In the opening round: …………………………………………………… The top-seeded Mission Heritage Park Highlanders whacked the 16th-seeded Cranbrook Mount Baker Trojanettes 90-29. Mount Baker coach Bill Stephens told the Vancouver Sun that “we knew that we weren’t just playing the best team in the tournament – they’re quite likely the best team in Canada. We just wanted to play hard and try to learn from it. You know, make it a very valuable experience.” The Highlanders were so dominant that Mount Baker didn’t score for the first 6.5 minutes on a free throw by guard Katie Langin. The score was 20-2 at the quarter and 46-13 at the half. Guard Dani Langford, daughter of coach Bruce Langford, scored 20 points and dished 16 assists but hit only 5-15 from beyond the arc. Forward Kim Smith added 18 points and post Julia Wilson 16. Erin Neil paced the Trojanettes with 7. The Trojanettes also included Katie Langin, Taylor Bean, Jen Anderberg, Penny Guimont, Elaine Wilson. …………………………………………………… The 15th-seeded Abbotsford W.J. Mouat Hawks stunned the 2nd-seeded Salmon Arm Jewels 56-49 as Annie Krygsveld scored 22 and grabbed 19 boards. The Hawks outscored the Jewels 17-2 in the final quarter. Jewels coach Brian Gibbons told the Salmon Arm Observor that “it was a typical performance by us in the first game of a tournament. We never played well in a first game all year and it’s continued at the B.C.’s. We started well, then things slowly deteriorated. We have to give credit to Mouat. They played well and stepped up their intensity. The Jewels (coached by Brian Gibbons) included Lani Gibbons, Tanis Gibbons, Samantha Grainger, Jodie Vanderhoek, Shari Jonker, Danielle Murdoch, Kim Bridge, Trinity Roy, Nadeane Jackson, Alecia Rodgers, Natasha Jackson, Rebecca Jackson, Chelsey Hooper and Jesse McMillan. …………………………………………………… The 10th-seeded Port Moody Blues dumped the 7th-seeded Richmond Hugh McRoberts Strikers 71-59 as Emily Beers scored 25 and nabbed 10 boards, including a putback in the fourth quarter that gave the Blues a 10-point lead. Beers told the Richmond Review that “we just tried to do what we do best – outwork them – which is our team motto, I guess.” Blues coach David Sands said that “Emily showed great heart and her ability to read the ball and go strong to the basket was key for us. … We tried to make McRoberts big girls run the floor and not let them stand and make decisions But there’s always a momentum swing in this game where emotions are at work.” The Blues outrebounded the Strikers 54-25. Natalie Tokgoz paced the Strikers with 16. Leigh Tipper added 10 and Christie Robinson 10. The Strikers (coached by Trish Nicholson) also included Samantha Coutts, Crystal Herman, Sarah Elfstrom. Nicholson said “being a situation where you to be man-to-man to take the ball away is something we don’t practice enough.” …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded Clearbrook MEI Eagles defeated the 9th-seeded Kelowna Owls 60-50 as Deanna Schmidt scored 22 and Sam Hill 10, while nabbing 12 boards. Eagles coach Tim Smith told the Abbotsford News that “it started off a little scary at times.” The Owls (coached by Lisa Nickle) included Amy Adams, Mel Moran, Ashley Bedwell, Audrey Weininger, A Rainey. …………………………………………………… The 11th-seeded Maple Ridge Thomas Haney Thunder upset the 6th-seeded Victoria Spectrum Thunder 67-52 as Bianca Salazar scored 17. Stephanie Van De Walle added 10. Kellee Brown paced Spectrum with 13 points and 9 boards. The Thunder (coached by Leanna Madill, Gary Brooke and Gary Lansdell) also included Gill Brooke, Ashley Baker, Claire Hitchmough, Morgan Schwartz, Jen Boorman, Jill Alexander and Lynelle McLean). …………………………………………………… The 3rd-seeded North Vancouver Argyle Pipers defeated the 14th-seeded Dawson Creek South Peace Penguins 77-57. The Penguins included Lindsay Burres, Tanya Farley, Kaillah Fraser. …………………………………………………… The 4th-seeded Chilliwack Tillicums defeated the 13th-seeded Victoria Claremont Spartans 84-67. Roslyn Lundeen led the Spartans with 23 points and 7 boards. The Spartans also included Tina Pulez, Maya Miguel. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Maple Ridge Ramblers dumped the 12th-seeded North Vancouver Handsworth Royals 66-54. The Royals included Christine Kirk, Annie Jekyll, S Harris.
