In the interzone finals, the Neepawa Tigers clipped the Grandview Spartans 62-53.
In the wildcard game, the Grandview Spartans edged the Killarney Raiders 66-65 in overtime. The Raiders included Tara King.
In the quarterfinals, held in Neepawa, the 3rd-seeded host Neepawa Tigers defeated the 6th-seeded Altona W.C. Miller Aces 58-51 as Jody Jury hit a series of critical buckets down the stretch. The Aces included Desiree Penner.
The top-seeded Morden Mohawks crushed the 8th-seeded Grandview Spartans 59-35. The Spartans (coached by Brant Neufeld, assisted by Carla Scott and managed by Roxanne Zamonsky and Stacey Boyko) included Kristy Lukey, Shayla Crossley, Cindi Storey, Jaylene Korzeniowski, Lonna Kuzyk, Shannon Morran, Carman Andruschak, Tara Ratcliffe, Keri Dingwall, Jonie Slobozian, Andrea Lang, Rochelle Porath, Cindy Gurel and Laura Storey.
The 4th-seeded Niverville Panthers clipped the 5th-seeded Birtle Falcons 65-54. The Falcons (manager Erin Hodgson, statistician Jennifer Burdett) included Renee Ewbank, Tessa Chartier, Crystal Fulton.
In the last quarterfinal, the 2nd-seeded Teulon Saints dusted the 7th-seeded The Pas Joe A. Ross Flyers 86-26 as Holly Johnson scored 29. Lisa Bodnarus added 13. The Saints led 16-4, 47-11 and 69-19 at the quarters.
In the semis, the 2nd-seeded Teulon Saints crushed the 3rd-seeded Neepawa Tigers 55-39. The Tigers led 21-20 at the half. Jackie Willis paced the Saints with 22. Lisa Bodnarus added 12 and Holly Johnson 11. “We just kind of ran out of steam,” Tigers coach Kerry Hayhurst told the Neepawa Banner.
In the other semi, the top-seeded Morden Mohawks dispatched the 4th-seeded Niverville Panthers 57-45.
In the bronze medal match, the 3rd-seeded Neepawa Tigers defeated the 4th-seeded Niverville Panthers 59-55. “It was wonderful to play in front of the (home) crowds,” Tigers coach Kerri Hayhurst told the Neepawa Banner. “They were very supportive. It was particularly sweet that the crows were chanting ‘defence’ right from the beginning. … It really was a team effort. I went nine-deep in every game. In one game, I went to 12. I thought they really came up big under pressure.”
In the final, the 2nd-seeded Teulon Saints stunned the 1st-seeded Morden Mohawks 57-52 as point guard Jackie Willis scored 28 and Holly Johnson 10. Willis had 14 in the fourth quarter alone. The Mohawks led 37-36 after three quarters. Starting Saints centre Lisa Bodnarus was early foul trouble. The Saints finished (25-11) on the season, including a (10-9) record against 4A and 3A schools. Jackie Willis was chosen the tournament MVP for the third consecutive season, the first time in provincial hoops history that the feat was accomplished. “Jackie is a very special kid who deserves everything she gets,” Saints coach Art Koop told the Stonewall Argus. “If there’s a way to win, she will find it.”
The bronze medalist Neepawa Tigers: Nicole Northey; Julie Ebner; Tanya Jarvis; Tanya Jacobsen; Pam McLeod; Jennifer Bohn; Becky O’Donnell; Cherill Jardine; Lindsay Jarema; Jody Jury; Crystal Smith; Kim Harp; coach Kerri Hayhurst
The silver medalist Morden Mohawks: Teresa Hildebrand; Kim Dyck; coach Merv Roller
The gold medalist Teulon Saints: Jackie Willis; Holly Johnson; Lisa Bodnarus; Lisa Wasserman; Teresa Olson; Melissa Stone; Kristin Sandison; Chrissie Ambrose; Kelly Rybachuk; Kristjana Cameron; Pam Skrabek; Becky Dola; coach Art Koop; assistant Jason Cook