In the Regina quarterfinals: …………………………………………………… The Dr. Martin LeBoldus Golden Suns stomped the Sheldon Williams Spartans 85-39. The Spartans (coached by Lance Fird, assisted by Karen Thull and Anna Hipperson) included Kaylee Delorme, Amy Spelliscy, Brooke Cooper, Amelia Guy, Goliah Cazon, Shalynn Boye, Lauren Clarke, Hannah Kolodniski, Haley Miller, Hannah Shalley, Caeley Put, Alyssa Bird-Dieter and Brittany Dorland. …………………………………………………… The Balfour Redmen whipped the Winston Knoll Wolverines 73-55. The Wolverines (coached by Jeremy Gaboury, assisted by Bree Burgess and Caitlin Brock) included Madison Kowalchuk, Erin Sthamann, Sarah Eckert, Tasha Fiacco, Ellen Bearss, Jade Appelquist, Mackenzie Williams, Rachel Anderson, Sydney Climenhaga, Erika Desrosiers and Saedi Soubolsky. …………………………………………………… Riffel annihilated the Thom Trojans 94-24. …………………………………………………… In the last quarterfinal, Campbell dusted the Archbishop M.C. O’Neill Titans 74-43. The Titans (coached by Jeff Lukomski) included Tiaunna Ross. …………………………………………………… In the semis, LeBoldus clocked Balfour 71-48. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, Riffel dispatched Campbell 75-65. …………………………………………………… In the bronze medal match, Campbell defeated Balfour 59-50. The Tartans (coached by Claire Dore, assisted by Trish Jattansingh and Andrew Dean) included Tia Sojonky, Gillian Le Dressay, Cydney Beveridge, Shinelle Handziuk, Christina McCusker, Kelsey Schmidt, Mckenzie Lowes, Sarah Nieblas, Caleigh Ritson and Dana Liebe. The Redmen (coached by Karin Wilde, assisted by Randle Gibson, Lara Ludwig and Erica Schmidt) included Janessa Fox, Lexis Watson, Kylee Howard, Hannah MacMurchy, Jennifer Tonita, Lindsay Patton, Ashley Frass, Rebecca Klenk and Aquinnah Foster. …………………………………………………… In the final, LeBoldus stomped Riffel 65-42. “This is our last chance to” win provincials, Sara Hubenig said after scoring 19. “The same thing has happened to us for the past two years – we’ll win the city championship but we lose at provincials. We want to change that this year.” Royals guard Caitlyn Zacharias, who scored 22, said “it hurts right now to lose this game, but we know we have more basketball left to play and that’s a good thing. Hopefully we get to see (LeBoldus) again and get another shot at them. We’re just happy this isn’t the end of the season.” Quinn Dornstauder led LeBoldus with 27 points.
In the Saskatoon regional quarterfinals: …………………………………………………… The Holy Cross Crusaders whipped the Tommy Douglas Tigers 79-23. The Tigers included Rachell Moyen, Jordi Finlayson, Paige Bent, Tiffany Stewart, Tessa Olson, Nyahok Hoth, Britney Kristiansen, Madison Parenteau, Kim Dice, Alyssa Stonechild, Ashlyn Rupps, Mackenzie Sansom, Megan Hannah and Brooke Moir. …………………………………………………… The St. Joseph Guardians dispatched Bishop James Mahoney Saints 52-36. The Saints included Paula Barrack, Alex Kowaluk, Madison Pylypow, Louise Retobis, Jennifer Clark, Briana Shockey, Kennedy Schlosser, Mackenzie Timmerman, Ashley Sampson, Jocelyn Carter, Thea Shockey, Kelsey Carter and Brittlyn Winteringham. …………………………………………………… The Evan Hardy Souls clubbed the Centennial Collegiate Chargers 79-51. The Chargers included Kim Buell, Kessa Gerein, Jennifer Syme, Brooklyn Pizzey, Sophie Mayerle, Reanna Berryere, Devyn Manderscheid, Megan Keen, Kylie Phillips, Anna Fedoriv, Haley Barr and Cassi Sies. …………………………………………………… In the last quarterfinal, the Aden Bowman Bears defeated the Walter Murray Marauders 48-40. The Marauders included Kenzie Ginther, Alex Parsley, Ayden Dewar, Eve Keller, Kassidy Konkin, Madison Hawkes, Reed Thorstad, Jenna Olson, Katherine Federoff, Aiden Morgan, Kaela Edmison and Haley Rodman. …………………………………………………… In the semis, the Holy Cross Crusaders stuffed the St. Joseph Guardians 78-36. …………………………………………………… In the other semi, the Evan Hardy Souls edged the Aden Bowman Bears 59-54. …………………………………………………… In