Final regular season standings:
East (7): Humber (10-2); Seneca (10-2); George Brown (8-4); Algonquin (6-6); Durham (5-7); Loyalist (2-10); Georgian (1-11)
West (7): St. Clair (12-0); Fanshawe (9-3); Niagara (7-5); Redeemer (6-6); Mohawk (6-6); Sault (2-10); Algoma (0-12)
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Algoma Thunderbirds: Jessica King, Roberta Reid, Melissa Stumpo, Stella Viotto, Sarah Miller, Kristan Chaimbrone, Lisa Medaglia, Emily Korthase, Melissa Viotto, Erin Gordon, Kathy Berdux, Melissa Girard, Meghan Mergaert Levie, Kristina Bourdage, Miranda Soucie, Candice Boston and Alison Faulkner.
Durham Lords: Bonnie Slaughter, Angela Cull, Pamela Wilkinson, Jillian Fair, Jackie Birtwhistle, Lenna Panou, Melissa Bye, Amy Duncan, Fiona Wield, Nicole Donnelly, Sarah Bemb, Ashley Visser, Cheryl Gumbinger, Marcia Galloway, Lindsay Garbatt, Meghan Hennessey, Stacy-Anne Jackson, Eleni Moutsias, coach Craig Andrews
Georgian Grizzlies: Lisa Schermerhorn, Bobbie Lawson, Laura Robertson, Eryn Airhardt, Amanda Haynes, Erin Brandon, Trisha Salmon, Nicole Mathia, Jenny Perigoe, Yuka Oishi, Amnesty Soucy, Emese Sugar, Crystal Jones, Jade Doyle and Lindsey Garry.
Loyalist Lancers: Rachel Gallupe, Allison Lee, Valerie Snider, Jackie Swartz, Laura Garskey, Erica Arsenault, Alexandra DiGenova, Deidre Kelly, Jaclyn Smith, Ashley Smolders, Lindsey Adams, Jennifer Comartin, Kristin Georgiou, Jacqueline Mozewsky, Cyndy Campbell and Lindsay Briere.
Redeemer Royals: Hannah Flemming, Jen Ranter, Amy Bosgraaf, Jen Markus, Carolyn Bangoor, Emily Sadlier, Melanie Hotke, Julie Honig, Heidi Bentum, Lindsay Vandersteen, Elizabeth Rauws, Natalie Armstrong, Loreen Deelstra and Kelly Bosgraaf.
Sault Cougars: Jen Ross, Simone Taylor, Jill Esposito, Carly Uhlman, Lyndsey Carlyle, Alisha Moon, Katie Healey, Angela Caputo, Julie Kelley, Jen Cronin, Cara Russon, Amy Houser, Julie Laforce and Maryann Cavaliere.
In the cross-over quarterfinals, the Seneca Sting (East-1st) defeated the Mohawk Mountaineers (West-4th) 65-56. The Mountaineers included Dawn DeSchryver, Carolyn Crnac, Lesley Thomson, Erinn Belot, Keine Pierre, Erin Welch, Julianna Raducanu, Shannon Morton, Megan Murray, Julie McClemont, Nicole Harrison, Alicia Bower, Denise DeSchryver, Danielle Gasse and Cheryl Merritt.
The Fanshawe Falcons (West-2nd) defeated the George Brown Huskies (East-3rd) 52-40. The Huskies included Trista Kelly, Tatjana Juretic, Taryn Izatt-Galloway, Sharon Rose, Danijela Nizic, Josephine Agudo, Ashley Hinds-Grannum, Jessica Boyd, Diana-Kay Facey, Lillian Wamini, Ruth Eddolls, Michelle Wright, Cartis James, Erin Bellmore, Faduma Elmi, Lizz Huntly-Cooke, Maria Penano, Claudette Lewis and Melanie Vicente.
The St. Clair Saints (West-1st) dumped the Algonquin Thunder (East-4th) 66-39. Annoyed with the play of starters Tina Sirka, Rinjus Chibani and Nadine Phillip in the final regular season game, Saints coach Linda Carriere benched the trio at the start of the quarterfinal. The ploy worked. With the score tied at seven, she re-inserted them into the line-up and they responded with a 20-5 run that proved the difference. “I started a few new players because of some things that happened in practice this week,” said Carriere. “The players who never started before were excited and the ones who didn’t start weren’t so happy. But they went into the game and proved they should be starters.” Sirka finished with 14 points and Chibani 8. The Saints outrebounded the Thunder 42-26. “We had some problems with our offence,” said Algonquin guard Sophie Caron. “We’ve been more of a halfcourt team and when someone pushes up the tempo, it takes us time to adjust.” Caron led Algonquin with 16. Raquel Burke led St. Clair with 16 points, 7 boards, 4 blocks and 4 steals. “We definitely got the bugs out of our game today,” said Burke. The Thunder (coached by Geoff Mace, assisted by Rosie Warden) also included Hana Abdi, Kathleen Dumas, Jenna Ritchie, Sky Taylor, Amalia Molina, Kelly Menna, Chantale Clement, Ashley Hunter, Kate Johnston, Amy Rose, Sheena Butt and Brooke Evans.
