In the opening round, held in North Bay: …………………………………………………… The top-seeded Timmins O’Gorman Knights dusted the 11th-seeded Burlington Aldershot Lions 73-27 after leading 25-11, 44-15 and 61-21 at the quarters. …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Brockville St. Mary’s Catholic Crusaders crushed the 16th-seeded Toronto Ecole Secondaire Catholique Saint-Frere-Andre Vikings 52-26 after leading 11-3, 24-10 and 36-21 at the quarters. …………………………………………………… The 3rd-seeded Windsor Ecole Secondaire Catholique E.J. Lajeunesse Le Royal whipped the 18th-seeded Kenora St. Thomas Aquinas Saints 56-24 after leading 25-7, 41-9 and 33-15 at the quarters. …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded St. Mary’s District Catholic Salukis clubbed the 14th-seeded Whitby Ecole Catholique Saint-Charles Garnier Lynx 50-31. The Lynx led 10-9 after one quarter. The Salukis led 25-22 at the half and 41-29 after three quarters. …………………………………………………… The 9th-seeded North Bay Ecole Secondaire Catholique Algonquin Barons dumped the 10th-seeded Port Colborne Blue Bears 55-38 after leading 18-4, 28-15 and 50-24 at the quarters. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Mississauga Ecole Secondaire Sainte-Famille Cougars whacked the 13th-seeded Belleville Nicholson Catholic Crusaders 53-28. The Crusaders led 9-6 after one quarter. The Cougars led 22-14 at the half and 39-18 after three quarters. …………………………………………………… The 4th-seeded Sudbury Ecole Secondaire Macdonald-Cartier Pantheres torched the 15th-seeded Barrie Ecole Secondaire Catholique Nouvelle-Alliance Tornades 59-22 after leading 21-7, 29-12 and 45-17 at the quarters. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded King City Villanova College Knights dusted the 17th-seeded Kirkland Lake District Catholic Devils 55-17 after leading 11-4, 29-4 and 45-10 at the quarters. …………………………………………………… The 2nd-seeded Breslau Woodland Christian Cavaliers clocked the 12th-seeded Toronto De La Salle College Oaklands 74-13 after leading 26-4, 43-11 and 65-13 at the quarters.
In the second round: …………………………………………………… The 18th-seeded Kenora St. Thomas Aquinas Saints dispatched the Toronto Ecole Secondaire Catholique Saint-Frere-Andre Vikings 33-20 after leading 8-1, 17-4 and 24-15 at the quarters. The Vikings (coached by Michel Clark) included Tasha Mandiangu, Yedidja Tshebe, Meeka Jean-Baptiste, Corinne Ruthenberg, Agathe Tita, Noella Nkiele, Lateefah Diane, Deborah Kabedi, Ashley Miller and Mariam Guira. …………………………………………………… The 17th-seeded Kirkland Lake District Catholic Devils defeated the 15th-seeded Barrie Ecole Secondaire Catholique Nouvelle-Alliance Tornades 38-26 after leading 7-3, 20-13 and 24-20 at the quarters. The Tornades (coached by Michel Spadafore-Lemire) included Camryn Harrison, Megan Beaudry, Valérie Ledoux, Juliette Kingsley, Mireille Dubé, Jesse Guilbert, Lauren Woytowicz, Larissa McLaren and Torunn Holmgren.
