In the opening round: …………………………………………………… The 9th-seeded Calgary Bowness Trojans clipped the 8th-seeded Edson Parkland Composite Pacers 51-44. The score was knotted at 10 after one quarter. The Trojans led 28-21 at the half and 41-28 after three quarters. Madi McTighe paced the Trojans with 17. Ginny Cape added 11, Emma Wardrop 9, Maya Peterson 6, Stephanie Pauls 4, Makenna Kwasney 2 and Allison Wardrop 2. Kennedy Claridge scored 16 to pace the Pacers (coach Wanita Willcott). Kaylee Marfleet added 12, Kelly Reid 7, Sarah Wild 4, Kassidy Bush 4 and Kayleigh Pacholok 3, while Avery Pelz, Tori Correia, Lexi Abbott, Paige Manning, Anika Kiland and Brooklyn Blundell were scoreless. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Magrath Pandas stomped the 12th-seeded Grande Prairie Peace Wapiti Academy Titans 68-21. Jenna Taylor, Jianna Hubbard and Ady Strong each scored 11 to pace the Pandas. Hannah Dick added 10, Bethany Dow 9, Tayler Trainer 8, Emily Atwood 4, Lauren Payne 2 and Madi Miller 2. Haley Friesen scored 6 to pace the Titans (coach Lenka Rohova, assistant David Cerny). Chiara Gorgichuk added 5, Anna Van der Giessen 2, Alexa Fraser 2, Jerika Cadieux 2, Netisha Zacharias 2 and Mallory Gravengard 2, while Kayla LaValley, Brooklynn Wilson, Taylor Lawton, Amanda Pelster, Krista Frey, Brianna Middleton-Beard and Ashley Zacharias were scoreless. ………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Beaumont Bandits dispatched the 11th-seeded Lloydminster Holy Rosary Raiders 60-50. Becky Munchrath paced the Bandits with 27. Mallory Uskiw added 10, Kaeley Rawlings 8, Mackenzie Novotny 5, Breanne Wilhelm 4, Emma Kirkelund 4 and Makenna Kuppe 2. Alyssa Banez paced the Raiders (coach Josh Lyons, assistant Ashley Fullarton) with 18. Adriane Weber added 11, Hannah MacDuff 4, Rhiannon Groot 4, Caitlin Davis 4, Brittany Enstrom 4, Maggie Rusteika 2, Abby Pitts 2 and Taryn Bender 1, while Jessica MacDonald, Anna Chapelski and Jasmin Hollis were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In the last opening round contest, the 10th-seeded Strathmore Spartans stunned the 7th-seeded Sherwood Park Strathcona Christian Academy Eagles 62-56 as Brianna Kennedy scored 24, Fyona Gibson-Smith 11, Sydney Boyd 9, Tatum Wathen 6, Kaylin Larson 5, Allie Davidson 3 and Pacey Means 2. Alexis Myschuk paced the Eagles (coach Josh Gutknecht, assistant Steve Schaar, assistant Alex Mateuchev) with 10. Kennedy Conn added 11, Kenna Jacobson 10, Ann Stephenson 7, Kennedy Roblin 4, Allison Maschmeyer 2, Taylor Formaniuk 1 and Alyssa Brady 1, while Brianna Mateuchev, Maegan Bylsma and Maddie Schmidt were scoreless.
In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Taber W.R. Myers Rebels dusted the 9th-seeded Calgary Bowness Trojans 76-54 as Natalie Hoyt scored 19, Langley Moser 16, Kitawna Sparks 14, Millay Johnson 11, Genna Wright 6, Reagan Bailey 4, Austen Robbins 4 and Rachael Jensen 2. Emma Wardrop scored 25 to lead the Trojans (coach Tara Berringer, assistant Braden Klein). Ginny Cape added 12, Allison Wardrop 5, Stephanie Pauls 4, Madi McTighe 2, Dana Sherwood 2, Makenna Kwasney 2 and Maya Peterson 2, while Amy Shupe, Hailey Merrett and Julia Gedlaman were scoreless.
