In the opening round, held in Langley: …………………………………………………… The top-seeded West Vancouver Mulgrave Titans torched 16th-seeded Mill Bay Brentwood 96-37 after leading 34-6, 61-20 and 83-30 at the quarters. Eva Ruse paced the Titans with 32. Lucy Xu added 18, Jenna Talib 15, Maryam Mojarradi 10, Deanna Naemi 9, Erika Panahandeh 4, Brianna Cau 3, Salihah Ali 3 and Lauren Alekson 2, while Arianna Cau, Tatiana Calderon, Teagan Vodrey and Maia Rayner were scoreless. Kiona Williams scored 17 to pace Brentwood. Ruby McDougald added 6, Siera Edstrand 6, Ella Kestler 4, Aysha Dajani 2 and Basma Jama 2, while Cleo Kestler, Pin Thamrongnawsaw, Simret Sarao, Grace Sisett, Helen McArthur and Angel Savanagouder were scoreless. …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded Surrey Pacific Academy Breakers clipped the 9th-seeded Abbotsford Christian Knights 59-50 after leading 13-12, 31-19 and 37-31 at the quarters. Camryn Voros paced the Breakers with 14. Sarah Ude added 10, Amelie Baril 9, Sydney Kang 9, Megan Thompson 9, Mazy Wandzura 6 and Omone Idanwekhai 2, while Victoria Ling, Leah Munday, Gizelle Russell and Omuwa Idanwekhai were scoreless. Lauren Van Dyk led the Knights with 19. Kristin Kampman added 11, Analise Henn 6, Nevaek Letourneau 6, Lyn Chuang 5 and Kailyn Dieleman 3, while Holly Minderhoud, Mirian Atsma, Malia Morrow, Taya Binnendyk, Lucy Vanderkooi and Madi Bruinsma were scoreless. …………………………………………………… The 4th-seeded Vancouver Notre Dame Jugglers defeated the 13th-seeded Fernie Falcons 59-50 after leading 15-11, 37-25 and 50-35 at the quarters. “It’s hard to come here because even in the rankings, no one knows where to put Fernie and I get that,” Falcons coach Jen Kennedy told Varsity Letters. “We are only 20 minutes from the Alberta border. It’s easier for us to come east, but we wanted to give Notre Dame the best game we could. We knew they could shoot the crap out of the ball and they did. But we will keep our heads high and stay positive.” Kaitlyn Chan paced the Jugglers with 17, including 5 treys. Maecon Glifonia added 13, Emily Chan 9, Anastasia Kalpidis 8, Aira Ebora 4, Joanne Pepe 4, Ally Panzetta 2 and Almira August 2, while Peyton Cagampan, Hailey Halldorson, Angela Soriano, Isabella Sorace, Angelica Abijero, Gabriella Porco and L Jacobucci were scoreless. Leila Hannemann scored 19 to lead the Falcons (coach Jen Kennedy). Emilee French added 10, Summer Muschoot 6, Taylor Witbeck 4, Erika Phillips 4, Desiree French 4 and Paige Matejka 2, while Brooklyn Webster, Heidi Stevens and Jacey Anderson were scoreless. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Burnaby St. Thomas More Knights spanked the 12th-seeded Vernon Kalamalka Lakers 53-34. The Lakers led 13-12 after one quarter. The Knights led 23-15 at the half and 40-26 after three quarters. Demicah Arnaldo paced the Knights with 25. Mia Beliveau added 18, Mackenzie Pagtakhan 3, Micah Penalosi 3, Meara McCormick 2 and Mia Chan 2, while Kyla Limon, Alyssa Demaisip, Lauren Wong, Kirsten Facun, Mara Nica, Avery Brown and Grace Haffner were scoreless. Sydney Lewis scored 14 to pace the Lakers. Brynn Fixsen added 12, Claire Penner 4, Lauren Cunningham 2 and Sadie Scott 2, while Lennon Pare, Vanessa Hillman, Julia Smith, Fiona Penner, Maeda Pedersen and Neha Klair were scoreless. The Lakers also included Payton Frye. …………………………………………………… The 11th-seeded Vancouver St. Patrick Celtics stunned the 6th-seeded