In the third round: …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Brockville St. Mary’s Catholic Crusaders clubbed the 11th-seeded Burlington Aldershot Lions 55-24 after leading 15-4, 30-6 and 43-15 at the quarters. The Lions (coached by Jovan Djurdjevic) included Holly Laurin, Madison Klingbiel, Abbigayle Sykes, Ella Dojcinovic, Michaela Fraser, Emily Knowles, Jordyn Reisch, Alexandra Meade, Victoria DeGroote, Amanda Whelan, Bronwyn Smith, Kendall Cooper, Madeline Ford and Jessica Leishman. …………………………………………………… The 9th-seeded North Bay Ecole Secondaire Catholique Algonquin Barons spanked the 8th-seeded St. Mary’s District Catholic Salukis51-33 after leading 18-7, 32-11 and 43-26 at the quarters. The Salukis (coached by Gregg Blackler, assisted by Monica Ryan) included Jelena Lorentz, Emily Vink, Hayden MacDonald, Anna McIntosh, Lauren Osborne, Amy Waymouth, Abbey Thorup, Nathalie Bettger, Ava Bettger and Aimee King. …………………………………………………… The 3rd-seeded Windsor Ecole Secondaire Catholique E.J. Lajeunesse Le Royal rolled the 14th-seeded Whitby Ecole Catholique Saint-Charles Garnier Lynx 54-9 after leading 20-4, 27-4 and 43-5 at the quarters. The Lynx (coached by Eric Veilleux, assisted by Jean-Luc Aucoin) included Sofia Flores-Barba, Natalie St.Pierre, Keren Ngandu, Naomi Rahman, Mariah-Ann Piam-Kaptué, Sarah Tonoo, Caroline Arseneau, Ashley Makonga, Maeve Campbell and Marie Fourchet. ………………………………………………… The 4th-seeded Sudbury Ecole Secondaire Macdonald-Cartier Pantheres blasted the 13th-seeded Belleville Nicholson Catholic Crusaders 57-29 after leading 30-12, 44-20 and 53-23 at the quarters. The Crusaders (coached by Tim Coates, assisted by Ken Smith) included Karolyn Yee, Chloe O’Boyle Kelly, Allison Roach, Jane Goyer, Brigid Bechervaise, Megan Mulvihill, Emmilee Whalen, Irelyn Anderson, Emily Izzotti and Anna Noronha. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Mississauga Ecole Secondaire Sainte-Famille Cougars dispatched the 10th-seeded Port Colborne Blue Bears 47-30 after leading 9-4, 16-15 and 31-25 at the quarters. The Blue Bears (coached by Barclay Walker) included Tiawna Galandy, Maddison Coleman, Deanna Donnelly, Jacobi Oskam, Reagan Grano, Sydney Vrbanac, Mackenzie Wells, Jordyn Goins, Jennifer Kozelj, Abigail Thalen, Hannah Walker, Grace Luey and Robyn Skrubbeltrang. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded King City Villanova College Knights edged the 12th-seeded Toronto De La Salle College Oaklands 43-38. The Oaklands led 9-5 after one quarter and 18-16 at the half. The Knights led 30-27 after three quarters. The Oaklands (coached by Stephen Mason, assisted by Nick DeSanctis) included Victoria Guerra, Felicity Kannu, Eliane Kayi, Olivia Lopardo, Siena Margorian, Sahana Mahisha Muhundhan, Jacqueline Penna, Mia Popelas, Julia Rizzardi, Chloe Robillard, Angelica Sabilano, Julia Simone and Isabella Spensieri. …………………………………………………… The top-seeded Timmins O’Gorman Knights flattened the 18th-seeded Kenora St. Thomas Aquinas Saints 78-25 after leading 34-8, 55-17 and 70-20 at the quarters. The Saints (coached by Lauren Penner, assisted by Cassandra Babiachuk and Danielle Grosset) included Penielle Linklater, Lyla Henderson, Stephanie Pedersen, Alyssa Turcotte, Abby Dent, Jaymesen Harasemchuk, Spencer Harasemchuk, Rheanna MacDougall, Sarah From and Leah Robertson. …………………………………………………… The 2nd-seeded Breslau Woodland Christian Cavaliers crushed the 17th-seeded Kirkland Lake District Catholic Devils 74-19 after leading 25-2, 38-12 and 52-14 at the quarters. The Devils (coached by Colette Carter, assisted by Brittany Herd) included Isabella Honeyborne, Sophie LaRouche, Savannah Fortier, Eve Jones, Cassandra Aultman, Elise LaRouche, Amelia Fournel, Emma Lelievre, Cora-Lee Chapeskie, Abbigail Honeyborne, Paige Charbonneau, Gracie Hammell, Elle Kasner, Jaylin Sasseville and Molly Charlton.
In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Timmins O’Gorman Knights clipped the 9th-seeded North Bay Ecole Secondaire Catholique Algonquin Barons 57-30 after leading 13-9, 30-12 and 48-26 at the quarters. The Barons (coached by Lisa Hotte, assisted by Anne Gallagher) included Ellie Horning, Renée Gallagher, Kayla Cadieux, Dominique Baldasaro, Samantha Adams, Véronick Delorme, Roxanne Rochon, Emma Lindeman, Taylor Grosz, Trinity Roy, Brooke Shogren, Mélina Levasseur, Jenna Couch and Mia Bédard.
