Final regular season standings (8): Ahuntsic (14-0); Vanier (12-2); John Abbott (9-5);
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Dawson Blues: Dierdre Pierson, Heidi Albert, Wendy Gorican, Ariana Thivierge.
In the semis, the Ahuntsic Indiennes torched the Champlain-Lennoxville Cougars 72-35.
In the other semi, the Vanier Lady Cheetahs clubbed the John Abbott Islanders 60-38.
In the bronze medal match, the John Abbott Islanders defeated the Champlain-Lennoxville Cougars 83-63 as Catherine Gallant scored 22 and Alexandra Lawson 17. The Cougars included Lori Gear.
In the final, the top-seeded Ahuntsic Indiennes defeated the Vanier Cheetahs 56-50. Ahuntsic led 32-18 at the half and appeared in command before Vanier rallied to within 51-47 with two minutes to play. But all-Canadian Isabelle Bouchard nailed a trey to ice the win. The Cheetahs were playing without star guard Nadia Tarulli, who injured her knee in the semis. “We were all pretty emotional,” a disconsolate Josee Deloretto told the Montreal Gazette. “It was tough way to lose. In the first half, that wasn’t even our team out there. I think a lot of people still had it in their heads that we couldn’t beat them. But in the second half we put things together. At the end, it looked like we were going to win.” Cheetahs coach Rick McBrien said “that was a real character effort. The girls really put it together and made a game of it. … I thought Josee had an excellent tournament. She picked up right where Nadia left off.” Isabelle Bouchard led the Indiennes with 19. Josee Deloretto paced the Cheetahs with 15.
The bronze medalist John Abbott Lady islanders: Catherine Gallant; Alexandra Lawson; Jennifer Stacey; Kara Woods; Jenny Smith; Stella Martin; Alexandra Martin; Cyndy Crack; coach Lisen Moore
The silver medalist Vanier Cheetahs: Josee Deloretto; Nadia Tarulli; Eva Samore; coach Rick McBrien
The champion Ahuntsic Les Indiennes: Vicky Tessier; Isabelle Bouchard; Patricia Demers; Johanne Gamache; Chantal Guilbault; Genevieve Gagne; Isabelle Forcier; Barbara M. Requesens; Isabelle Bernier; Marie-Helene Heroux; Anne Chamandy; Guylaine Blanchette; coach Pierre Trudeau; assistant Alain Legault; therapist Isabelle Tetreault