Surrey Southridge Storm 68-56. The Storm led 15-13 after one quarter and 23-22 at the half. The Celtics led 49-40 after three quarters. Chrisandra Laigo led the Celtics with 19. Crisalyn Laigo added 18, Ira Santos 16, Gabby Wiesser 11, Theresa Balubar 2 and Madeline Fitzmaurice 2, while Danica Cobarrubias, Kaitlan Nagalingam, Camilla Carrion, Laya Alojado, Nadia McKorcza and Brooklyn Chratao were scoreless. Nicole Lofing paced the Storm with 17. Sophia Tapley added 16, Rihanna Bath 9, Rianna Brar 8, Mira Sanghe 4 and Cateline McDonald 2, wile Rachel McDonald, Meghan McDonald, Sophie Purewall, Mya Gallant, Elgina Hu, Moyo Oladipo, Ella Feddersen and Charlotte Trotman were scoreless. …………………………………………………… The 3rd-seeded Langley Christian Lightning clocked the 14th-seeded Vanderhoof Nechako Valley Viqueens 95-33 after leading 25-2, 43-11 and 68-17 at the quarters. Colette Van der Hoven paced the Lightning with 25. Grace Bradshaw added 18, Georgia van der Waarde 14, Gabrielle Vis 8, Shaylah Black 6, Annah Kuehl 6, Zoe Bradshaw 5 and Brielle Hillmer 1, while Danica Onderwater, Rainey DeWit and Myra Gale were scoreless. Molly Black scored 11 to pace the Viqueens (coach Sam Dargis?, assistant Diane Black). Ava Bailey added 5, Rachel Brooks 4, Lainey Dycks 3 and Heidi Reibischer 2, while 5 points were unallocated. Addison Ellis, Jorja Bangs, Janelle Macrae, Naiya MacGillivray, Michell Imte, Anessa Penner and Abby Dykstra were scoreless. …………………………………………………… The 2nd-seeded Surrey Holy Cross Crusaders spanked the 15th-seeded Abbotsford Traditional Titans 66-41 after leading 18-9, 38-24 and 50-29 at the quarters. Solene Jackson paced the Crusaders with 16. Isla Iannuzzi added 15, Alyssia Palma 14, Chloe Magalindan 9, Myla Marbella 4, Alynah Solano 4, Siena Legazpi 2 and Arianna Di-Liello 2, while Kiera Legazpi and Maryam Chaudhry were scoreless. Janeesh Sran scored 15 to lead the Titans. Taneesh Sran added 13, Sukpriya Birdi 10 and Uppreet Bhathal 3, while Arushi Gandhal, Gurneet Brar, Simran Randhawa, Harsharn Parhar and Palak Bhangu were scoreless. …………………………………………………… The 10th-seeded Vancouver Brittania Bruins stunned the 7th-seeded Victoria Lambrick Park Lions 68-50 after leading 22-13, 36-27 and 48-39 at the quarters. “There are not a lot of secrets,” Bruins coach Mike Evans told Varsity Letters. “We knew we weren’t going to get a very high seed, but we felt that we could play with anyone, so it didn’t really matter who we played. And being with the team the last few days, you really do pick up that feeling from them, that energy. … It’s not all about the court. It’s what happens ahead of times, sometimes. … We wanted to use our speed, we knew we couldn’t let them get second shots so we had to get some kind of rebounding but we wanted to play the game on their side of centre, between the threes, putting the pressure on and stopping the ball. And it led to a whole bunch of turnovers.” Cheyenna Wilson paced the Bruins with 22. Bianca Padolina added 12, Tessa Scarlett-Charleson 12, Taegan Lee 11, Chenesayi Kagande 11 and Jemilia Zomco 2, while Cali Williams, Elliot Scott, Ashauni Nadrazsky, Dylan Reid, Chloe Huang and Sienna Brown were scoreless. Amira Bimb scored 13 to lead the Lions (coach Gary Baker). Siena Khosla added 10, Emily Pitre 9, Wrenna Auld 7, Macy Hogg 5, Hannah Pratt 2, Freya Redding-Mason 2 and Teya Madsen 2, while Kenyon Lee, Abby Pilkington and Kaelyn Pitre were scoreless.