The 3rd-seeded Windsor Ecole Secondaire Catholique E.J. Lajeunesse Le Royal nipped the 6th-seeded Brockville St. Mary’s Catholic Crusaders 32-31 after leading 10-6, 19-13 and 24-21 at the quarters. The Crusaders (coached by Matt Reil, assisted by Lee Jenkinson, Kendall MacLeod and Beth Rogers) included Jessica Meeson, Brittany Renaud, Jorja Adams, Olivia Oseghale, Hannah Burt, Lily Young, Abby Douglas, Emma Healey, Sherron Sabourin, Elise Plaschka and Emily Dikdan.
The 4th-seeded Sudbury Ecole Secondaire Macdonald-Cartier Pantheres dumped the 5th-seeded King City Villanova College Knights 55-25 after leading 13-12, 24-15 and 42-20 at the quarters. The Knights (coached by Derek Alexander) included Alayah Ogor, Julia Bancheri, Amanda Hardman, Emilia Tinajero, Macenzie Taffo, Maggie Kita, Bianca Vescio, Sarah Foster, Jenna Gulizia, Celeste Gordon, Paulina Novatsidis, Claudia Oppedisano and Jessica Hinn.
In the last quarterfinal, the 2nd-seeded Breslau Woodland Christian Cavaliers stomped the 7th-seeded Mississauga Ecole Secondaire Sainte-Famille Cougars 62-29 after leading 15-10, 26-24 and 46-24 at the quarters. The Cougars (coached by Derron Croteau, assisted by Marie-Hélène Cormier and Paul Vreugdenhil) included Sandra Desousas, Joulia Nawar, Chris Ngondo, Daniella Buaba, Ifunaya Ugwemba, Brea Maloney, Érika Takou Yopa, Alexa Bédard, Shannon Buaba, Chirane Samba, Tania Gopinauth, Sylvana Milambo, Yara Nehme and Béatrice Ngo Ngué.
In the semis, the top-seeded Timmins O’Gorman Knights edged the 4th-seeded Sudbury Ecole Secondaire Macdonald-Cartier Pantheres 41-37 after leading 14-11, 23-11 and 35-22 at the quarters. The game “was more of a defensive struggle and an offensive struggle for us,” Knights coach Marcy McCarty told the Timmins Daily Press. “I think that semi-final was our most difficult game during the tournament. … Over the last two years, they have proven to be our northern rivals. We enjoy playing against them. They play a very similar game to ours. They are very aggressive on the ball. They move it well and they like to attack the key, so we were expecting they would be our biggest challenge. We stuck to our game plan, we moved the ball well. Defensively, we shut them down. Offensively, we shot the ball well. … The five girls who were on the court in the second (quarter, during which the Pantheres were held scoreless) were pretty much in a groove. It was really nice to see because that allowed us to maintain momentum and kind of set the pace. Even though MacDonald-Cartier likes to push the ball, once we gained control we wanted to slow the game down. When we are playing a team that is really fast, our game plan is to try and slow the game down. … I wouldn’t say we were ever really worried. In a game like that, you are going to have your ups and downs. I didn’t ever feel we weren’t in control of the game.”
In the other semi, the 3rd-seeded Windsor Ecole Secondaire Catholique E.J. Lajeunesse Le Royal dispatched the 2nd-seeded Breslau Woodland Christian Cavaliers 40-34 after leading 15-11, 26-18 and 34-20 at the quarters. Ashanti Christian led Le Royal with 15. Jamilah Christian added 13 and Olivia Scott 7.
