the Knights with 10. Devin Cameron led the Highlanders with 3. …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded Dorchester Lord Dorchester Secondary Beavers spanked the University of Toronto Schools Blues 61-20 after leading 20-11, 40-16 and 52-19 at the quarters. Katie Beaudry led the Beavers with 20. Cindy Gao paced the Blues with 10. …………………………………………………… The 9th-seeded Port Hope Trinity College Bears clipped the 10th-seeded Carleton Place Bears 43-31. Trinity led 10-6 after one quarter. Carleton Place led 23-18 at the half. Trinity led 33-26 after three quarters. Sophie Veri paced Trinity with 16. Madison Reid led Carleton Place with 26. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Belleville Nicholson Catholic Crusaders dispatched the 13th-seeded Kincardine District Secondary Knights 40-33 despite trailing 11-10, 17-16 and 24-21 at the quarters. Jane Goyer led the Crusaders with 13. Georgia Fields led the Knights with 8. …………………………………………………… The 4th-seeded Windsor Ecole Secondaire Catholique E.J. Lajeunesse Lions stomped the 15th-seeded Sioux Lookout Queen Elizabeth District Warriors 55-35 after leading 16-2, 28-10 and 44-24 at the quarters. Lauren Golding paced the Lions with 14. Maya Colongcagong added 12 and Diana Gharib 10. Savannah Kirton led the Warriors with 10. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Elgin Rideau District Lions crushed the 17th-seeded Englehart Spartans 45-15 after leading 12-0, 25-5 and 32-6 at the quarters. Leah Rice led the Lions with 16. Taylor Flewwelling paced the Spartans with 7. …………………………………………………… The 2nd-seeded Sudbury Lo-Ellen Park Secondary Knights thrashed the 11th-seeded Ancaster Hamilton District Christian Knights 57-36 after leading 12-9, 27-22 and 44-28 at the quarters. Maria Best led the Knights with 20. Lindsay Bosveld led Ancaster with 25.
In the second, elimination round: …………………………………………………… The 16th-seeded Burlington Lester B. Pearson Patriots nipped the 18th-seeded South River Almaguin Highlands Secondary Highlanders 25-22 after leading 11-1, 15-7 and 19-14 at the quarters. Katy Amesbury paced the Patriots with 9. Devin Cameron and Madisyn Gaudette each scored 7 to lead the Highlanders. The Highlanders coached by Arndt Rosilius and managed by Katie Maeck) also included Erica Arsenault, Lily Bruneau, Richelle Cope, Haley Coughlin, Katelyn Eastaugh, Maya Essery, Zoe Folliott, Rachel Kreps and Emma Story. …………………………………………………… The 17th-seeded Englehart Spartans bombed the 15th-seeded Sioux Lookout Queen Elizabeth District Warriors 57-37 after leading 15-14, 29-22 and 45-27 at the quarters. Alison Bowes paced the Spartans with 30. Shaelyn Beaulne led the Warriors with 10. Spartans coach Susi Johanson told the Timmins Daily Press that the win was “really great. We came in behind O’Gorman, of course, but the girls have worked hard all season. I have quite a small team, but they put it all out there, so I’m just thrilled they could get a win.” Johnason added that Bowes “had an excellent game. She really attacked the basket. The last game we played, she was really tentative, she didn’t think she could do it, but this game she got it together and she was really good.” The Warriors coached by Jamie Searle, assisted by Kristi Pianka and Kevin Vinczeffy) also included Haylei Diston, Drew Jennifer Dumonski, Ashley Finlayson, Katie Gervasi, Teale Hulina, Savannah Kirton, Kyla Kulchyski, Sydney MacDonald, Calista Mawakeesic, Cassidy Romyn, Haley Stillwaugh and Cathy Topacio.
