In the opening round: …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Spruce Grove St. Peter the Apostle Spartans torched the 12th-seeded Sexsmith Sabres 75-45. The Sabres led 20-12 after one quarter. The Spartans led 34-25 at the half and 54-37 after three quarters. The Sabres (coach Mark Breen, teacher representative Taylor Hulme) included Kadison McLeod, Ava Guynup, Hannah Parrish, Carissa Elliott, Sydnie White, December Lunde, Brooke Seweryn, Peyton Breen, Ciera Schoenroth, Tahlia Nelson and Mackenzie Dawe. …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Lethbridge Sir Winston Churchill Griffins dispatched the 11th-seeded Wetaskiwin Composite Sabres 76-64. The Sabres (coach Chuck Hebert, coach Sarah Ink) included Delinda Norton, Tana Smith, Anna McFadzean, Ella Buffalo, Avery Wood, Kimberly Pinaso, Dena Crier, Ciera Henderson, Ophelia Erickson, Sadie Monteith, Kasey Silzer, Keira Dick and Mackenzie Morrell. …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded Westlock R.F. Staples Thunderbirds edged the 9th-seeded Medicine Hat Monsignor McCoy Colts 55-52. The Colts (coaches Janice Laing, Haylee Fernetti, Jillian Laing, Stephanie Laing, John Laing) included Kaitlin Skrove, Melody Rocheleau, Rachel Simmons, Kiera Rae, Hayden Halladay, Danielle Meyers, Alei Kuthping, Yom Bol, Megan Brown, Cearra Orsini, Gian Dael, Lielt Samket, Megu Hatano and McKenna Horan. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Sylvan Lake H.J. Cody Lakers crushed the 10th-seeded Lloydminster Holy Rosary Catholic Raiders 63-43 after leading 22-12, 36-24 and 54-30 at the quarters. The Raiders (coach Ashley Fullarton, manager Emjay Hein) included Taytem Eide, Chloe Dorchak, Charlene Anacio, Favour Anokwute, Rose Rusteika, Clare Wever, Ally Sestoso, Norah Matthews, Emerson Matthews, Aerich Buenaventura, Ileanna Kokonas, Presley Johnston and Jamila Lopez.
In the quarterfinals, the 2nd-seeded Namao Sturgeon Composite Spirits edged the 7th-seeded Sylvan Lake H.J. Cody Lakers 61-57. The Lakers (coach Peter Saik, coach Kolt Bell, manager Serena Cleary, manager Kolby Orriss) included Zoey Longman, Kameron Wallace, Sophia Ingenhaag, Katana Kooiman, Kira Main, Reese Morse, Hayden Baker, Nevada Jeffries, Tatyana Wolkowski, Elizabeth Flanders and Kaitlyn Orriss.
The top-seeded Strathmore Spartans dispatched the 8th-seeded Westlock R.F. Staples Thunderbirds 73-55. Thunderbirds coach Wade Hicks told the Westlock News that “they were like a buzz saw. I’ve never seen a girls team shoot the three-ball as well as they did. They came out and literally smacked us in the mouth. But we were able to get our bearings and played them pretty tough.” The Thunderbirds (coach Wade Hicks, assistant Alicia Boulerice, manager Emma Lee Tagg) included Alex Darby, Jaylyn Berube, Nevada Keith, Kaitlin Menzies, Harvalee Tomlinson, Kourtnie Menzies, Emma Van Dijk, Brieanna Nyal, Jenna Snyder, Breanna Montgomery, Hailey Keith Forward, Jorja Larsen and Dorothy Letts.
The 3rd-seeded Sherwood Park Strathcona Christian Eagles clipped the 6th-seeded Lethbridge Sir Winston Churchill Griffins 78-66 after leading 18-14, 35-31 and 55-47 at the quarters. The Griffins (coaches Omar Kadir, Charlize Baron, Aaron Becking and Deanna Sample) included Samantha Walker, Aluel Deng, Brooklyn Lesko, Jayda Morrison, Kenzie Harper, Aislyn Farn, Kira Eftoda, Tamara Joseph, Andi Neudorf, Raedyn Borne and Kim Van Genderen.
In the last quarterfinal, the 5th-seeded Spruce Grove St. Peter the Apostle Spartans defeated the 4th-seeded Airdrie George MacDougall Mustangs 71-63 after leading 18-7, 39-33 and 52-49 at the quarters. “We put ourselves in a bit of a hole,” coach Jamie Newman told Airdrie Today. “After the first quarter, we were down by 11, but we ended up ‘winning’ the second, third, and fourth quarters. I know that doesn’t really count for anything, but we ended up losing by five points in that qualifying quarterfinal.” The Mustangs (coach Jamie Newman, coach Mike Neilsen, teacher sponsor Emma Unlenberg, teacher sponsor Suzie Beckett) included Mégane Caron, Jewel Loewen, Claire Jané, Isabella Torres, Maddison Smith, Chloe Nielsen, Mya Regier, Samantha Tschetter, Leia Newman, Raelle Miller and Christina Mattson.
