In the interzone finals, the Brandon Vincent Massey Vikings dumped the Steinbach Sabres 90-43. “It’s good to have a big victory like this before provincials,” Vikings guard Jill Franklin told the Brandon Sun. The Vikings led 14-6 early as their pressure defence forced a series of miscues. “We really didn’t know what to expect from them except that they were a young team,” said Massey coach Dean Oakden. “So we just went with our normal game plan. But you have to give the girls credit. There was a lot on the line and the girls played hard.” The Vikings led 49-18 at the half. Katherine Shwaluk and Aynsley Laluk each scored 18 to pace the Vikings. Jill Franklin added 14, Vicki North 14, Kristal Guyda 14. Megan Toews led the Sabres with 13. Vikki Forsyth added 12. “We knew they would be strong because they’ve been ranked in the top 10 for most, if not all of the season. We expected to give them a bit of a game,” said Steinbach coach Steve Rebizant. “We weren’t necessarily expecting to win but we were hoping to give them a game.”
In the wildcard games: …………………………………………………… The Winnipeg Kildonan East Reivers dispatched the Winnipeg Kelvin Clippers 53-40. The Clippers included Maxine Ratzlaff, Hong Tai. …………………………………………………… The Winnipeg Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute Hawks stuff the Winnipeg Sisler Spartans 79-56.
In the opening round: …………………………………………………… The 10th-seeded Winnipeg Kildonan East Reivers stunned the 7th-seeded Brandon Vincent Massey Vikings 60-43. The Vikings (coached by Dean Oakden) included Jill Franklin, Katherine Shwaluk, Aynsley Laluk, Vicki North, Kristal Guyda, Charisse Cyr, Jennell Rempel, Sheryl Martina. …………………………………………………… The 11th-seeded Winnipeg Mennonite Brethren Hawks knocked off the 6th-seeded Winnipeg Oak Park Raiders 54-43. …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded Winnipeg Garden City Gophers edged the 9th-seeded Winnipeg Daniel McIntyre Maroons 73-71. The Maroons (coached by Brad Purper) include Jane Pangan, Carol Pangan, Manichan Luangkhot, Ratsamy Luangkhot. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Winnipeg Silver Heights Huskies thrashed the 12th-seeded Winnipeg College Louis Riel Voyageurs 90-51. The Voyageurs included Sara Paquin, Melanie Maynard.
In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Winnipeg River East Kodiaks stomped the 8th-seeded Winnipeg Garden City Gophers 71-36. The Gophers included Kristen Asmundson.
The 2nd-seeded Winnipeg Dakota Lancers crushed the 10th-seeded Winnipeg Kildonan East Reivers 77-41. The Reivers included Ashley McNeil, Magda Borowiec.
The 5th-seeded Winnipeg Silver Heights Huskies edged the 4th-seeded Winnipeg St. Mary’s Academy Flames 52-51. The Flames included Christina Blown, Tara Sweeny.
In the last quarterfinal, the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg Glenlawn Lions whipped the 5th-seeded Winnipeg Mennonite Brethren Hawks 53-30. The Hawks included Heidi Schwartz, Angela Willerton.
In the semis, the top-seeded Winnipeg River East Kodiaks defeated the 5th-seeded Winnipeg Silver Heights Huskies 86-43 as Karen Dyck and Ola Samborska each scored 23. The Kodiaks held Huskies star Brooke Bender to 12.
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Winnipeg Dakota Lancers defeated the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg Glenlawn Lions 58-52 as Danielle Bilodeau scored 18.
In the final, the top-seeded Winnipeg River East Kodiaks defeated the 2nd-seeded Winnipeg Dakota Lancers 46-45 after leading 30-21 at the half and 41-35 after three quarters. Cheryl Jean-Paul paced the Kodiaks with 15. Karen Dyck added 14. Ruth-Anne Joseph led the Lancers with 18. Rozan Shah added 12. Kodiak Heather Wedlake, who was chosen game MVP, told the Winnipeg Free Press that “I thought everyone worked hard and pulled together out there. We didn’t change the things we did all year. The key was rebounding. Our coach keeps telling us that rebounding wins championships.” River East coach Jaenas Pangilinan said “I knew they (the Lancers) would take it (our seeding) into the locker room. I’m glad it ended up the way it did. It’s just too bad a team had to lose. We were waiting for the big game all year. There was a little pressure, but I just told the girls that win or lose their self-worth wasn’t on the line.” Dakota coach Karl Loewett said “we were underrated all season. We just wanted to get a chance to win the game. We picked it up and came out hard.”
The co-bronze medalist Winnipeg Silver Heights Huskies: Brooke Bender; Christine Scott; coach Dave Guss
The co-bronze medalist Winnipeg Glenlawn Lions: Laura Lindback; Patricia Wood; Laura Lindback; coach Bryan Kornberger
The silver medalist Winnipeg Dakota Lancers: Ruth-Ann Joseph; Danielle Bilodeau; coach Karl Loewett
The gold medalist Winnipeg River East Kodiaks: Leah Armstrong; Nicole Pangilinan; Cheryl Jean-Paul; Ola Samborska; Larissa Puttaert; Carolyn Bell; Heather Wedlake; Dara-Lynn Wyfon; Kathy Griffiths; Tara Madec; Kelly Copp; Lisa Johnson; Karen Dyck; Jenell Witsky; coach Jaenas Pangilinan; assistant Igeoma Ogoms