In the interzone playoffs, the Brandon T.A. Neelin Spartans thrashed the Virden Golden Bears 99-41 as Stephanie Lacey-Avon scored 25 and Jessi-Beth McCannell 14.
In the wildcard game, the Swan River Swan Valley Tigers edged the Thompson R.D. Parker Trojans 75-73 in overtime. Tigers co-coach Kevin Carter told the Swan Valley Star and Times that “we took advantage of our chances. We had to use all of them. It was up tempo, plenty of scoring, 65 all at the end of regulation. We were up 12 at half time, but got into foul trouble. We went from being up 12 to down six, the way the game was going, it was going to come down to the end.” After Sara Soprovich fouled out, “we had a couple of other kids who really stepped up. Amanda Hagglund and Kirsty Hugill both played well, along with Nicole Vestby. We got some good things out of everyone,” said Carter. …………………………………………………… The Virden Golden Bears nipped Winnipeg College Beliveau 50-48.
In the opening round, held in Dauphin, the 9th-seeded Swan River Swan Valley Tigers defeated the 8th-seeded Virden Golden Bears 57-45 as Kirsty Hugill scored 14 and Caitlynd Lycan 11. Sarah Soprovich was chosen player of the game for the Tigers. The Golden Bears included Katie Sigurdson, Victoria Neufeld, Ginia Friesen, Sarah Blelloch, Brooke Williams, Brittany Jebb, Kathleen Hatfield, Regan Waller, Kelsey Mead and Marcie Cruickshank. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Linden Christian Wings defeated the 10th-seeded Winnipeg St. James Jimmies 39-27. The Jimmies (coached by Ashley van Aggelen) included Chelsie Gali, Angela Pangilinan, Brittany Goerzen, Genevieve Ente, Cassy Pinette, Clarissa Dimaapi, Kayla Maxwell, Marcella Mansaray, Dhona Garcia, Alicia Phillips, Jenny Fehr, Kayla Moore and Markie Lambert.
In the quarterfinals, the 4th-seeded Dauphin Clippers defeated the Flin Flon Hapnot Kopper Kweens 42-32. The Kopper Kweens (coached by John Clark, Karen Clark and Ken Pawliuk) included Cybil Fischer, Lucretia Benko, Jacquelyn Spence, Mari Pettersen, Kirsten Clark, Rachelle Davis, Nicole Pawliuk, Ashley Krassilowsky, Megan Hall and Kyra Kosar.
The top-seeded St. Norbert Celtics dumped the 9th-seeded Swan Valley Tigers 73-41. “We didn’t score, that’s the bottom line,” Tigers co-coach Kevin Carter told the Swan Valley Star and Times. “It’s been a problem for us all year. If we get off to a good start (shooting), we can score a lot of points.” Sarah Soprovich led the Tigers with 10. Kirsty Hugill added 6. Ariel Kern was chosen player of the game for the Tigers. The Tigers (coached by Carter and Al Maidy) also included Kristjana Schure, Meghan Vestby, Rebecca Dahl, Jessie Foster, Mirissa Kalynuk, Nicole Vestby, Kendal Hart, Amanda Hagglund, Caitlynd Lucan and Laura Alford.
The 2nd-seeded Brandon T.A. Neelin Spartans stuffed the 7th-seeded Winnipeg Linden Christian Wings 68-19. The Wings (coached by J. Boville and A. Boville) also included Sadie Mueller, Andrea Kneale, Jessica Pushka, Danica Hughes, Leah Berard, Leah Friesen, Kara Loewen, Karlei Neufeld, Amy Kolly, Kendra Boville, Christy McLeod and Lauren Aukema.
In the last quarterfinal, the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg Westgate Mennonite Wings dumped the 6th-seeded Morden Thunder 75-57. “We were within six most of the game. They went on a run, and we never came back,” said Thunder coach Merv Roller. The Thunder (coached by Roller, assisted by Kari Wiebe) included Jennifer Schroeder, Julie Blaich, Darcie Reimer, Toni Moffatt, Jackie Dudgeon, Lauren Hildebrandt, Jenny Dyck, Karla Froese, Charmayne Dalke, Jasmine Gullison and Julie Hamilton.
In the semis, the top-seeded St. Norbert Celtics dumped the 4th-seeded Dauphin Celtics 59-19.
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Brandon T.A. Neelin Spartans whipped the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg Westgate Mennonite Wings.
In the bronze medal match, the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg Westgate Mennonite Wings crushed the 4th-seeded Dauphin Clippers 56-36. The Clippers (coached by Brian Brewer and Tanya Love) included Tabi Love, Katherine Procyshyn, Cora Kornik, Bradi Selin, Ann-Kathrin Harmeyer, Laura Von Bargen, Jessica Smith, Sasha Zeiler, Chelsea Rolla, Danielle Schau, Kara Matwee, Jasmine Fidierchuk and Catelin Fafard.
In the final, the 2nd-seeded Brandon T.A. Neelin Spartans dumped the top-seeded St. Norbert Celtics 69-53. The win capped a girls/boys double for Neelin at the AAA level. “It’s fabulous for basketball in this city,” Spartans coach Jill Watt told the Brandon Sun. “This gives our kids something to strive for in the future and shows that it’s attainable. I hope they embrace this win and carry it forward in their lives.” Jessi-Beth McCannell of the Spartans was chosen tournament MVP after scoring 19, including 5 treys. “There weren’t any big runs on threes, but there was an emotion that came with everyone,” Watt said. Spartans veterans Stephanie Lacey-Avon, Alise Gaiser and Grade 11 shooter Dominique Boucher all scored 13 apiece. “We have a larger grad class this year than in the past and they have more of a passion to win as Grade 12 students,” Watt said. “They also provide leadership too because they know what it’s like to play in a provincial championship.”
The bronze medalist Winnipeg Westgate Mennonite Collegiate Wings: Rachel Hildebrand; Erin Braun-Janzen; Naomi Langelotz; Samantha Deamel; Tonya Wagner; Anneke Hildebrand; Kaeleigh Carrick; Chloe Bishop; Gabrielle Wiebe; Savannah Funk-Unrau; Keelyn Lewis; Christina Janzen; coach Jennifer How; manager Ellen Wiens
The silver medalist St. Norbert Celtics: Amreet Dhaliwal; Heather Marshall; Kaytlin Waddell; Dana Galenzowski; Dayna Schulz; Kelsey Dorge; Teresa McMullan; Sheri Backlund; Brooke Semchuk; Paige Stollard; Elisa Anderson; Tessa Harvey; Dallas Buhr; Madison Pinder; coach Denis Marinelli; assistant Colin Ritchie; assistant Michelle Stone
The gold medalist Brandon T.A. Neelin Spartans: Nikki Ragush; Stephanie Couturier; Chelsea Easter; Rainne Kearns; Jessica Jonasson; Britta Albrecht; Katlin Mallette; Jessi Beth McCannell; Dominique Bouche; Alise Gaiser; Stephanie Lacey-Avon; Kayla Smith; coach Jill Watt; assistant Warren Watt; assistant Dwight Kearns; manager Lawrie Hammersley