In the quarterfinals, 11th-seeded Maple Ridge Thomas Haney Thunder dumped the 3rd-seeded North Vancouver Argyle Pipers 61-50. Thomas Haney used a slow-down, half-court offence much of the game, running the shot clock right down on almost every possession. And Argyle was in foul trouble for much of the contest as well, so that didn’t help matters for the lone non-Fraser Valley team in the quarterfinals. “We knew that it was possible,” Thunder coach Kerry Rokosh told the Vancouver Province. “We got them into a half-court game, which is what we wanted to do. We didn’t want to go full court with them …they’re just too athletic.” The Pipers (coached by Jason Gigliotti) included Ashley Burke, Jacqui Ferraby, Karin Wickson, Beth Graham, Michelle Stiphout.
The top-seeded Mission Heritage Park Highlanders clocked the 8th-seeded Clearbrook MEI Eagles 83-48. The Highlanders broke to a 16-0 lead led 20-4 after one quarter and coasted to the easy win. Kim Smith paced the Highlanders with 15 points and 10 boards. Dani Langford notched 16, as did Julia Wilson. The Highlanders led 20-4, 45-18 and 67-34 at the quarters. “Will anyone beat them? Honestly, no,” Eagles forward Cassi Born, who scored 12, told the Vancouver Province. “They’re well disciplined, well coached and they have the best point guard in the province (Dani Langford). We’re intimidated by them. We focus on them and we don’t focus on what we can do.” The lack of close game isn’t a concern, said Highlanders shooting guard Shiloh Minor. “We just have to play our game. It doesn’t matter who we are playing or how they are playing. We have to play our game and that’s what we’re worried about.” Highlanders coach Bruce Langford told the Vancouver Sun that “we don’t run a great zone defence, for example, or even try to. What we work hardest on is developing the individual skills of our players in an environment like this where they have to produce. Some of them are going on to university and might even be playing for Canada one day. I think skills development is the most important thing for them.” Eagles coach Tim Smith told the Abbotsford news that “we were out of it. We didn’t play well right away. We had plenty of looks; we just couldn’t buy a shot. You start to question yourself and then you lose confidence.” The Eagles (coached by Tim Smith) also included Janelle Ennis, Deanna Schmidt, Samantha Hill.
The 10th-seeded Port Moody Blues dumped the 15th-seeded Abbotsford W.J. Mouat Hawks 71-56. “We like coming in as underdogs,” Blues point guard Lauren Woodman told the Vancouver Province. “We just go out there and work hard. We know that to win we have to outwork the opponents. It’s about a lot of heart and guts.” The Blues nabbed 42 boards, included five players with 5 apiece. Their double-teams on Hawks star Annie Krygsveld contained her to 12 points and 8 boards. Blues point guard Stephanie Albiston had blown her knee at the Fraser Valley tournament, prompting Port Moody to rejig their lineup, with Woodman shifting over from shooting guard and Emily Beers moving from wing to backcourt. “It wasn’t all that hard, since I had been sharing some of the point guard duties with Stephanie,” Woodman said. “But we do miss Stephanie and what she brings out on the court.” Coach Dave Sands said his troops “just don’t want any regrets. They want to leave everything they’ve got on the floor.” Sands told the Vancouver Sun that “we’ve been through a lot this season,” particularly, season-ending injuries to starting guards Erica Serena and Stephanie Albiston. “But our kids work hard and persevere. We may not be fancy, but we’ll work as hard as any team we play.” He added that Beers was outstanding on defence. “Hard work and perseverance can go a long way. We won’t quit working hard. Let’s see how far we go.” The Hawks (coached by Giselle Edwards) also included Danielle de Champlain, S Lockhart.
In the last quarterfinal, the 5th-seeded Maple Ridge Ramblers defeated the 4th-seeded Chilliwack Tillicums 72-64. The Ramblers outscored the Tillicums 23-14 in the fourth quarter as they avenged a loss in the Fraser Valley semifinals. The Tillicums (coached by Joe Ogmundson and Bill Ogmudson, assisted by Jim Adam) included Tanya Hautala, Jane Meadwell, Michelle Bartell, Sukhi Atti, Lauren Dirks, Tracy Riddoch.
