Final regular season standings (9): Humber (16-0), Fanshawe (14-2), Durham (10-6), Mohawk (8-8), George Brown (8-8), Seneca (8-8), Niagara (6-10), Redeemer (2-14), Georgian (0-16).
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Georgian Grizzlies: coach John Lee, coach Dawn Bell
Niagara Knights: Andrea Flindall, Kristin Flindall, Leighann Breault, Melissa Hallborg, Candace Oxford, Kristin Davies, Heidi Vanderwier, Misty Williamson, Caryn Thompson, Kristina Griffen, Deslyn Diaram, Amy Dohn, Amy Manella, Rebecca Johns, coach Tara Petrachenko, assistant Greg Heyder, manager Jessica Aloian
Redeemer Royals: Alicia Silva, Carrie DeGraaf, Diane Kapteyn, Winona Strikwerda, Susanne Zantingh, Nicole Roorda, Marilyn Charlton, Janine Verheul, Nickeishe Hudson, Robyn Helleman, Kimberly Williams, coach Frances Manias-Jackson
In the quarterfinals, the host Durham Lords defeated the Seneca Scouts 53-32. The Lords led 28-19 after a foul-plagued first half. The Scouts rallied within two in the second half but Durham responded with an 11-0 run to take command. “I don’t know what it was,” Lords forward Amanda Wakeford told the Durham Chronicle. “We played good, but we just couldn’t score for some reason.” Jennifer Hevey led the Lords with 24. Wakeford added 12, along with 13 boards. The Scouts (coached by Mervin Busby) included Fayshalee Wellington, Elaine Morrison, Jill Jobity, Amy Berends, Julie-Anna Buchar, Julie Ulacco, Lori Thomas, Stacy-Ann Burton, Melissa McMackin, Esther Shleifer, Beth Boyce, Chantal Demers, Amber Lee Cully, Nickisha Hinds, Jennifer Huntley, Candy Beauchemin, Elizabeth Lewis, Shannon Wright and Leslie Fairweather.
In the other quarterfinal, the Mohawk Mountaineers defeated the George Brown Huskies 56-49. The Huskies (coached by Sharon Butler) included Stephanie Bembridge, Elaine Ticzon, Jocelyn Christoff, Erin MacLean, Lisa Medeiros, Marie Vinnels, Christine Abela, Erin Gibbs, Lisa Hollas, Traci-Ann Lawrence, Ida Birungi, Marie John, Lisa Glover, Michelle Davids, Meve Julien, Katrina Pilested, Pamela Ferrante and Marvalynn Johnson.
In the semis, the Humber Hawks throttled the Mohawk Mountaineers 107-40 as Tanya Sadler scored 22, Nicoline Clarke 16, Aman Hasebenebi 16, Krissy Kort 15, Tina Botterill 12, Missy McCutcheon 11, Audrey Kaersenhout 10, Filomena Aprile 4 and Brenda Chambers 1. Hawks guard Aman Hasebenebi told The Coven that “we were so calm going into the game. In warm-up, we had the music playing and we were pumped. We were confident and wanted to get things going. When the game started, we just wanted to have some fun.” Mandy Anderson paced the Mountaineers with 11. Yoshiko Nakana added 9, Jeannette Hill 8, Julie McClemont 5, Diane Sanpogna 4 and Cathy Hambly 3.
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Fanshawe Falcons defeated the 3rd-seeded Durham Lords 57-54 as Crystal Greig scored 19, Melinda Thomas 2, Jen Goosens 11, Michelle Hall 6, Jennifer Renaud 6 and Jackie Finnie 3. Jennifer Hevey paced the Lords (coached by Mike Duggan) with 20. Amanda Wakeford added 13, Kelly Morrison 12, Tracey Weightman 6 and Angela Wilson 3. The Lords led 16-10 early but the Falcons responded with an 8-0 run and led 22-20 at the half. The Lords clawed to a 37-29 lead in the second half but Fanshawe maintained its poise and kept draining treys, ripping off a 9-0 run down the stretch to pull out the win.