In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded West Vancouver Mulgrave Titans blasted the 8th-seeded Surrey Pacific Academy Breakers 73-50 after leading 24-9, 39-26 and 50-41 at the quarters. The Titans broke it open in the four quarter as Maryam Morjarradi and Eva Ruse each notched a pair from beyond the arc. Titans coach Claude Leduc repeatedly urged his troops to slow the tempo. Jenna Talib paced the Titans with 24. Lucy Xu added 15, Erika Panahandeh 11, Eva Ruse 9, Deanna Naemi 8 and Maryam Mojarradi 6, while Brianna Cau, Ava Wilson, Tatiana Calderon, Salihah Ali, Teagan Vodrey, Lauren Alekson and Maia Rayner were scoreless. Sarah Ude scored 17 to pace the Breakers (coach Jody Wandzura, coach Mike Voros, manager Christina Munday, manager Kitan Adebayo). Sydney Kang added 9, Mazy Wandzura 7, Megan Thompson 4, Amelie Baril 3 and Omuwa Idanwekhai 2, while Victoria Ling, Camryn Voros, Leah Munday, Gizelle Russell and Omone Idanwekhai were scoreless.
The 2nd-seeded Surrey Holy Cross Crusaders dispatched the 10th-seeded Vancouver Brittania Bruins 57-40 after leading 23-14, 37-19 and 44-30 at the quarters. “Overall, it went well,” Crusaders coach Joseph Vinluan told Varsity Letters. “They’re definitely a scrappy team, but we managed to overcome any adversity we faced throughout the game. The biggest thing is that we were excellent defensively. We did well collapsing them with our defense and taking away their spacing. They do a lot of motion and try to use that to drive plays inside, but our girls did well to take that away. … We’re a lot more experienced this year. A lot of these girls were here last season, and they know what it felt like to lose the way we did. They absolutely want the chance to redeem themselves when the opportunity comes.” Isla Iannuzzi paced the Crusaders with 15. Solene Jackson added 14, Chloe Magalindan 11, Maryam Chaudhry 6, Alynah Solano 5, Alyssia Palma 5 and Siena Legazpi 1, while Kiera Legazpi, Myla Marbella and Arianna Di-Liello were scoreless. Tessa Scarlett-Charleson scored 23 to pace the Bruins (coach Mike Evans). Cheyenna Wilson added 11, Taegan Lee 4 and Ashauni Nadrazsky 2, while Cali Williams, Bianca Padolina, Elliot Scott, Dylan Reid, Jemilia Zomco, Chenesayi Kagande and Sienna Brown were scoreless.
