In the quarterfinals, held in Amherst, the top-seeded Glace Bay Panthers whipped the 8th-seeded Yarmouth Vikings 73-42. Samantha MacDougall paced the Vikings with 18. Sophie Atkinson added 7. The Vikings also included Julie Phillips, Maggie Trask, Kaitlyn Mooney, Andrea Oguntade and Sophie Surette.
The 5th-seeded Windsor Avon View Avalanche crushed the 4th-seeded Middle Sackville Millwood Knights 65-49. The Knights (coached by Taylor Wilson) included Leah Atkinson, Riley Campbell, Bree Comeau, Aiyanna Empringham, Christina Fancy, Grace Gillis, Shelby Graham, Emily Hammond, Joella Hodder, Nicole Leblanc, Ashley McMullin, Hayley Shwaykowski and Maddison White.
The 3rd-seeded Berwick Central Kings Rural Gators crushed the 6th-seeded Auburn West Kings Wolverines 67-43. The Wolverines included Claudia Fulton, Sam Nichols, Emma Picard and Jenna Ramsey.
In the last quarterfinal, the host 2nd-seeded host Amherst Vikettes dumped the 7th-seeded Sydney Academy Wildcats 79-66 as Lauren Chitty scored 17, Ryanne Belyea 12, Mia Furlong 11, Taylor Chitty 11, Hannah Beland 10, Madison Bennett 9 and Alexa Thompson 6. The Wildcats (coached by Kim Reynolds, assisted by Darren Desmond and Jenn Kendrick) included Sydney Mills, Sarah Anthony, Maddy Campbell, Reina Shimamura, Sarah Gouthro, Heather Wall, Emily MacDonald, Cidney Pitchuck, Kristen Hudson, Kahli Martelly and Kori Ash.
In the semis, the 3rd-seeded Berwick Central Kings Rural Gators spanked the 2nd-seeded Amherst Vikettes 58-44. Mia Furlong led the Vikettes with 13. Lauren Chitty added 8, Alexa Thompson 5, Ryanne Belyea 5, Hannah Beland 5, Madison Bennett 3, Rachel Cheverie 3 and Taylor Chitty 2.
In the other semi, the 5th-seeded Windsor Avon View Avalanche stunned the top-seeded Glace Bay Panthers 51-37.
In the bronze medal match, the top-seeded Glace Bay Panthers dispatched the 2nd-seeded Amherst Vikettes 46-35. “The girls played hard, they played with heart, and they played with mental toughness,” said Vikettes coach Gillian Ellis told the Amherst Citizen-Record. “I’m proud of them whether they won or lost.” Ryanne Belyea and Hannah Beland each scored 7 to pace the Vikettes. Rachel Cheverie added 6, Taylor Chitty 5, Madison Bennett 4, Mia Furlong 4 and Alexa Thompson 2. The Vikettes (coached by Gillian Ellis, assisted by Kelly Sigut, Ashley MacEachern and Lauren MacEachern) also included Jemma Todoshuk, Emma Taylor, Sharon McCrossin, Lauren Chitty and Brooke Wilson. The Vikettes were without tarter Lauren Chitty, who tore ligaments in her ankle in the semis. “When it happened, I was like, “Oh my gosh’,” said Lauren’s twin sister Taylor. “I knew we all had to work through it and push ourselves harder. Having her hurt made all of us push harder.” Ellis said “we preach that we’re a family and when one of your family members go down it’s hard not to be emotional about that,” said Ellis. “But the girls fought as hard as they could. They didn’t give up.”
In the final, the 5th-seeded Windsor Avon View Avalanche edged the 3rd-seeded Berwick Central Kings Rural Gators 56-53 in overtime. “Our team simply never gave up and just kept coming,” coach Jim Bryan told Nova News Now. “The girls stuck to the game plan and never trailed in the game, winning in a defensive battle that saw Glace Bay foul out three girls. … Tasha Williamson, the team’s only Grade 12 (student), was essential on rebounding. Jessie Miller led the team in scoring all season and this continued through provincial weekend. Sometimes, you could just see her take over the game with her refusal to lose attitude while scoring a critical basket when the team really needed it. McKayla States was our floor general, and was always talking and controlling the play, taking the pressure off and being sure handed.” Bryan also said the Avalanche benefitted from the quickness of Jilisa Tempro and the intensity of Jessie Bryan and Sophie Parker. “Leslie Greeno and Sam Swinamer were a danger to teams both close and far from the net with a balanced attack with the shot and slick post moves. … Rebecca Frenette, Rebekah O’Reilly, Aly Greeno and Justine Kroll helped the team with their enthusiasm and support. One of the hardest things to do as an athlete is accepting your role on the team and everyone pulled their weight and came together when it was most important.” The Avalanche moved down from Division I to Division II at the start of the campaign.
The bronze medalist Glace Bay Panthers: Shayne Breen; Amy Cameron; Jill MacKeigan; Morgan MacKenzie; Kallie MacKinnon; Becca MacNeil; Hannah McIntyre; Maggie Moore; Madison Nolan; MacKenzee Ryan; Victoria Somerton; coach Kathy Donovan; assistant John Ryan; assistant Richard MacInnis
The silver medalist Berwick Central Kings Gators: Jenny Laffin; Dakota Bundy; Serena Dolan; Rachel Benjamin; Ruth Hall; Katelyn Meister; Cassidy Coombs; Katie Beaver; Emma Hachey; coach Ben Hachey
The gold medalist Windsor Avon View Avalanche: Jesse Bryan; Aly Greeno; McKayla States; Sophie Parker; Jilisa Tempro; Jessie Miller; Rebekah O’Reilly; Sam Swinamer; Leslie Greeno; Justine Kroll; Rebecca Frenette; Tasha Williamson; coach Jim Bryan