the bronze medal match, the Aden Bowman Bears defeated the St. Joseph Guardians 64-57. Maddy Humbert paced the Bears with 27. Sascha Lichtenwald led the Guardians with 35. …………………………………………………… In the final, the Holy Cross Crusaders crushed the Evan Hardy Souls 76-58 to capture their fourth consecutive city crown. The Crusaders became the third school to win four girls’ city titles in a row, joining Aden Bowman (2004-07, 1987-91) and Bedford Road (1973-77, 1967-70, and 1956-59). The Souls dominated the first half with their defence and ran off a 22-8 run to lead 30-25 late in the second quarter. But Crusader Megan Lindquist took command. “In the second half when it was really close, I said, ‘We’re not losing this’,” Lindquist said. “I knew I had to take some of the load on my back and that’s just what I had to do is go off.” Lindquist scored 18 of her 26 points in the third quarter. They opened the second half with a 15-0 run and never looked back. “We were just out of sync (in the first half),” Lindquist said. “Our defence just wasn’t up where it normally is. Our defence is what powers our team, so when our defence is a little off, that’s how it affects our offence.” Sarah Keene added 17 for the Crusaders. The win was the Crusaders’ 82nd straight.
When a snowstorm prevented the Regina teams from travelling, it was decided on Mar. 21 that the Saskatoon teams would play what essentially were provincial quarterfinals, to determine the two teams that would represent the city in the provincial semis. Officials announced that if the Regina teams were unable to travel to play on the Friday, the provincial final would feature the two Saskatoon teams. Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association executive director Kevin Vollet said no serious thought given to postponing the event one week. “People have other plans next weekend, and if it wasn’t Easter, we still wouldn’t have postponed it. People have lots on the go, and there’s too many things to get re-arranged. That’s our policy in SHSAA – the provincial championships happen on the scheduled weekend. Any teams that can’t make it are foregoing their final tournament of the year, and whoever can get there will play in a celebration of school sports. We’re in the process of building citizens, and they’re learning lessons all throughout the year in many of their activities. It’s disappointing that the provincial championship may not get played for a team, but they’ve had a good year playing basketball up to that point. We feel for the players. It’s unfortunate. These kids are learning that life has some curves. They’re going to face a lot more in their life, but we hope to use this as an educational moment. At the time, though, it’s obviously disappointing that they wouldn’t get to come up and play in the championship to end their year off. There’s always lots of variables in school sport, and weather seems to be the flavour of the year.”
In those quarterfinals, the Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders clubbed the Saskatoon St. Joseph Guardians 79-39 after leading 31-23 at the half. Amanda Hunseth paced the Crusaders with 13. Megan Lindquist added 11. Sascha Lichtenwald and Sierra Bronkhorst each scored 7 to pace the Guardians. The Guardians also included McKinley Hackl, Brooklyn Hackl, Nicole Sheetka, Taylor Pocha, Jazlyn Perehudoff, Brodie Hnatiuk, Shaylee Randell, Alexis Reid, Angie Bofoya, Rebecca Page, Emma Rae Dale and Maria Olenick.
In the other quarterfinal, the Saskatoon Evan Hardy Souls edged the Saskatoon Aden Bowman Bears 52-46 after leading 26-25 at the half. Leesa Eggum paced the Souls with 21. Vera Crooks added 13. Maddy Humbert led the Bears with 21. Kayla Blomquist added 8. The Bears also included Mary Catherine McQueen, Kendall Krawchuk, Katie Farmer, Macy Morrison, Devon Borrowman, Amanda Bahnmann, Elizabeth McQueen, Hanna Hovland, Hope Fast and Beau Yausie.