The 5th-seeded Burnaby St. Thomas More Knights nipped the 4th-seeded Vancouver Notre Dame Jugglers 52-49. The Jugglers led 10-7 after one quarter and 25-18 at the half by dominating the offensive boards. But the Knights shifted to a full-court press and aggressively attacked off the dribble as they rallied to a 39-31 after three quarters. Mia Beliveau and Denicah Arnaldo repeatedly pilfered the ball for runouts, while Kyla Limon notched a trey and a runout as they took a 47-33 lead. But Maecon Glifoner and Anastasia Kalpidis rallied the Jugglers as their pressure defence forced turnovers and Kaitlyn Chan nailed a trey to trim the margin to 47-43 with less than two minutes to play. With the Knights unable to hit free throws, Emily Chan nailed 2 buckets to trim the margin to 52-49. With 5.8 seconds to play, Chan was unable to find space for a trey and drove the lane hoping for a foul but her shot rimmed off and the Knights held on for the win. “We knew we had to catch them off guard a little bit, so, we wanted to press at the right time. We thought coming out of half that was going to be the way to do it,” Knights coach Cassie Lauang told Varsity Letters. “We knew it was going to be a tough game. Respect to Notre Dame. They shoot the ball well and move in transition.” Mia Beliveau paced the Knights with 18. Demicah Arnaldo added 14, Kyla Limon 10, Meara McCormick 5, Mia Chan 3 and Grace Haffner 2, while Mackenzie Pagtakhan, Alyssa Demaisip, Lauren Wong, Kirsten Facun, Mara Nica and Avery Brown were scoreless. Kaitlyn Chan scored 13 to pace the Jugglers. Anastasia Kapidis added 10, Emily Chan 9, Maecon Glifonia 7, Aira Ebora 5, Selena Quilatan 4 and Ally Panzetta 1, while Peyton Cagampan, Hailey Halldorson, Angela Soriano, Isabella Sorace, Almira Augustin, Joanna Pepe, Lyiah Mach and Zoe Gonzales were scoreless. The Jugglers (coach Tracy Clarke) also included Angelica Abijero, Gabriella Porco and L Jacobucci.
In the last quarterfinal, the 3rd-seeded Langley Christian Lightning stomped the 11th-seeded Vancouver St. Patrick Celtics 79-45 after leading 20-15, 46-30 and 69-37 at the quarters. The Lightning took command with a 17-3 second-quarter run and dominated the defensive glass. They led by as many as 40. “It’s a one-game-and-you’re-done kind of world,” Lightning coach Danielle Gardner told Varsity Letters. “We know that we can only take this game-by-game, play-by-play. There are too many good teams in this tournament to think you’re better than anyone. If we want to beat the best teams, we have to play at our best, every time we hit the court.” Colette Van Der Hoven paced the Lightning with 23. Grace Bradshaw added 17, Shaylah Black 14, Payton Brunoro 7, Gabrielle Vis 6, Zoe Bradshaw 4, Georgia van der Waarde 4, Annah Kuehl 2 and Myra Gale 2, while Danica Onderwater, Brielle Hillmer and Rainey DeWit were scoreless. Chrisandra Laigo paced the Celtics with 12. Madeline Fitzmaurice added 8, Ira Santos 7, Chrisalyn Laigo 7, Kiara Bay 4, Brooklyn Chratao 3, Gabby Wiesser 2, Danica Cobarrubias 1 and Theresa Balubar 1, while Kaitlan Nagalingam, Camilla Carrion, Laya Alojado and Nadia McKorcza were scoreless.
In the semis, the top-seeded West Vancouver Mulgrave Titans clubbed the 5th-seeded Burnaby St. Thomas More Knights 70-44 after leading 26-8, 39-22 and 59-28 at the quarters. The Titans size (a trio of 6-foot starters) overwhelmed the diminutive Knights (average height, 5-4), as Eva Ruse notched a double-double. “She is a beast and she dominates even when she is playing girls her own height,” Titans coach Claude Leduc told Varsity Letters. “But they were all over her today. They didn’t make anything easy for her, and at one point I looked and Eva’s headband was pulled halfway across her face. … (St. Thomas More is a) great-coached team with a great work ethic. I was worried about it coming in because I know they can really get you out of your game, speed you up and make play not the way you want to play. They did that for parts to us today. And they can shoot it, and when they get hot that just fuels their tenacity.” Leduc added that the Titans were playing for guard Ava Wilson, who blew out her knee during the season. “Absolutely they are playing for her. These girls have been together since Grade 7 and this provincials is a celebration of six years of sisterhood for them.” Eva Ruse pace the Titans with 34, while nabbing 20 boards. Jenna Talib added 21, Erika Panahandeh 10, Deanna Naemi 3 and Lucy Xu 2, while Maryam Mojarradi, Arianna Cau, Tatiana Calderon, Salihah Ali, Teagan Vodrey, Laura Alekson and Maia Rayner were scoreless. Demicah Arnaldo led the Knights with 14. Mia Beliveau added 10, Grace Haffner 8, MacKenzie Pagtakhan 4, Kyla Limon 3, Meara McCormick 2, Mara Nica 2 and Mia Chan 1, while Alyssa Demaisip, Micah Penalosa, Lauren Wong, Kirsten Facun and Avery Brown were scoreless.