In the third round: …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Oshawa G.L. Roberts Collegiate & Vocational Institute Lakers dispatched the 12th-seeded Ottawa Hillcrest Hawks 47-38 after leading 12-6, 27-10 and 37-30 at the quarters. Kayla Gray led the Lakers with 15. Shannon Plaunt paced the Hawks with 17. The Hawks (coached by Selwyn de Souza, assisted by Mary Enns and Mona LeBlanc) also included Angelica Baker, Linda Bui, Remi Dakik, Nada Ghadban, Nickesha Grouse, Alexa Hajjar, Lydia Kropp, Rebecca Plaunt, Ruth Stead and Ella Widdis. …………………………………………………… The 10th-seeded Carleton Place Bears edged the 8th-seeded Dorchester Lord Dorchester Secondary Beavers 38-33. The Beavers led 12-11 after one quarter. The score was knotted at 18 at the half. The Bears led 26-25 after three quarters. The Beavers (coached by Jess Coulas, assisted by Kathleen Beaudry and Kurt Pollard) included Sarah Ashby, Katie Beaudry, Megan Beaudry, Madyson Bellamy, Kristen Bisshop, Kali Dayman, Laura Dayman, Alexis Deramo, Megan Dunn, Jenna Given, Ashley Jones, Emma Mutsaers, Madison O’Brien and Victoria Quance. …………………………………………………… The 3rd-seeded Timmins O’Gorman Knights bombed the 14th-seeded University of Toronto Schools Blues 58-17 after leading 16-3, 33-9 and 44-14 at the quarters. Emma Weltz led the Knights with 11. Cindy Gao paced the Blues with 9. The Blues (coached by Virginia Ki, assisted by Shannon Clancy and Jeff Kennedy) also included Nicolette Dmytryshyn, Annabel Gravely, Ruqayya Hirji, Kimberly Ho, Nancy Ji, Fiona Lee, Sharon Low, Desana Rose, Karolina Urbanovich, Alice Vlasov and Joannie Yao. …………………………………………………… The 4th-seeded Windsor Ecole Secondaire Catholique E.J. Lajeunesse Lions clocked the 13th-seeded Kincardine District Secondary Knights 40-23. The Knights led 10-7 after one quarter. The Lions led 19-13 at the half and 30-18 after three quarters. Maya Calongcagong and Lauren Golding each scored 15 to pace the Lions. Bethany Wilken led the Knights with 10. The Knights (coached by Vince Yenssen, assisted by Mike Dennis) also included Madison Beishuizen, Jenna Dennis, Georgia Fields, Lily Freiburger, Rainor Kuz, Ariel Luinstra, Julia McGregor, Cailyn McKay, Cassidy Murray-Collins and Sophia Tomaini. …………………………………………………… The 9th-seeded Port Hope Trinity College Bears dumped the 7th-seeded Belleville Nicholson Catholic Crusaders 30-9 after leading 6-3, 14-4 and 21-7 at the quarters. Natalie Jeanson paced the Bears with 13. Jane Goyer led the Crusaders with 6. The Crusaders (coached by Jim Barbeau, assisted by Stephen Goyer and Henry Mayer) also included Mira Addy, Alejandra Aguirrezabalaga, Anastasia Kasselidis-McGhee, Payton Anderson, Maddy Barrett, Ashley Filion, Olivia Fox, Michelle Hong, Piper McKinney, Hendriette Muharabu and Allison Roach. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Elgin Rideau District Lions clipped the 11th-seeded Ancaster Hamilton District Christian Knights 52-42. The score was knotted at 7 after one quarter. The Lions led 24-15 at the half and 40-35 after three quarters. Leah Rice paced the Lions with 21. Lindsay Bosveld led the Knights with 16. The Knights (coached by Nate Van Kampen, assisted by Jenny Vaughan and managed by Summer Bassie) also included Chelsea Borg, Alyssa Hartman, Anna Hartman, Michelle King, Jillian VanderVelde and Anna VanGeest. …………………………………………………… The top-seeded Welland Ecole Secondaire Catholique Jean Vanier Lynx thrashed the 16th-seeded Burlington Lester B. Pearson Patriots 49-12 after leading 16-9, 24-11 and 38-12 at the quarters. Matteya Wendling led the Lynx with 10. Kate Amesbury led the Patriots with 5. The Patriots (coached by Corey Trodd, assisted by Shelley Sydor and Niki Bobtsis) also included Tanya Barontseff, Madeline Fisher, Abbey McLachlan, Madeline Mitchell, Aydann Mueller, Jordanne Mueller, Freda Osei-Bonsu, Mariam Osmani, Amber Parker, Olivia Schieber-Mule and Jade-Marie Shaw. …………………………………………………… The 2nd-seeded Sudbury Lo-Ellen Park Secondary Knights clocked the 17th-seeded Englehart Spartans 54-21 after leading 22-2, 36-6 and 49-9 at the quarters. Delaney Bourget led the Knights with 12. Allison Bowes paced the Spartans with 11. The Spartans (coached by Susi Johanson, assisted by Anita Anderson and Nikki MacPherson) also included Shayna Fillion, Taylor Flewwelling, Sierra Livingston, Megan Loiselle, Gillian Nicholls, Courtney Stevenson, Samantha Stevenson and Hannah Wylie.
In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Welland Ecole Secondaire Catholique Jean Vanier Lynx whipped the 10th-seeded Carleton Place Bears 44-25 after leading 11-6, 20-11 and 36-22 at the quarters. Keturah Balabyekkubo led the Lynx with 12. Madison Reid led the Bears with 11. The Bears (coached by Corey Tinkess) also included Maria Salvarakis, Sophie Beasley, Emmie Button, Krista Heyd, Grace McKay, Kerissa Molloy, Rachel Murphy, Anderson Potter, Olivia Quast and Jessica Stevens.