In the semis, the Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders dusted the Regina Riffel Royals 66-52. The Royals led 37-32 at the half. Megan Lindquist paced the Crusaders with 15. Rachel Hundseth and Sarah Keene each added 14. Caitlin Zacharias led the Royals with 25. Rebecca Burns added 21.
In the other semi, the Regina Dr. Martin LeBoldus Golden Suns stomped the Saskatoon Evan Hardy Souls 76-47 after leading 40-28 at the half. Quinn Dornstauder paced the Golden Suns with 27. Sara Hubenig added 22. Leesa Eggum led the Souls with 18. Lauren Earl added 13.
In the bronze medal match, the Saskatoon Evan Hardy Souls defeated the Regina Riffel Royals 58-50. Leesa Eggum paced the Souls with 19. Caitlin Zacharias led the Royals with 18. The Royals (coached by Cymone Bernauer) also included Amber Pellerin, Kathryn Nelson; Asyalee Dakis; Janae Rapley; Christina Gianoli; Ali Grywul; Samantha Forst; Lauren Ewen; Natasha Knobel; Cilene Schubert-Sebastien; Mauela Nagel and Rebecca Burns.
In the final, the Regina Dr. Martin LeBoldus Golden Suns defeated the Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders 78-70. The Golden Suns snapped the Crusaders 84-game winning streak and avenged losses the past two provincial finals. “We have gone toe to toe for three years and several contests,” said Crusaders’ coach Scott Hundseth. “They just got too big of a lead. Our girls chipped into that. The balls just didn’t fall and we turned the ball over a little bit too much down the stretch, but our girls fought back.” Trailing by five after one quarter, the Crusaders promptly relinquished a 10-0 run. The Golden Suns slowed the game to a crawl and led 48-28 at the half. “A huge part of our game plan was to come out and jump on them early,” said LeBoldus coach Becky Schmidt. “The girls followed the game plan down to a T.” Quinn Dornstauder dominated the boards and blocked several shots. The Crusaders rallied no closer than 8 down the stretch. “It’s really exciting to finally get them in the provincial finals,” Dornstauder told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. “It has been a long time coming for us and we worked really hard and I’m so proud of everyone, because I think we did awesome this year. We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. I think all of us have had this (date) written down in our calendars since the season started.” Schmidt said “Holy Cross is a team that you have to respect and admire. Those girls work hard, they are so well coached, and whenever you go up against them you know it’s going to be a good game, and you know it’s going to be one that comes down to the bitter end. That’s exactly what happened. You can’t take anything away from the way they played. We’re going to take the victory against whoever we play, and we’re going to enjoy it this year and hopefully we’ll be back next year.”
Dornstauder led LeBoldus with 25. Megan Lindquist led Holy Cross with 22.
The bronze medalist Saskatoon Evan Hardy Souls: Taylor Ungar, Leesa Eggum, Whitney Aadland, Emily Stoneham, Vera Crooks, Kelsey Liebrecht, Kendra Sepke, Lauren Earl, Taylor Earl, Natasha Layton; Brenna McIntyre; Bridget Morrison; coach Patrick Green; assistant Jasmine Jay; assistant Dave Earl; manager Tobi Tamblyn
The silver medalist Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders: Rosheil Bagsic, Alex Eyolfson, Lauren Hundseth, Rachel Sherven, Amanda Hundseth, Megan Lindquist, Blake Geier, Rachel Hundseth, Sarah Keene, Hayley Unrau, Rachel Jarrett, Alex Sherven, Maeve Douglas, Jamie Wingate; coach Scott Hundseth; assistant M. Keene; manager K Robertson; manager S Ferwerda
The gold medalist Regina Dr. Martin LeBoldus Golden Suns: Ashley Israel, Jocelyn Terhorst, Alex Taylor, Brianna Brierley, Julia Folk, Danae Suchan, Karley Romaniuk, Britton Belyk, Annessa Campbell, Sara Hubenig, Haley Mitchell, Zayn Dornstauder; Quinn Dornstauder; coach Becky Schmidt; assistant Kyle Ottenbreit