In the other semi, the 3rd-seeded Langley Christian Lightning torched the 2nd-seeded Surrey Holy Cross Crusaders 74-40 after leading 12-0 early and 26-8, 45-19 and 68-27 at the quarters. The Lightning were determined to avenge a midseason tournament loss to the Crusaders, coach Danielle Gardner told Varsity Letters. “They were ready, they had a chip on their shoulder from losing at the Tessa by one point, so we just wanted to come out and get after it, and play and leave it all on the floor.” Colette Van der Hoven said “it was definitely our defence and transition that was the key today. … playing with defensive in intensity and pushing the ball because we love to run.” Gardner said Van der Hoven “has matured a lot as a player. She puts in a lot of time in her game and is a gym rat which is what you want.” Van der Hoven paced the Lightning with 33. Grace Bradshaw added 13, Gabrielle Vis 12, Shaylah Black 8, Payton Brunoro 5 and Zoe Bradshaw 3, while Danica Onderwater, Georgia van der Waarde, Annah Kuehl, Brielle Hillmer, Rainey DeWit and Myra Gale were scoreless. Isla Ianuzzi led the Crusaders with 13. Solene Jackson added 12, Chloe Magalindan 9, Siena Legazpi 2, Alyssa Palma 2, Alynah Solano 1 and Myla Marbella 1, while Kiera Legazpi, Maryam Chaudhry and Arianna Di-Liello were scoreless.
In the bronze medal match, the 2nd-seeded Surrey Holy Cross Crusaders defeated the 5th-seeded Burnaby St. Thomas More Knights 60-50. The Knights led 14-9 after one quarter and 26-24 at the half. The Crusaers led 52-39 after three quarters. Solene Jackson and Isla Iannuzzi each scored 14 to pace the Crusaders. Alyssia Palma added 10, Alynah Solano 6, Chloe Mangalindan 6, Siena Legapzi 5, Maryam Chaudhry 2, Arianna Di-Liello 2 and Kiera Legapzi 1, while Myla Marbella was scoreless. Kyla Limon scored 11 to pace the Knights (coach Cassie Lauang). Demicah Arnaldo added 10, Mia Beliveau 9, MacKenzie Pagtakhan 8, Mia Chan 7, Meara Mcormick 3 and Grace Haffner 2, while Alyssia Demaisip, Micah Penalosa, Lauren Wong, Kristen Facun, Mara Nica and Avery Brown were scoreless.