The 5th-seeded Magrath Pandas stomped the 4th-seeded Edmonton Christian Lions 60-35 after leading 25-7, 35-13 and 46-23 at the quarters. Jenna Taylor and Bethany Dow each scored 15 to pace the Pandas. Ellie Wilde added 10, Megan McMahon 8, Lauren Payne 5, Hannah Dick 3, Jianna Hubbard 2 and Ady Strong 2. Jessica Aukema scored 11 to pace the Lions (coach Brady Van Ry, assistant Cassie Haarsma, assistant Rayann Simminds). Brooke Kapteyn added 9, Bethany Snaterse 8, Emma Bakker 4, Ashley Bowers 2 and Arden Kwan 1, while Andrea Garcia Jiminez, Sanshira McChesney, Amelia Schuld, Jeiel Iyawe, Lily Woldeabzghi, Erica Eppinga and Brianna Roth were scoreless.
The 3rd-seeded Wetaskiwin Composite Sabres dispatched the 6th-seeded Beaumont Bandits 61-53. The Sabres led 15-11 after one quarter. The score was knotted at 28 at the half and at 41 after three quarters. Katie Ballhorn led the Sabres with 28. Megan Hebert added 14, Ethel Estominos 13, Brooke Mantai 2, Kassidy Abrahamson 2, Avery Stashko 1 and Carly Bearchell 1. Kaeley Rawlings scored the 18 to lead the Bandits (coach Suzanne Kavanagh, assistant Jeff Rawlings, assistant Kalia Kozuch, trainer Erin Sande). Breann Wilhelm added 12, Mackenzie Novotny 9, Mallory Uskiw 7, Becky Munchrath 4 and Emma Kirkelund 2, while Tatiana Ali, Andrea Bauer, Rachel Kirkelund, Joelle LeBlanc, Kiana Row, Makenna Kuppe, Raman Randhawa and Madison Billings were scoreless. “We knew it would be close,” coach Lana Ilg told the Wetaskiwin Times. The Sabres trailed by 8 in the final quarter but solid boardwork by Kassidy Abrahamson and treys by Katie Ballhorn ignited the rally. “She’s really come on lately when we’ve needed her and lots of the girls came off the bench to play some important minutes,” Ilg said. “We needed to be in the top four and win this game.”
In the last quarterfinal, the 2nd-seeded Medicine Hat Monsignor McCoy Colts smacked the 10th-seeded Strathmore Spartans 64-46 as Katelyn Rozdeba scored 14, Abby Larochelle 10, Carley Doneff 9, Hannah Stark 7, Emilee Jackson 6, Annika Gerl 5, Taytem Rath 4, Sierra Zukowski 3, Jillian Laing 2 and Stephanie Laing 2. Kaylin Larson scored 16 to pace the Spartans (coach Dion Galandy, assistant Leslie Larson, assistant Sybil Baine). Allie Davidson added 11, Fyona Gibson-Smith added 5, Sydney Boyd 4, Brianna Kennedy 3, Tatum Wathen 2 and Pacey Means 2, while Adrian Tongs, Maria Kooistra and Kirsten Whelan were scoreless.
In the semis, the 2nd-seeded Medicine Hat Monsignor McCoy Colts clubbed the 3rd-seeded Wetaskiwin Composite Sabres 61-28 after leading 19-6, 33-19 and 45-29 at the quarters. Katelyn Rozdeba paced the Colts with 13. Emilee Jackson added 9, Hannah Stark 7, Abby Larochelle 7, Taytem Rath 6, Jillian Laing 5, Carley Doneff 5, Annika Gerl 4, Delainey Zdan 4 and Arianna Fune 1. Megan Hebert paced the Sabres with 9. Kassidy Abrahamson added 6, Katie Ballhorn 5, Erin Young 3, Brooke Mantai 2, Carly Bearchell 2 and Elise McFadzean 1. Sabres coach Lana Ilg told the Wetaskiwin Times that her troops were undone by exhaustion from the quarterfinals and the Colts size. “The Beaumont game was so fast-paced and high-intensity. It demanded every ounce of energy we could give. … There are definitely a lot of challenges when you’re playing such a big team, but they also hit every shot they took and we couldn’t make a bucket.”
In the other semi, the top-seeded Taber W.R. Myers Rebels clipped the 5th-seeded Magrath Pandas 61-45 after leading 20-13, 36-20 and 45-29 at the quarters. Natalie Hoyt paced the Rebels with 14. Millay Johnson added 13, Kitawna Sparks 13, Genna Wright 9, Austen Robbins 6 and Lauren Steed 6. Lauren Payne paced the Pandas with 19. Bethany Dow added 13, Jenna Taylor 4, Ady Strong 3, Jianna Hubbard 2, Megan McMahon 2 and Ellie Wilde 2.