The 3rd-seeded Timmins O’Gorman Knights stomped the 6th-seeded Oshawa G.L. Roberts Collegiate & Vocational Institute Lakers 66-20 after leading 8-5, 26-8 and 44-16 at the quarters. Emma Weltz led the Knights with 24. Kayla Grey paced the Lakers with 9. Weltz told the Timmins Daily Press that “we played really good on defence, we definitely kept their score pretty low, our shots were falling. Our talking on defence and our enthusiasm on defence was just much better this game, and we just really wanted this game. It’s big. … I think it’s awesome to see these Grade 9’s stepping up and playing against these senior students. I just think it’s a good experience for them and I think they’re going to get so much better for it. I’m happy for them.” The Lakers (coached by Paul Dunn, assisted by John Pfeifer and Katelyn Shields) also included Cameesha Adams, Jemeila Allen-Brown, Jolesha Allen-Brown, Jayden Ball, Sheriann Branch, Alysia Daicopoulo, Hannah McKay and Ally Platt.
The 4th-seeded Windsor Ecole Secondaire Catholique E.J. Lajeunesse Lions dispatched the 5th-seeded Elgin Rideau District Lions 44-38. Lajeunesse led 12-8 after one quarter and 20-15 at the half. The score was knotted at 30 after three quarters. Lauren Golding led the Lions with 26. Claire French paced Rideau with 17. Rideau (coached by Ron Stenzl, assisted by Amanda Laming and Went Sharp) also included Sarah Brown, Summer Clair, Taylor Donaldson, Maclayne Forbes, Emily French, Clevelyn Nairn, Leah Rice, Christiane Rodgers and Katherine White.
In the last quarterfinal, the 2nd-seeded Sudbury Lo-Ellen Park Secondary Knights spanked the 9th-seeded Port Hope Trinity College Bears 53-24 after leading 16-5, 29-9 and 41-13 at the quarters. Delaney Bourget and Steffi Leers each scored 9 to pace the Knights. Natalie Jensen led the Bears with 14. The Bears (coached by Courtney Christ, assisted by Luke O’Connell and Jacqueline Scheffel) also included Toluwalayo Adeusi, Caitlin Costello, Ellise Flak, Natalie Jeanson, Elizabeth Johnson, Kelly Anne Johnson, Alexia Isabella Riordan-Russell, Philippa Smith, Sophie Veri, Xuening Yang and Arabel Younger.
In the semis, the top-seeded Welland Ecole Secondaire Catholique Jean Vanier Lynx blasted the 4th-seeded Windsor Ecole Secondaire Catholique E.J. Lajeunesse Lions 53-13 after leading 14-8, 31-12 and 47-12 at the quarters. K Wendling paced the Lynx with 8. Lauren Golding led the Lions with 4.
In the other semi, the 3rd-seeded Timmins O’Gorman Knights dusted the 2nd-seeded Sudbury Lo-Ellen Park Secondary Knights 39-24. Lo-Ellen led 6-4 after one quarter. O’Gorman led 16-13 at the half and 26-20 after three quarters. Arianna Gagnon paced O’Gorman with 16. Steffi Leers led Lo-Ellen with 7.
In the bronze medal match, the 2nd-seeded Sudbury Lo-Ellen Park Secondary Knights crushed the 4th-seeded Windsor Ecole Secondaire Catholique E.J. Lajeunesse Lions 47-19 after leading 12-8, 20-10 and 32-12 at the quarters. Delaney Bourget led the Knights with 17. Steffi Leers and Maria Best each added 8. Lauren Golding paced the Lions with 14. “It was such a good tournament,” Knights coach Jen Bourget told the Sudbury Star. “We came in the first game and you never know what kind of game it will be. You do as much scouting as possible and we didn’t know much but they gave us a decent game in the first half and tested us early at OFSAA, and that was very good for the girls to have to play and make adjustments at halftime. I think our depth helped us throughout the tournament, too, especially when playing more than one game in a day, that was really key as well. Another key is we have been to so many tournaments through the season, so we are used to playing a night game, then two games the following day, and managing pregame meals and stuff off the court, so that was not new to them and it was helpful. We had been to Timmins before for a tournament earlier in the season and we stayed in the same hotel and played in same gyms and that was good, too. They were determined to come home with a medal. They were disappointed after losing the semifinal, and we played that at 11 and the bronze game was at five, so we had to get turned around quick, and that speaks to their character. They rallied and put that one behind them and played some really good basketball in that second half. It means the world to them to win that medal and it was a goal set at the beginning of the season, so to reach that goal means a lot to the team as it has never been done in basketball at Lo-Ellen, so we talked about that and what a proud moment it was for the school, and they were thrilled. I am so proud of the girls. It was a group with all different ages and it was great how they came together and accepted each other on and off court and it speaks to their character and who they are as people first.” The Lions (coached by Linda Carrière, assisted by Raquel Burke and John Mack) also included Maya Calongcagong, Haley Charbonneau, Victoria Dupuis, Megan Gahima, Diana Gharib, Carly Hodgins, Lauren Miles, Alaysia-Jade Parungao-Pancito, Olivia Scott and Tatyanna Wilson-Karikera.