In the semis, the top-seeded Strathmore Spartans torched the 5th-seeded Spruce Grove St. Peter the Apostle Spartans 62-27.
In the other semi, the 3rd-seeded Sherwood Park Strathcona Christian Eagles defeated the 2nd-seeded Namao Sturgeon Composite Spirits 79-74. The Spirits led 24-20 after one quarter and 42-40 at the half. The Eagles led 58-51 after three quarters.
In the bronze medal match, the 5th-seeded Spruce Grove St. Peter the Apostle Spartans clipped the 2nd-seeded Namao Sturgeon Composite Spirits 62-52. The Spirits led 19-18 after one quarter. The score was knotted at 27 at the half. The Spartans led 44-41 after three quarters. Avery Stypula paced the Spartans with 18. Abigail Kramps added 13, Althea Bungabong 7, Kate Kovacic 6, Claire Fournier 6, Julie O’Leary 6, Akisha Villamor 2, Heidi Neuman 2 and Maiya Acevedo 2, while Suidy-Ann Volcy-Champagne, Samantha Jackson and Erika Krishanowski were scoreless. Avery Gaulden scored 18 to lead the Spirits (coach Tim Spenrath, coach Sam Ringuette, coach Darryl Paziuk, manager Shayne Soetaert). Sadie Spenrather added 12, Jasper Harris 5, Yisraella Aleba 5, Riley Krankowsky 5, Robyn Christensen 4 and Brooke-Lynn Dechamplain 3, while Abby Biddiscombe, Emily Jones, Brynn Hamm, Julia Pleasants and Elayna Richardson-Kuzyk were scoreless.
In the final, the top-seeded Strathmore Spartans dusted the 3rd-seeded Sherwood Park Strathcona Christian Eagles 75-45 after leading 12-9, 40-24 and 54-29 at the quarters. Spartan Grace Culshaw told the Strathmore Times that “it was very exciting, best moment of my life probably. That’s all I really cared about was winning provincials.” Bailee Wathen said “it feels good, especially for being the first (Spartans) team to win provincials. You just feel like you’re a celebrity walking around the hallway,” Wathen added. Tessa Galandy said “it was nice to have my dad as a coach, winning provincials with him was really special, not a lot of people have that experience. … The work ethic really did it for us, we could outperform teams on defense by pressing for the full 40 minutes. … There’s no other team that can keep up with that.” Coach Dion Galandy said that “they “They are not only skilled, but they were determined to improve on their skills throughout the season because they knew once your number one, you have a target on your back, and everyone wants to beat you.” Bailee Wathen paced the Spartans with 24. Tessa Galandy added 23, Grace Culshaw 14, Madysen Davison 7, Julia Harris 5 and Kiri Sader 2, while Jill Hilton, Olivia Damen, Danielle Fisk, Lena Johansen, Haiysa Smith and Bethy Salmon were scoreless. Brooke Wagner paced the Eagles with 12. Lizzy Martens added 9, Kate Delainey 5, Sydney Bylsma 4, Hannah Blais 4, Luci Marshman 3, Avery Hughan 2, Kiera Greidanus 2, Sophia Hansen 2 and Madden Hansen 2, while Marin Kynsh and Bethany Kempe were scoreless.
The bronze medalist Spruce Grove St. Peter the Apostle Spartans: Suidy-Ann Volcy-Champagne; Akisha Villamor; Kate Kovacic; Claire Fournier; Althea Bungabong; Avery Stypula; Abigail Kramps; Julie O’Leary; Heidi Neuman; Samantha Jackson; Maiya Acevedo; Erika Krishanowski; coach Paul Maykut; coach Sydney Soos; manager Alexis Nuijens
The silver medalist Sherwood Park Strathcona Christian Eagles: Kate Delainey; Marin Kynsh; Sydney Bylsma; Hannah Blais; Avery Hughan; Kiera Greidanus; Lizzy Martens; Luci Marshman; Sophia Hansen; Madden Hansen; Brooke Wagner; Bethany Kempe; coach Chris Aubrey; assistant Heidi Wagner; assistant Karen Weiss; assistant Mikah Reed
The champion Strathmore Spartans: Tessa Galandy; Jill Hilton; Kiri Sader; Bailee Wathen; Julia Harris; Olivia Damen; Madysen Davidson; Danielle Fisk; Lena Johansen; Haiysa Smith; Bethy Salmon;Grace Culshaw; coach Dion Galandy; assistant Erin Warrack; assistant Nikki Leggott; assistant Maria Fanning
Thanks to: Convenor Joey Lutz for providing tournament scoresheets. Unfortunately, most were not included because they were often poorly kept by the table, or were all but illegible, with scoring tallies that at best could only be approximated.