In the bronze medal match, the Durham Lords defeated the Mohawk Mountaineers 46-44 as Jennifer Hevey and Amanda Wakeford each scored 14. Kelly Morrison added 7, Tracey Weightman 5, Angela Wilson 3 and Megan Griffiths 3. Julie McClement paced the Mountaineers with 12. Amanda Anderson added 9, Diane Sampogna 9, Yoshika Nakada 6, Jeannette Hill 6 and Cathy Hambly 2. The Lords led 32-13 at the half but faltered down the stretch, allowing the Mountaineers to exploded for 12 unanswered points. “In the second half they had nothing left, they were totally burnt out,” coach Mike Duggan told the Durham Chronicle. “It’s the last game of the season, so you put It all on the floor; you have to. But like I said, in the second half they just ran out of gas.” Player of the game Jennifer Hevey said “it was a tough loss last night. I wish we could have got silver, but when we first started the season, we thought we wouldn’t even make the medal round.” The Mountaineers (coached by Carolyn Foreman) also included Lee Weatherall, Marlene Cabral and Kerrie Taylor.
In the final, the Humber Hawks defeated the Fanshawe Falcons 76-47 as Tina Botterill scored 13, Tanya Sadler 12, Audrey Kaersenhout 11, Krissy Kert 10, Missy McCutcheon 8, Brenda Chambers 6, Aman Hasebenenbi 6, Filomena Aprile 6 and Nicoline Clarke 4. Melinda Thomas paced the Falcons with 13. Crystal Greig added 11, Jenn Renaud 8, Michelle Hall (the league’s leading scorer) 7, Marianne Scott 5, Jen Goosens 2 and Tracy Kroeplin 1. “It feels so awesome,” Haws post Tanya Saddler told The Coven. “We played really well and I don’t think we could be any happier. We went out there confident and determined to win so it all feels really good.” Tina Botterill said “we pressed them aggressively the whole game. We needed to do that to keep our intensity up because defence is one of our strengths. We set our personal goals and we focused on the girls that we wanted to shut down. We accomplished that tonight. Michelle getting only seven points, and being so off It was a relief to win last year, but this time, we’re looking at the next step.” The Hawks led 42-21 at the half. Hawks coach Jim Henderson said “an early press is always important for our offence. Once you score off the press, they’re usually easy baskets. When anyone scores some easy baskets, they are going to be more relaxed when it comes to shooting the ball. … We forced them to play the type of game they don’t like to play. It’s the type of game we enjoy playing and that we have the depth to play. They didn’t try to slow it down. They tried to take advantage of our press and it tired them out.” The Hawks hit 31-54 (.570) from the floor.
After the season, Durham appoints Craig Andrews as head coach. Andrews was a high school coach at Oshawa O’Neill, where he won an OFSAA Triple-A title, and at Denis O’Connor. Andrew replaced Mike Duggan.
The bronze medalist Durham Lords: Angela Wilson; Jennifer Hevey; Amanda Wakeford; Kelly Morrison; Tania Kinghorn; Tracey Weightman; Megan Griffiths; Christa Devers; Jennifer Best; Lynn Hanna; Marion O’Garro; Kelly Stouffer; Michelle Kennedy; Amy Graham; coach Mike Duggan
The silver medalist Fanshawe Falcons: Melinda Thomas; Crystal Greig; Michelle Hall; Jennifer Goossens; Jen Renaud; Marianne Scott; Becky Bertram; Kim Archer; Jacquie Finnie; Lindsay Clarke; Tracy Kroeplin; Devin Clarke; Lyndsey Nelson; Charlene Thompson; Michelle Hutchinson; Tamara Clarke; Rachel Macmillan; Krista Fisher; coach Jeff Farrugia
The gold medalist Humber Hawks: Tanya Sadler; Aman Hasebenebi; Tina Botterill; Audrey Kaersenhout; Melissa McCutcheon; Brenda Chambers; Lindsay Higgs; Nicoline Clarke; Kristen Adams; Maria Stangherlin; Filomena Aprile; Krissy Kert; coach Jim Henderson; assistant Denise Perrier