In the quarterfinals, the Fredericton Black Kats stomped the Miramichi James M. Hill Tommies 98-43 as Ryan MacKay scored 18 and Kristen Petruska 16. The Tommies included Hannah Hamilton.
The Quispamsis Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders defeated the Moncton Harrison Trimble Trojans 76-65 as Jenny Stuart scored 29, Erin Williams 18 and Jocelyn McIntyre 17. The Trojans (coached by Bob Wallace) included Janiva Willis, Lauren Devereaux, Sarah LeBlanc.
The Saint John St. Malachy’s Saints dumped the Riverview Royals 79-69 as Stephanie Wood scored 29 and Kelly Hayes 23. Jessica Walter led the Royals with 16. Sarah Reid added 13 and Kendra Stokes 13. The Royals (coached by Bill Davis) also included Erin Murray, Stephanie MacLeod.
In the last quarterfinal, the host Moncton Purple Knights stuffed the Fredericton Leo Hayes Lions 78-65 as Emily Smith scored 22 and Kelly Donald 18. The Lions included Christy McBride, Megan Corby, Holly Labadie, Marchell Coulombe.
In the semis, the host Moncton Purple Knights defeated the Saint John St. Malachy’s Saints 57-51 as Kelly Donald scored 18 and Emily Smith 14. Aynsley Marr led the Saints with 20. Moncton led 33-30 at the half. The Saints also included Kerry Hayes.
In the other semi, the Fredericton Black Kats whipped the Quispamsis Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders 86-60 as Katie Springer scored 22, Lauren Plummer 18 and Carolyn Peppin 14. Jocelyn McIntyre led the Crusaders with 23. Erin Williams added 13. Fredericton led 46-31 at the half.
In the final, the Fredericton Black Kats clubbed the Moncton Purple Knights 56-38. The Black Kats controlled most areas of the game, and particularly the paint. Fredericton pulled away on a 15-5 run midway through the first half and then opened the second period on a 12-2 sprint to seal the team’s 12th final banner. “Sometimes, when the buzzer goes and you win by one point, it is a little more exciting but whether we are up by one or by 50 at the end, it doesn’t really matter to me,” Fredericton senior guard Carolyn Peppin told the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. Kristen Petruska paced the Black Kats with 15. Lauren Plummer added 12 and Ryan McKay 10. Kelly Donald led the Purple Knights with 11. Nancy Keirstead added 9. Moncton jumped into a 6-0 lead in the opening 2:49 but the Black Kats stayed calm and once Plummer finally got them on the board at 3:45, the game plan slowly clicked into gear. “Everyone has those jitters, especially in the Aitken Centre,” said Petruska. “We never get a big crowd like this at out games. The coach always says the game is not won in the first five minutes so we just have to keep on playing.” Down 8-2 at one point, Fredericton went ahead 10-9 on Petruska’s jumped at 8:40 and then after several lead changes, finally took control for good on another Petruska bucket with 6:40 remaining in the half. “It was our tough defense,” Petruska said. “Whenever we play intense defence, our offence comes and we are able to pull away.” Moncton trailed 28-18 at the half and were down 43-23 with 11:02 left. “We had a really young team this but we did pretty good,” said Moncton guard Nancy Keirstead. “We are all pretty close, we work together and I think we will be back next year.” The championship capped an undefeated season for the Kats against New Brunswick competition and for the seniors, culminated a perfect 3-for-3 run atop the division. It didn’t go without some anxiety though. “Since we are playing so late at night, it is a long day and we are saying we have to get the game going,” said Peppin. “Then, once you are here, the adrenaline is going and you are having a great time. When the buzzer goes, it is the greatest feeling in the world.” Moncton coach Jennifer George was chosen the New Brunswick high school girls’ coach of the year.
The co-bronze medalist Saint John St. Malachy’s Saints: Aynsley Marr; Colleen Ryan; Stephanie Wood; Kerry Hayes; Jennifer Murphy; Brandy Jones; Liz Marr; Elizabeth Zed; Janet Palmer; coach Bill Reid
The co-bronze medalist Quispamsis Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders: Jenny Stuart; Erin Williams; Jocelyn McIntyre; Kelly Thomson; Robyn Moore; Stefanie Crawford; Libby MacDonald; Lydia Scott; coach Reg Gallant;
The silver medalist Moncton Purple Knights: Kelly Donald; Nancy Keirstead; Emily Smith; Ashley Gould; Brittany McDonald; Kelly Keirstead; Vanessa Ryan; Jenny Miller; coach Jennifer George
The gold medalist Fredericton Black Kats: Carolyn Peppin; Kristen Petrushka; Lauren Plummer; Ryan McKay; Katie Springer; Jill Brennan; Jen Veysey; Deanna Gorman; Sarah MacFarlane; coach Brandon Langille; assistant Steve O’Rourke, assistant Rick Cotter