In the last quarterfinal, the Humber Hawks (East-2nd) defeated the Niagara Knights (West-3rd) 66-61. The Knights included Tasha Dolinski, Kathryn Lockey, Yukako Sakurai, Shiho Arakaki, Paula Shaver, Rachel Forrest, Marsha Sarano, Jessica Smith, Christina Hintenberger, Kylie Douglas, Kaitlin Bramer, Elaine Williams, Nicole Tisdale, Helena Kaczkan and Alicia Brooker.
In the semis, the Seneca Sting defeated the Fanshawe Falcons 44-41. Natasha Thombs paced the Sting with 14. Margaret Masuka added 13, Shanda Cooper 6, Heather Elchuk 6, Tara Alexander 3 and Bridget Lacko 2. Katie Gauler led the Falcons with 16. Frances Egan added 7, Julie Yagi 6, Katie Havekes 4, Kathryn Gibbs 3, Kristen Conway 2 and Paula Mooney 2. Thombs was chosen player of the game for the Sting, while Gauler earned the laurels for the Falcons.
In the other semi, the St. Clair Saints defeated the Humber Hawks 52-42 as Raquel Burke scored 23 points. Forward Rinjus Chibani, who scored 6 and made six steals said “there were some frightening moments there for a while. This was our toughest challenge of the season at this point. Really, this is the game that we were focusing on. Winning this game now gives us a chance to finish the season as champions.” Tina Sirka scored 10, Heather Jones 6, April Lounsbury 5 and Danielle Ball 2. Tanya Castang paced the Hawks with 12. Fayola Creft added 7, Erin Chamberlain 7, Sarah Moxley 6, Emily Wang 4, Anita Smidts 4 and Aleisha Colquhoun 2. Burke was chosen player of the game for the Saints, while Chamberlain earned the laurels for the Hawks.
In the bronze medal match, the Humber Hawks thrashed the Fanshawe Falcons 76-36. Kristin Chesher paced the Hawks with 17 points and 10 boards. Fayola Creft scored 12, Sarah Moxley 10, along with 12 boards and 10 assists, Stephanie Ombar 8, Erin Chamberlain 7, Tanya Castang 6, Stephanie Boreland 6, Emily Wang 4, Dorothy Aniuk 3, Anita Smidts 2 and Aleisha Colquhoun 1. Katie Havekes paced Fanshawe with 36. Julie Yagi added 6, Katie Gauler 4, Kathryn Gibbs 3, Frances Egan 3, Kristen Conway 2, Brooke Symons 2 and Paula Mooney 1. The Falcons also included Kacey McCuen, Tiffany Harris, Sarah Sanderson, Taylor Gyoker, Jessica Griffiths and Christine Terry. Moxley was chosen player of the game for the Hawks, while Yagi earned the laurels for the Falcons. “We wanted to leave with a medal and we did that,” Hawks coach Denise Perrier told The Coven. “The girls played with heart, and what can I say, they’re a great team to coach.” Perrier said of Moxley’s triple-double: “she’s strong, physical and she sees the court well.” Emily Wang said Moxley “carried the team, she stepped up. She played every position today.”
In the final, the St. Clair Saints defeated the Seneca Sting 57-48 to win their first OCAA title. Third year coach Linda Carriere was elated. “It definitely means something to me. It’s my first championship and the school’s first.” The Saints led by one at the half and their defence put together a 19-0 run in the first 10 minutes of the second half to extend the lead to 38-19. Rinjus Chibani alone forced three turnovers. “We needed to come out strong in the second half if we were going to finally win this championship,” said Chibani. Raquel Burke led the Saints with 22 points. “Our shots started going down in the second half and we started doing the little things on defence that have been winning us games all year,” Burke said. ‘We’ve been through it all the last three years. It all came together this year and it’s a great feeling to win an Ontario championship.” Tina Sirka added 15, Nadine Phillip 10, Heather Jones 6 and Rinjus Chibani 4. Natasha Thombs paced the Sting with 20. Margaret Masuka added 11, Shanda Cooper 8, Bridget Lacko 5, Roxanne Morgan 2 and Heather Elchuk 2. Sirka was chosen player of the game for the Saints, while Masuka earned the laurels for the Sting.
The bronze medalist Humber Hawks: Fayola Creft; Erin Chamberlain; Sarah Moxley; Tanya Castang; Stephanie Ombac; Kristin Chesher; Aleisha Colquhoun; Emily Wang; Anita Smidts; Dorothy Aniuk; Audrey Ngongo; Stephanie Boreland; Jessica Simpson; Dyce Althea;
The silver medalist Seneca Sting: Stephanie Chau; Margarete Masuka; Natasha Thombs; Shanda Cooper; Heather Elchuk; Bridget Lacko; Tara Alexander; Amanda Fisher; Jodi Wilson; Lisa Best; Megan Trewartha; Kate Cook; Roxanne Morgan; Tamara Emer; Tania Lewin;
The gold medalist St. Clair Saints: Raquel Burke; Kim Pawluk; Tina Sirka; Rinjus Chibani; April Lounsbury; Nadine Phillip; Heather Jones; Caroline Draudt; Stephanie Delaat; Danielle Ball; Pablita Thomas; Brittany Denboer; coach Linda Carriere; assistant Jodi Sibley; athletic co-ordinator Ted Beale; trainer Wayne Campbell