In the bronze medal match, the 3rd-seeded Wetaskiwin Composite Sabres edged the 5th-seeded Magrath Pandas 65-63 as Katie Ballhorn scored 23, Megan Hebert 17, Ethel Esominos 14, Kassidy Abrahamson 7, Elise McFadzean 2 and Carly Bearchell 2. The Sabres trailed by 8 early and were in serious foul trouble but Ballhorn began hitting jumpers to give the team its first provincial medal. “That’s what we talked about before the games, that we have an opportunity to make history,” coach Lana Ilg told the Wetaskiwin Times. “Not many people get to say that.” Lauren Payne scored 26 to lead the Pandas (coach Kristyn Barfuss, assistant Mandee Brame). Bethany Dow added 20, Jennafer Taylor 6, Hannah Dick 4, Megan McMahon 4, Ellie Wilde 2 and Madi Miller 1, while Emily Atwood, Jianna Hubbard, Tayler Trainer, Adyson Strong and Sage Finck were scoreless.
In the final, the 2nd-seeded Medicine Hat Monsignor McCoy Colts defeated the top-seeded Taber W.R. Myer Rebels 65-61 to capture their first provincial crown after eight title bout appearances under the tutelage of coach Janice Laing. The Rebels led 9-5 after one quarter. The score was knotted at 20 at the half. The Colts led 43-33 after three quarters. “I’m exhausted and I’m overwhelmed. I’m just so proud of them,” Laing told the Medicine Hat News. “I’ve got nothing.” The Colts had lost to the Rebels in the zone finals after squandering a 10-point fourth-quarter lead, as well as in the 2016 provincial final. But “our girls gutted it out, oh my gosh,” said Laing. “Our defence was phenomenal. They did exactly what we talked about for a week. They did exactly what we talked about.” The Colts only scored 3 on the fourth quarter, with Katelyn Rozdeba hitting a jumper and Carley Doneff a free throw, but their defence held Myers to just 8. “We were just trying to hold them at our 10 points,” said Colts guard Hannah Stark. “We just tried to contain them so we could win the game.” Katelyn Rozdeba said “it just feels good to win this time, and Laing’s never gotten first so it feels great to be on this team. It’s a good feeling to win at home too.” Immediately after the buzzer sounded, Hannah Stark raced to the centre of the court, lifted a floor cover and pulled out a loonie. The Colts guard says the team decided to place it there for good luck at a Sunday shootaround. “We put a lucky loonie in the floor to commemorate this experience and give us some luck. … It’s amazing. She’s (coach Janice Laing) had so many silvers and it’s great to finally bring her the gold.” Katelyn Rozdeba paced the Colts with 21. Hannah Stark added 11, Abby LaRochelle 4, Taytem Rath 4, Carley Doneff 3 and Emilee Jackson 3. Kitawna Sparks paced the Rebels with 13. Langley Moser added 10, Millay Johnson 10, Austen Robbins 4 and Natalie Hoyt 4.
The bronze medalist Wetaskiwin Composite Sabres: Ethel Estorninos; Hannah Limbaga; Brooke Mantai; Kassidy Abrahamson; Katie Ballhorn; Erin Young; Megan Hebert; Avery Stashko; Carly Bearchell; Elise McFadzean; Chelsey Dick; coach Lana Ilg; assistant Chuck Hebert
The silver medalist Taber W.R. Myers Rebels: Genna Wright; Millay Johnson; Natalie Hoyt; Rachael Jensen; Langley Moser; Lauren Steed; Kitawna Sparks; Austen Robbins; Reagan Bailey; Jenna Nelson; coach Kenney Wood; assistant Brandon Bullock; assistant Marty Johnson;
The gold medalist Medicine Hat Monsignor McCoy Colts: Jillian Laing; Stephanie Laing; Carley Doneff; Annika Gerl; Hannah Stark; Emilee Jackson; Abby Larochelle; Katelyn Rozdeba; Joelle Van Dam; Sierra Zukowski; Taytem Rath; Ariana Purificati-Fune; Delainey Zdan; Halle Gjerlaug; coach Janice Laing; assistant Lindsay Armstrong; assistant Dave Rozdeba