In the southwest regional semis and provincial quarterfinals, held in Fredericton, the 2nd-seeded Fredericton Black Kats whipped the 7th-seeded Riverview Royals 75-37 as Hitchcock scored 21, LeClair 13, Lohnes 10 McEwing 7, Davidson 6 and Grasman 4. Heather McIntyre led the Royals with 14.
In the other regional semi, the Sussex Sonics crushed the Quispamsis Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders 70-42 as Crealock scored 22, Hicks 15, Poirier 13 and Greene 10. Laura Robertson led the Crusaders with 19. Jen Millican added 12.
In the southwest final and provincial semi, the Fredericton Black Kats clubbed the Sussex Sonics 49-33 as Hitchcock scored 21, Lohnes 14, LeClair 6, Grasman 4 and Graham 4. Greene led the Sonics with 9. Crealock added 6, Hicks 6 and Poirier 5.
In the northwest regional semis and provincial quarterfinals, held in Moncton, the top-seeded Moncton Harrison Trimble Trojans dusted the 8th-seeded Saint John St. Malachy’s Memorial Saints 97-63 as MacPherson scored 20 and LeBlanc 20. The Trojans led 43-38 at the half. Mary Beth Turner led the Saints with 15. Jill Hosseck added 15.
In the other regional semi, the Moncton Purple Knights clipped the Saint John Greyhounds 55-44 as O’Regan scored 20 and Jackson 12. Karen McAfee led the Greyhounds with 19.
In the northwest final and provincial semi, the top-seeded Moncton Harrison Trimble Trojans clocked the Moncton Purple Knights 84-69 as Leblanc scored 27, MacPherson 22 and Hachey 12. The Trojans led 47-47 at the half. Trojans coach Bob Wallace told the Saint John Telegraph-Journal that “our experience was a big factor. We have a very young tem but the leadership from our grade 12 players, both on and off the court, played a big role.”
In the final, the Fredericton Black Kats captured their eighth consecutive title by defeating the Moncton Harrison Trimble Trojans 57-44 as player of the game LeClair scored 15, Lohnes 15, Hitchcock 14 and Grasman 8. The Black Kats led 26-23 at the half and hit 9-13 from the line. LeClair told the Saint John Telegraph-Journal that “they had no pressure. They are a great team. They are a team that hustles and goes for every play and are tough on defence. We knew they were going to give us a run for our money. We just came in here and wanted to play our best and we did it. It’s great.” Black Kats coach Steve O’Rourke called it a team effort. “That’s the way it has been all year. It’s something when we look back on, it has been our strength. I’d have loved to have a go-to player but this year, we didn’t. Kids like Aimee LeClair and Heather Grasman took their turns stepping up when we needed them. … It was just the way we thought it would be. Close all the way until hopefully, experience would take over and I think it did. We knew it was going to be low scoring. WE knew we would struggle offensively some of the game and we had those down times and just hoped that we would be tough defensively. And we were.” MacDonald led the Trojans with 14. LeBlanc added 12 and MacPherson 8. The Trojans hit 3-10 from the line.
The co-bronze medalist Moncton Purple Knights: Natalie (Nancy?) O’Regan; Michelle Jackson; Erin O’Blenis;
The co-bronze medalist Sussex Sonics: Angelia Crealock; Michelle Green; Renee Poirier; Tiana Hicks; coach Peter McAleenan
The silver medalist Moncton Harrison Trimble Trojans: Sarah MacPherson; Jill LeBlanc; Jill Hachey; Jilliam McDonald; coach Bob Wallace
The champion Fredericton Black Kats: Cynthia Hitchcock; Aimee LeClair; Gina Lohnes; Jill LeBlanc; Kathy Graham; Heather Grasman; Lisa Watson; Jennifer Davidson; Julie McEwing; Kate Henheffer; Carrie Watson; Adrianne Holder; Ashley Sprague; coach Steve O’Rourke; assistant Rick Cotter