In the opening round, held in Three Hills: …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Brooks St. Joseph Collegiate Crusaders spanked the 12th-seeded Mayerthorpe Tigers 56-32. The Tigers (coached by Beth Jager) included Darcee Hogan, Victoria Gilroy, Serena Leno, Cierra Tissington-Loughran, Michaela Paskal, Alli Manegre, Amy Lundstrom, Lauren Shaw, Ashlyn Soroka, Mariah Soroka and player/manager Brittany Lafreniere. …………………………………………………… The 9th-seeded Calgary Webber Academy Wildcats stomped the 8th-seeded Edmonton John Paul II Patriots 78-40. The Patriots (coach Sarah Balla, assistant Devyn Willis, assistant Chandlar Grainger) included Katelyn Nixon, Brooklyn Grainger, Emily Bartz, Megan Nixon, Kaitlyn Krauskopf, Rhianna Zazula, Sarah Van Hecke, Danielle Ouellet, Gaddiel Kamuanya Tshiunza, Moriah Bonneville, Talia Mullen, Natalie Smadis and Krysta Krauskopf. …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Condor David Thompson Voyageurs whipped the 11th-seeded Cold Lake Assumption Jr/Sr Crusaders 85-51. The Crusaders (coach Shawn Belsher, coach Mallorie Pischke, assistant Mike Richter) included Abby McIntyre, Brynn Steels, Veronica Ruschkowski, Tayler Rimmer, Alacia Tshilombo, Rebekah Kozlow, Kiona Murphy, Tanya Henriska-Martineau, Genna Csurdi, Victoria Raynard, Gabriel Dumont-Giroux, Ashley Boyd and Georgia Rimmer. …………………………………………………… The 10th-seeded host Three Hills Prairie Christian Academy Sabres stomped the 7th-seeded Coaldale Kate Andrews Pride 71-46. The Pride (coach Nicole Hanna, assistant Sara Kloot, manager Camryn Kochan) included Raegan Abrey, Summer Nordin, Sophia Reimer, Jenna Penner, Victoria Reed, Shay Duda, Hanna Siebert, Marcella Roelofs, Haylee Hilgersom and Sydney McClung.
In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded La Crete Lancers dusted the 9th-seeded Calgary Webber Academy Wildcats 71-46. The Wildcats (coached by Samantha Zanini, assisted by Mike Asmus) included Taylor Blaisdell, Ruth Agwaze, Oluwatoni Ajani, Julia Gee, Divya Goel, Elizabeth Hosman, Ashley Hu, Maggie Liao, Aisha Omidiya, Elizabeth Parker, Elan Pedersen, Fiza Rajput, Jasmine Wong and Weiyi Wan.
The 4th-seeded Peace River Glenmary Saints defeated the 5th-seeded Brooks St. Joseph Collegiate Crusaders 62-56. The Crusaders (coached by Thomas Dyck, assisted by Brent Kopec and Rebecca Dingle) included Kira Kopec, Caitlin Dyck, Candy Anasco, Priscila Mulongo, Victoria Iwanegbe, Terrie Lugay and Emmalyn Elgersma.
The 3rd-seeded Lethbridge Immanuel Christian Eagles dumped the 6th-seeded Condor David Thompson Voyageurs 65-47. The Voyageurs (coach Jordan Lewis, assistant Shelley Lewis, trainer Megan Arskey) included Brooklyn Smith, Amy Korth, Amy Szymanek, Alexis Hainsworth, Cassidy McMullen, Macy Kotanko, Kylie Kotanko, Kylie Windo, Jayce McMeekin, Emily Hoeksema, Makayla Beisel, Stefanie Neukom, Dallee Pollitt and Georgeanna Ahlstrom.
In the last quarterfinal, the 2nd-seeded Falun Pigeon Lake Regional Panthers whipped the 10th-seeded Three Hills Prairie Christian Academy Sabres 66-33. “We played pretty well that game, overcoming the home crowd. It was pretty intense,” Panthers coach Nathan de Klerk told the Wetaskiwin Times. The Sabres (coached by Sheldon Leschert, assisted by Keely Nigh) included Gabrielle Penner, Madison Cullum, Molly Brown, Chloe Atmore, Hazel Rufino, Jasmine Gramlich, Tiana Ward, Julie Rector, Christina Oliver, Cassandra Rivers, Alexandra Eyjolfson and Wing Hei Wong.
