In the quarterfinals, held at Margaree Harbour, the top-seeded New Germany Rural Saints dispatched the 8th-seeded Southwest Mabou Dalbrae Academy Dragons 54-41.
The 4th-seeded Terre Noire Cape Breton Highlands Academy Huskies whipped the 5th-seeded Port Hawkesbury Strait Area Education and Recreation Centre Saints 42-28. The Saints (coached by Ron Lynds) included Taylor Williams-Ferguson, Keisha MacDougall, Hilary Wright, Danielle Cameron, Paige Power, Chelsea Cameron, Ashley Kehoe, Jessica Cahill and Alison Kersten.
The 2nd-seeded Springhill Golden Eagles stomped the 7th-seeded Bridgetown Trojans 73-36. Leah Crowe paced the Golden Eagles with 16. Sydnee Balser added 15, Taylor MacDonald 8, Danika Beaton 8, Jill Casey 6, Meaghan Moore 4, Trish Thompson 4, Steph McCormick 4, Brenna Casey 4 and Kirsten Gogan 2. Alanda Cress led the Trojans with 12.
In the last quarterfinal, the 3rd-seeded Shelburne Rebels clocked the 6th-seeded Guysborough Academy Eagles x-x.
In the semis, the 4th-seeded Terre Noire Cape Breton Highlands Academy Huskies stunned the top-seeded New Germany Rural Saints 51-40.
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Springhill Golden Eagles edged the 3rd-seeded Shelburne Rebels 67-66 in overtime. Kirsten Gogan raced from half court to close out and block an open layup by a Shelburne player with six seconds left and the score knotted at 66-66. On the ensuing inbounds play, Sydnee Balser corralled a long rebound off a missed Rebel shot and was fouled on the play with 1.3 ticks of the clock remaining. After missing her first foul shot, she calmly swished the second to send the Golden Eagles to its third consecutive provincial final game. Leah Crowe and Sydnee Balser each scored 17 to lead the Golden Eagles. Steph McCormick added 9, Meaghan Moore 6, Jill Casey 5, Kirsten Gogan 5, Taylor MacDonald 3 and Danika Beaton 2. Paula Christie paced the Rebels with 23. The Rebels led 34-30 at the half.
In the bronze medal match, the top-seeded New Germany Rural Saints whipped the 3rd-seeded Shelburne Rebels 69-32.
In the final, the 2nd-seeded Springhill Golden Eagles handled the 4th-seeded Terre Noire Cape Breton Highlands Academy Huskies 58-47. “We’re so proud of the girls,” Eagles coach Charlie Chambers told the Amherst Daily News. “They worked hard and their experience was an important factor. This was the third straight championship game for many of them and this helped us tremendously.” The Eagles claimed their fifth title in eight years. “The six seniors will be sorely missed, but that’s how the cycle goes,” Chambers said. “Meaghan Moore leaves with two golds, a silver and a bronze, while Taylor MacDonald, Leah Crowe, Danika Beaton, Jill Casey and Kirsten Gogan depart with two golds and a silver. Not a bad run.” Leah Crowe paced the Golden Eagles with 11. Jill Casey added 10, including a pair of momentum-changing three’s in the fourth quarter, Meaghan Moore managed 9, Sydnee Balser 7, Kirsten Gogan 6, Danika Beaton 6, Steph McCormick 5 and Brenna Casey 4. The Eagles trained 40-38 after the third quarter but outscored the Huskies 20-7 in the final 10 minutes. Sydney Carmichael paced the Huskies with 18. Chambers said “it was a total team effort with the Grade 9’s, Balser, McCormick, Brenna Casey, and our lone Grade 11 player, Trish Thompson, all contributing solid minutes and supporting each other.”
The bronze medalist New Germany Rural Saints:
The silver medalist Terre Noire Cape Breton Highlands Academy Huskies: Sydney Carmichael;
The gold medalist Springhill Golden Eagles: Trisha Thompson; Brenna Casey; Kirsten Gogan; Taylor MacDonald; Danika Beaton; Leah Crowe; Meaghan Moore; Steph McCormick; Sydnee Balser; Jill Casey; Madison Swan; coach Charlie Chambers