In the bronze medal match, the 4th-seeded Sudbury Ecole Secondaire Macdonald-Cartier Pantheres clipped the 2nd-seeded Breslau Woodland Christian Cavaliers 61-44 after leading 14-10, 26-15 and 45-33 at the quarters. Pantheres coach Sebastien Gervais told The Sudbury Star that he thought his team was mis-seeded and should have been pegged seconds, thus avoiding Timmins O’Gorman in the semis. “I think deep down inside, personally, if you’re asking me to be brutally honest, I really thought that we were the second seed. … I know that every coach who was seeded in three, four or five is probably going to have the same opinion. … It wasn’t too hard to motivate the girls in getting ready for that game (against Woodland). It was more about ensuring that they gave it the energy and intensity it deserved. We wanted to make sure we had enough in the tank left to challenge Woodland Christian, because they have an amazing coach.” Arielle Douillette said “it really helped us to run our plays with players that had been together for a while. We knew who we had to hit for that shot, we knew whose going to get us a steal. That experience came in handy.” The Cavaliers (coached by Stu Julius, assisted by Matthew Hazenberg and Katie Plaisier) included Jaime Koetsier, Nicole Hellinga, Alexis Hessels, Jenna Duimering, Sydney VanderHoef, Mae Drost, Harmony Groot, Chloe Snider, Alanna Parker, Kate Drost, Bridget Duimering and Carter Verstrate.
In the final, the top-seeded Timmins O’Gorman Knights repeated as provincial champs by defeating the 3rd-seeded Windsor Ecole Secondaire Catholique E.J. Lajeunesse Le Royal 49-39 after leading 18-7; 28-21 and 44-26 at the quarters. “We have used the same game plan all year, protect the ball and move the ball well,” Knights coach Marcy McCarty told the Timmins Daily Press. “When we move the ball well, we shoot well and defensively we were very strong. Lajeunesse has two very strong point guards, so our game plan in that respect was to shut them down. We did that okay and we didn’t panic. Overall, it wasn’t a stressful game. Defence is usually our strong suit and we work really hard on protecting the key and limiting the other team’s inside game. We like to force them to play an outside game. When we do that, we are really aggressive on the ball and we force turnovers. … “The game plan is always to come out and try to set the pace of the game. We did that and we did it well. Everything kind of fell into place after that. … We just out and attacked it one game at a time. I think it was a little easier this year to defend than it was last year to come off of a silver medal. It was a lot different and I don’t think as difficult as it was last year.” Point guard Ally Burke said “coming off that win last year, we were pretty confident. We wanted to win another one really bad. … I think we really had to work for it a lot more. Teams were out to get us this year. Even at OFSAA, everyone wanted to beat us.” Fellow point guard Jadyn Weltz said “I was a little bit nervous last year because I had to fill my sister’s shoes. The year before, she was on the team and in the final when O’Gorman hosted OFSAA. So, I felt I was in her shadow and had to live up to how well she played. I learned how to play through the pressure. … Any time you are able to say you won a championship at a provincial level, the feeling is just incredible.” Le Royal coach Linda Carriere told the Windsor Star that she was “very happy with our final performance. O’Gorman is a great basketball team. We fought them hard, brought it within four points and played our hearts out. We left everything we had on that floor. I’m really proud of my girls.” Ashanti Christian led Le Royal with 17. Jamilah Christian added 9 and Olivia Scott 7.
The bronze medalist Sudbury Ecole Secondaire Macdonald-Cartier Pantheres: Ariane Saumure; Kaitlyn Winn; Arielle Douillette; Clara Yanchuk; Callie Moore; Dayna Fairwell; Lexine Moyle; Mila Coco; Cloé Douillette; Dayna Fairwell; coach Sebastien Gervais; assistant Ron Poulin
The silver medalist Windsor Ecole Secondaire Catholique E.J. Lajeunesse Lions: Jamilah Christian; Kennedy Costello; Ashanti Christian; Megan Gahima; Michaela Marenchin; Tatyanna Wilson-Karikera; Olivia Scott; Gabby Haifa; Mon’et Jaichon; Jaida St. Denis; Hiba Bazzi; Alaysia-Jade Parungao Pancito; coach Linda Carrière; assistant Raquel Burke; assistant Kaylynn Laforet
The gold medalist Timmins O’Gorman Knights: Ally Burke; Brianna Dodd; Ava Fregonese; Jenna Katic; Gracie Barbuto; Mallory Turcotte; Jadyn Weltz; Abby Couture; Emily Ashamock; Tia Nadeau-Saumur-Nelson; coach Marcy McCarty; assistant Cathy Beard; assistant Edward Weltz; manager Ella McCarty