In the semis, the top-seeded La Crete Lancers clubbed the 4th-seeded Peace River Glenmary Saints 56-39.
In the other semi, the 3rd-seeded Lethbridge Immanuel Christian Eagles edged the 2nd-seeded Falun Pigeon Lake Regional Panthers 66-63. Trailing by 10 with three minutes remaining, the Eagles shifted to a full-court press and pulled out the win. “In the semifinal game they started a little better, but by the third quarter they had their game face on and in the fourth we outscored them 24-10. We overcame a 10-point deficit in the last three minutes to win it,” Eagles coach Scott Forster told the Lethbridge Herald. “But by then they had their game faces on and in the gold medal game they were gritty and ready to play. It was a pleasure to be a part of.” Catherine Wever paced the Eagles with 22, while Brittany Veldman dominated on defence. “We were up about 10 points with two minutes to go and all of a sudden they started to make all their shots and we went a bit cold,” Panthers coach Nathan de Klerk told the Wetaskiwin Times. “It was hard to lose, but we had our chance and it didn’t really go our way.”
In the bronze medal match, the 2nd-seeded Falun Pigeon Lake Regional Panthers nipped the 4th-seeded Peace River Glenmary Saints 58-56 on a bucket by guard Jessica Haenni with 5 seconds to play. “It was super exciting,” Panthers coach Nathan de Klerk told the Wetaskiwin Times. “I’ve never seen the team so excited, but it’s always nice to win that last game of the year.” The Saints (coach Brad Harrop, assistant Janice Purcha, assistant Marissa Geldart, manager Bob Plowman) included Tradyn Erickson, Lena Sobze, Bryanna Waites, McKenzie Lefebvre, Angelica Alberto, Cassy Loughlin, Dakota Broatch, Shae-Lynn Greidanus, Courtney Waites, Paige Matiasiewich, Sammy Capili, Periza Alberto and Chaya Paul.
In the final, the 3rd-seeded Lethbridge Immanuel Christian Eagles dispatched the top-seeded La Crete Lancers 61-55 to win their 6th provincial title since 2008. The Eagles were also in their 8th title bout in the past 10 provincial tournaments. “It was a hard-fought game,” said Eagles coach Scott Forster told the Lethbridge Herald. “Both teams play a gritty style and I think the difference in the gold medal was our girls out-gritted their opponents. They had that look in their eyes.” Forster said of his school’s pre-eminence in basketball. “I think in a school like ours it’s about basketball people being involved. Our athletic director is Matthew Bekkering and he’s a basketball guy. Before him it was Duane Konynenbelt and he’s a basketball guy. It’s important to us and we work hard trying to make sure we’re living up to standard. We have a standard and we want to maintain this.”
The bronze medalist Falun Pigeon Lake Regional Panthers: Hope Southern; Laura Haenni; Tayah Fiveland; Jessica Haenni; Kaylee Mantai; Brittany Burridge; Jamie Van de Brink; Kara Strange; Montana Harden; Kamea Dion; Rachel Shaw; Hasse van der Kamp; Jessica Dziwenko; Haley Dorchester; Kaitlynn Huber; coach Nathan Deklerk; assistant Kevin Shaw
The silver medalist La Crete Lancers: Jennifer Harder; Julia Friesen; Jenika Martens; Lindsey Martens; Heidi Derksen; Jasmine Derksen; Hannah Friesen; Shirlee Peters; Mandi Schellenberg; Dezerae Martens; Kenzie Wolfe; La Dawn Giesbrecht; Candace Derksen; Dorothy Kroeker; Melanie Doerksen; coach Trevor Fisher; assistant Suzanne Fisher; manager Cassidy Banman
The gold medalist Lethbridge Immanuel Christian Eagles: Pamela Veldman; Juliana Middel; Megan Vanee; Caitlyn Veldman; Britney Vande Munt; Jennifer Pastink; Brittany Veldman; Jenna Aleman; Catherine Wever; Reagan Post; Mykalah Leenstra; coach Scott Forster; assistant Gerald Veldman; manager Mikaela Konynenbelt