In the semis, the top-seeded Mission Heritage Park Highlanders defeated the 5th-seeded Maple Ridge Ramblers 59-37. Heritage Park, with six players taller than 5-11, out-rebounded Maple Ridge, who have just one that tall, by a 57-27 count. The boards led to loads of easy baskets. Julia Wilson paced the Highlanders with 19. Dani Langford added 15 and Kim Smith 12. Ciana Gregorio led the Ramblers with 15. “We couldn’t match Heritage’s height both in shooting and rebounding,” Ramblers coach Don Herman told the Vancouver Sun. “Those two factors plus our youth made it difficult for us. But I’ve been saying all season that this is a team of the future for us, so I’m not discouraged tonight.” Grade 10 starting forward Jordana Miltimore picked up three quick fouls in the first half, forcing a larger burden on Ciana Gregorio. The Highlanders led 33-24 at the half. Herman told the Vancouver Province that “we have lots of things that we can improve on. The first time we played them this year we lost by 38. The next time we played them we lost by 35. Last night we lost by 22. The first time we play them next year maybe we lose by 10, and then the second time we play them we maybe lose by one and then maybe we play them in the provincial final and we beat them.”
In the other semi, the 10th-seeded Port Moody Blues nipped the 11th-seeded Maple Ridge Thomas Haney Thunder 54-51 as Emily Beers scored 17. Kalisha Reid led the Thunder with 14. The Blues led 27-26 at the half despite committing 8 turnovers.
In the bronze medal match, the 5th-seeded Maple Ridge Ramblers dumped the 11th-seeded Maple Ridge Thomas Haney Thunder 68-61. The Thunder included Kalisha Reid, Stephanie VandeWalle
In the final, the top-seeded Mission Heritage Park Highlanders whacked the 10th-seed Port Moody Blues 71-37. “Did I ever think we wouldn’t win this year? No,” said forward Kim Smith. “We worked hard all year and we knew what we had to do. We deserve it.” The Highlanders dominated the tournament as they outscored their opposition 303-151 over the four games, out-rebounded them 186-118 and outshot them from the floor, .417 to .241. They also played stifling defence, thanks in large part to the wingspan of 6-foot-3 Grade 10 Julia Wilson, who was voted the tournament’s top defensive player after blocking 21 shots in four games. “We were a little scared about disappointing people, because there was so much pressure from everyone saying we were going to win it by this much or this much,” Highlanders point guard Dani Langford, who was later named the tournament’s most valuable player, told the Vancouver Province. “But I believed in our schemes and we came out hard. Everyone stepped up and did their job.” Highlanders shooting guard Shiloh Minor hit two treys in the first two minutes as Heritage Park built an 8-1 lead. The Blues couldn’t get their offence on track against the gigantic Heritage Park frontcourt, led by Wilson, who had 4 blocks in the first quarter alone and seemed to affect every shot. The Blues ended up going 1-16 from floor in the quarter and trailed 18-6 after one frame. It was garbage time after that, as the Highlanders coasted. Highlanders coach Bruce Langford told the Abbotsford News that “Dani did a good job of taking charge in the first half, when we were struggling a bit. She looked to be the general out there.” Blues coach Dave Sands told Canadian Press that “without a doubt in our minds we had a chance. It would have been nice to have a couple of more players to run with Langford and Kim Smith. Just a little bit of a rotation … just more reinforcements would have made a difference. But you can’t take anything away from Heritage Park. They’re a great, great team. A lot of the credit has to go to Bruce (Langford, the Highlanders coach) and I think a lot of the credit has to go to those kids. Those kids are in the gym at 7 a.m. every morning. We have a number of kids that are just getting the bug now.” Wilson had 22 points, 8 blocks, 9 boards and 2 assists. Langford added 16. Point guard Lauren Woodman and forward Jennifer Lodge each scored 11 for the Blues.
The bronze medalist Maple Ridge Ramblers: Ciana Gregorio; Kelsie Thiu; Jordana Miltimore; Kristy Haskell; Heidi Ostberg; coach Don Herman
The silver medalist Port Moody Blues: Lauren Woodman; Emily Beers; Stephanie Albiston; Jennifer Lodge; Karen Lodge; Erica Serena; Tanya Neville; coach Dave Sands
The gold medalist Mission Heritage Park Highlanders: Dani Langford; Kim Smith; Julia Wilson; Shiloh Minor; Lisa Sigurdson; Katja Feuss; Jennifer Noske; Sheryll Wong; Jessie Bennett; Kelsey Smith; Kathleen Campbell; coach Bruce Langford; assistant Frank Chan