In the final, the 3rd-seeded Langley Christian Lightning dispatched the top-seeded West Vancouver Mulgrave Titans 75-69 to capture their second title in three seasons. The Lightning led 22-15 after one quarter and 39-29 at the half after notching a 9-0 run featuring a pair of treys from Grace Bradshaw and a third from Colette Van Der Hoven. But Eva Ruse went to work in the blocks as the Titans rallied to a 55-53 after three quarters. When Ruse picked up her fourth foul in the final frame, Van der Hoven began generating runout buckets off turnovers. The San Diego University-bound Ruse, the defensive player of the tournament, returned to the floor and nailed a jumper that gave the Titans a late 63-61 lead. But the Lightning closed it out with a 14-6 run, including several Van der Hoven runouts and a raft of free throws. The Lightning hit 15-16 from the stripe in the second half, including 10 straight at one stage. “It’s probably one of my most enjoyable championships because I enjoyed the game,” Lightning coach Danielle Gardner told Varsity Letters. And that is what I really stressed. I said to my players ‘Hey, enjoy it… find the joy in every moment, whether we win or lose.’ If we’ve gotten to this point, let’s have fun. And it was just joyous. … I am still in shock to be honest. I knew we could win but to actually do it is another thing and Mulgrave is a fantastic team. Eva (Ruse) is so tough to stop and my Grade 9 (Gabrielle Vis) battled her hard today. …We just had to weather the storm. (Eva Ruse) was doing great things and we just had to contain her, to get our moments we just had to weather the storm and do what we can.” Gardner added that Van der Hoven “is one of those kids that just loves the game, really has a passion for it, and it’s just really nice to see all of her hard work paying off and her shining in the spotlight. It’s fun to watch.” And Gabrielle Vis “was amazing tonight. You wouldn’t expect that from a Grade 9. She stepped in and she was a huge factor for us. Like I said, Eva is tough to stop and and we didn’t stop her, but we tried to limit her as much as we could and I thought Gabby was just fantastic stepping up.” Grace Bradshaw, who missed two seasons recovering from ACL surgery, said “today I am living my dream, but it’s so hard to put into words. … My team really rallied around me and they carried me on this long journey and … I can’t explain it.” Gardner said “Grace went down with her ACL in the last few seconds of the semi-final last year, and then this year, her leading us … she’s a huge reason we won tonight. It was hard to lose (last year), but harder to lose her.” Titans coach Claude Leduc said “Colette defensively hassled us and offensively got to the rack. She went around people and went through people, and then they stepped to the line and they made fouls shots. Langley Christian came out and wanted everything. They won the 50/50 balls, they battled hard, they took away the stuff we like to do and they made it hard. So I feel for the girls.” Colette Van Der Hoven paced the Lightning with 25 on 8-8 from the floor. Payton Brunoro added 19, Gabrielle Vis added 14, Grace Bradshaw 13, Shaylah Black 4 and Georgia Van der Waarde 2, while Zoe Bradshaw, Danica Onderwater, Annah Kuehl, Brielle Hillmer, Rainey DeWit and Myra Gale were scoreless. Eva Ruse paced the Titans with 33, while nabbing 13 boards. Jenna Talib added 17, Erika Panahandeh 5, Lucy Xu 5, Deanna Naemi 4 and Maryam Majerradi 3, while Arianna Cau, Tatiana Calderone, Salihah Ali, Teagan Vodrey, Lauren Alekson and Maia Rayner were scoreless.
The all-tournament team featured MVP Colette Van der Hoven (Langley Christian); Demicah Arnaldo (St. Thomas More Collegiate); Isla Iannuzzi (Holy Cross); Jenna Talib (Mulgrave); and Grace Bradshaw (Langley Christian) and Lucy Xu (Mulgrave).
The 2nd-team featured Camryn Vos (Pacific Academy); Mia Beliveau (St. Thomas More Collegiate); Solene Jackson (Holy Cross); Gabrielle Vis (Langley Christian); and Alyssia Palma (Holy Cross).
The bronze medalist Surrey Holy Cross Crusaders: Isla Ianuzzi; Solene Jackson; Chloe Magalindan; Siena Legazpi; Alyssa Palma; Alynah Solano; Myla Marbella; Kiera Legazpi; Maryam Chaudhry; Arianna Di-Liello; coach Joseph Vinluan
The silver medalist West Vancouver Mulgrave Titans: Eva Ruse; Jenna Talib; Erika Panahandeh; Lucy Xu; Deanna Naemi; Maryam Majerradi; Arianna Cau; Tatiana Calderone; Salihah Ali; Teagan Vodrey; Lauren Alekson; Maia Rayner; Ava Wilson: Kaitlyn Takeuchi; coach Claude Leduc
The champion Langley Christian Lightning: Colette Van Der Hoven; Grace Bradshaw; Gabrielle Vis; Payton Brunoro; Shaylah Black; Georgia Van der Waarde; Zoe Bradshaw; Danica Onderwater; Annah Kuehl; Brielle Hillmer; Rainey DeWit; Myra Gale; coach Danielle Gardner