In the final, the top-seeded Welland Ecole Secondaire Catholique Jean Vanier Lynx defeated the 3rd-seeded Timmins O’Gorman Knights 51-45 to win their fourth title in six years. The Knights led 17-5 after one quarter. The Lynx led 21-19 at the half. The Knights led 33-32 after three quarters. Keturah Balabyekkubo paced the Lynx with 15. Alexandra Hebert added 12, including 7 in the fourth quarter, and Isabelle Sinclair 8. “It feels amazing, obviously,” said longtime Lynx head coach Tara Poulin told the Timmins Daily Press. “It was a hard-fought battle. … We started off not like we would have liked. Our girls have never been down — we’ve had one loss all season — so it took a lot in them to come back from that. I think they got hit hard at the beginning.” After the sluggish start, the Lynx rallied and appeared in command in the third quarter but back-to-back treys by Dodd and Gagnon helped the Knights regain a 36-32 lead. But the Lynx clamped on defence and ripped off a 9-2 run. “We had set up a game-plan ahead of time. We had watched a lot of game tape before…and the girls weren’t following the game-plan,” said Poulin. “I think the fans got into it a little and the girls couldn’t hear us, and I think they forgot what our original game-plan was. Once we were able to call the timeout and tell them to review what we had said we were going to do, I think from that point on they were able to settle down.” Knights coach Marcy McCarty said “we couldn’t be more proud. They played for their school, they played for themselves, they played for us. We’re proud. … We’ll be back.” Knights assistant Cathy Beard said “they had a great weekend. They did better than their rankings, they ended up in the final, which is fantastic, and they did even better than they did last year. That’s a positive and we just move forward from that. Hopefully next year we can be in the same place and doing the same thing. They put their heart and soul into it.” Poulin said Balabyekkubo was outstanding. “She’s a hard fighter. She made a provincial team last year which I think helped her a lot in her game. She’s often times everyone’s enemy. Fans want her to get another foul, refs. … She’s all over, and she doesn’t care. She just plays basketball, and you can’t ask for anything else from a kid like that.” Poulin said the Knights were “well-coached. Last year when I saw them when all those kids were in Grade 9 and 10, I didn’t want to meet up with them. In my opinion, they’re just like my girls. Our biggest strengths are speed, defence, athleticism, and it’s the same thing for them. Often times, we get the mismatches, but they created a lot of mismatches for us. They’re an excellent shooting team, (Weltz, Gagnon and Dodd), they all do their job. I love (Hannah Culhane), she’s a wicked post player. They leave everything on the floor, and you know what, they’re going to get it next year. I truly believe that they’ll get that gold.” Knights post Olivia Fregonese said “I’m happy about it, I’m pretty proud. Some of the girls are (emotional), but it was still such a great opportunity, such a great chance and I’m proud.” Emma Weltz led the Knights with 19, including 9 in the fourth quarter. Brianna Dodd added 13, Arianna Gagnon 6 and Gabby Schaffner 5.
The bronze medalist Sudbury Lo-Ellen Park Secondary Knights: Jayme Anderson; Maria Best; Delaney Bourget; Kyla Bruni; Shannon Clarke; Kate Dahmer; Mireille Di Maio; Samantha Dunlop-Bassett; Julie Juhas; Steffi Leers; Taylin Legault; Dylann Mazzuchin; Morgan Smith; coach Jen Bourget; assistant Dawn Russell; manager Jessica Juhas
The silver medalist Timmins O’Gorman Knights: Ally Burke; Hannah Culhane; Brianna Dodd; Chloe Finnila; Ava Fregonese; Olivia Fregonese; Arianna Gagnon; Brianne Hway; Tara Jensen; Natasha Loone; Holly McLean; Gabriella Schaffner; Mallory Turcotte; Emma Weltz; coach Marcy McCarty; assistant Cathy Beard
The gold medalist Welland Ecole Secondaire Catholique Jean Vanier Lynx: Keturah Balabyekkubo; Danielle Bilodeau; Emily Charron; Natasha Desjardins; Julia Doucet; Kendel Dunn; Alexandra Hebert; Mikayla Lafontaine; Gabrielle Lemay; Julia McPhail; Isabelle Sinclair; Sophie Vaillancourt; Kyara Wendling; Matteya Wendling; coach Tara Poulin; assistant Tricia Poulin; manager Morgan McAvoy