In the opening round, held in Lethbridge: …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded Bawlf Wildcats tripped the 9th-seeded Fairview Cobras 59-46 as Nicole Reinhart scored 21 and Lindsay Zarski 11. The Wildcats led 31-23 at the half. Vanessa Dunwoody led the Cobras with 16. Jennifer Kerschbaumer added 14. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Black Diamond Oilfields Drillers clipped the 12th-seeded Evansburg Grand Trunk Grizzlies 54-42 as Maren McBride scored 15 and Sarah Temush 15. The Drillers led 28-18 at the half. Heidi Urban led the Grizzlies with 13. Jamie Stone added 9. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Edmonton Christian Lions dispatched the 10th-seeded New Norway Spartans 52-40 as Rebecca Vande Griend scored 16 and Stephanie Vande Griend 15. Kajsa Isaac led the Spartans with 19. Alana Martinson added 11. The Spartans also included Ashley Jacobson. …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Hannah J.C. Charyk Hawks clocked the 11th-seeded Calgary Christian Cougars 52-37 as Jill McDonald scored 13. Heather Vanderwerff led the Cougars with 8. The Cougars also included Linda Van Harten.
In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Bow Island Senator Gershaw Gators defeats the 8th-seeded Bawlf Wildcats 74-66. The Gators took an early 10-point lead on a series of jump hooks by Angela Thompson and led 41-31 going into the lockers. They appeared in command by 20 early in the second half before the Bawlf Wildcats switched to a full-court press and closed the gap to seven. Alicia Schussler drilled a three to shut the door on the Wildcats. Angela Thompson scored 42 and Jen Coutts 13. Lisa Yuha and Lindsay Zarski led Bawlf with 18. Nicole Reinhart added 12.
The 5th-seeded Black Diamond Oilfields Drillers defeated clubbed the 4th-seeded Bonnyville Notre Dame Wildcats 77-60 as Maren McBride scored 18, Sarah Temush 18 and Bonnie Weinsheimer 12. Avery Murphy led the Wildcats with 25. The Wildcats also included Chantal Laporte.
The 6th-seeded Hanna J.C. Charyk Hawks stunned the 3rd-seeded Lethbridge Immanuel Christian Eagles 45-39 as Jill McDonald scored 17 and Erin Baines 10. Annalise Bekkering led the Eagles with 15. Janice Doeve 9. The Eagles led 19-17 at the half. The Eagles also included Lynnette Van Damme, Carlynne Greldanus, Kathryn Bekkering, Melissa Wilde
In the last quarterfinal, the 2nd-seeded Fort MacLeod F.P. Walshe Meteors dusted the 7th-seeded Edmonton Christian Lions 67-56 as Kelsie Bremner scored 30, Lindy Lauder 12 and Jackie Hulley 10. Chantelle Schenk led the Lions with 12. Robyn Lindemulder added 10. The Lions also included Rebecca Vande Griend, Stephanie Vande Griend.
In the semis, the top-seeded Bow Island Senator Gershaw Gators whipped the 5th-seeded Black Diamond Oilfields Drillers 78-41. The Gators cruised as Angela Thompson scored 21, Jen Coutts 17 and Kim Noble 12. Bonnie Weinsheimer led Oilfields with 14. Sarah Temush added 8. The Gators led 18-4 at the start and 40-20 at the half. “Our first game today, there were some seniors who came out flat, but tonight we had all 10 girls playing well,” Senator Gershaw coach Maurey Salmon told the Lethbridge Herald. “Maybe we were a little nervous, but being in this situation before helps. There is nothing like having that experience.” The Drillers missed bunny layups and hit just 4-14 from the line in the first half. “We tried to be in their face,” said Salmon. “I’m really happy, and the five girls who came off the bench did a good job. They came in and contributed, giving the starters a chance to rest. We haven’t always had that.”
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Fort MacLeod F.P. Walshe Meteors defeated the 6th-seeded Hanna J.C. Charyk Hawks 52-43. In a tough inside battle, Walshe led 25-20 at the half. The Meteors built a 10-point lead in the second half and hung on for the victory. Lindy Lauder led Walshe with 21 points. Kelsie Bremner added 17. Jill McDonald paced the Hawks with 18. Erin Haines added 8.
In the bronze medal match, the Hanna J.C. Charyk Hawks whipped the 5th-seeded Black Diamond Oilfields Drillers 70-48 as Jill McDonald scored 25 and Nichole Fessler 16. Maren McBride led the Drillers with 15.
In the final, the top-seeded Bow Island Senator Gershaw Gators captured their third straight title by defeating the Fort Macleod F.P. Walshe Meteors 68-64. The game was a tight physical affair which saw captain Angela Thompson and Kim Noble each pick up four fouls for Gershaw in the first half. The Gators trailed 39-32 at the half but rallied back to a two-point lead in the game before icing it at the line. Jen Coutts led Gershaw with 13. Angela Thompson added 15. Kelsie Bremner led the Meteors with 26. Paige Burdett added 11. “There is definitely a rivalry there,” Gershaw coach Maurey Salmon told the Lethbridge herald. “Some of it goes to volleyball and when you’re the defending champs, teams are always gunning for you.” Meteors coach Ronna Wright said “the first half was the time to put it away. We didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. We were up 12 at one point but then we left the game. In the last three minutes, we let our guard down and they came back to make it seven.” Thompson hit five of six free throws in the final minute. “Free throws are nothing,” said Thompson. “That was just my contribution. But the team did all the work.” Lindsay Verhaest did an excellent job of containing Meteor star Kelsie Bremner, who nevertheless scored 26, including 11 from the line. “We just had to come out and play better in the second half, we had to play tougher defence,” said Verhaest.
“I love defence. I was a little nervous (dealing with Bremner). I should have stayed on my feet more. Those two
fouls on her three-point shots hurt us.”
The bronze medalist Hanna J.C. Charyk Hawks: Jill McDonald; Erin Haines; Nichole Fessler; Shawna Wallace; coach Rick Haines
The silver medalist Ft. Macleod F.P. Walshe Meteors: Lindy Lauder; Kelsie Bremner; Paige Burdette; Jackie Hulley;
The gold medalist Bow Island Senator Gershaw Gators: Angela Thompson; Jen Coutts, Kim Noble; Alicia Schassler; Jill Cooper; Tiffany Schile; coach Maurey Salmon