In the opening round: …………………………………………………… The top-seeded Melfort Comets, 2nd-seeded Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers, 3rd-seeded Estevan Elecs and 4th-seeded Moose Jaw Central Cyclones all received byes. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded North Battleford John Paul II Crusaders clipped the 12th-seeded Martensville Royals 54-44. …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded Warman Wolverines edged the 9th-seeded Moose Jaw Vanier Spirits 48-47. The Spirits included Annah McDonald, Mackenzie Miller, Trinity Roberts, Kaili Flanagan. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Humboldt Mohawks clipped the 10th-seeded Meadow Lake Carpenter Spartans 59-47. The Spartans (coached by Carla Waterman) included Jenelle Vargassy, Rachelle Kienle, Amaris Burghardt. …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Melville Cobras dispatched the 11th-seeded Balgonie Greenall Griffins 60-44. The Cobras led 44-37 after three quarters.
In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Melfort Comets blasted the 8th-seeded Warman Wolverines 85-37.
The 4th-seeded Moose Jaw Central Cyclones crushed the 5th-seeded North Battleford John Paul II Crusaders 78-19. The Crusaders included Sarah Morrison, Abby Closen, Courtney Johnson, Lori Colvin, Hannah Abraham, Kaitlin Tarasoff, Ali Lesmeister, Anya Illingworth, Kaitlyn Yockey, Jaylyn Schulkowsky, Prisca Mbwebwe, Lauren Brandle and Guiel Salunga.
The 2nd-seeded Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers torched the 7th-seeded Humboldt Mohawks 76-38. The Mohawks included Cara Welder, Maya Berscheid.
In the last quarterfinal, the 3rd-seeded Estevan Elecs whipped the 6th-seeded Melville Cobras 88-42. The Cobras (coached by Dan Alspach) included x.
In the semis, held in Prince Albert, the top-seeded Melfort Comets clubbed the 4th-seeded Moose Jaw Central Cyclones 63-45 after leading 29-10, 46-17 and 61-25 at the quarters. Rachel Linnell led the Comets with 17. Alexa Hangs-Copeland added 13. Alexa Watterson led the Cyclones with 15.
In the other semi, the 3rd-seeded Estevan Elecs edged the 2nd-seeded Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers 65-61. The score was knotted at 28 at the half. Katherine McDougall led the Toilers with 13.
In the bronze medal match, the 2nd-seeded Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers rolled the 4th-seeded Moose Jaw Central Cyclones 90-43 after leading 40-22 at the half. Anna Maelde led the Toilers with 29. Alexa Watterson paced the Cyclones with 10. The Cyclones (coached by Tianna Adams and Bryan Adams) also included Kirstie Johnstone, Katie Coulson, Emily Blackmore, Alexa Watterson, Nylah Seaborn, Ashlyn Jesse.
In the final, the top-seeded Melfort Comets defeated the 3rd-seeded Estevan Elecs 60-56 to capture their second consecutive provincial crown. “Two years in a row is pretty special. It was pretty exciting and I think we were more excited about this win because the game was tight. They had to work hard to come back and it was an exciting finish,” Comets coach Kelly Linnell told the Melfort Journal. The Comets led 32-27 at the half and 48-43 after three quarters but trailed by five with two minutes to play. Mackenzie Johnson hit a pair of free throws to trim the margin. Alexa Hangs-Copeland hit a baseline jumper and then notched a trey to give the Comets a two-point lead. She iced the win with a pair of free throws. “We got that rebound on the reverse and I was wide open and I shot it and I wasn’t thinking and it went in,” Hangs-Copeland told Prince Albert Now. “There were some scary moments but we worked so hard and it feels so good.” Linnell said she told her troops to maintain their composure after the Elecs took a late lead. “I just kept saying, ‘it is okay, girls, it is going to go in. We missed so many easy shots in the first half and even in the third quarter, we had a little lull and the ball wasn’t going in. … We tried to tell the girls not to take it for granted, realizing this doesn’t happen every year. Getting to Hoopla is a big accomplishment and winning it two years in a row is huge. There were no guarantees. You don’t know who is going to show up and play in that final game.” Rachel Linnell said “tonight, we wanted it and we got it. We knew we could only control the things we could control so that is what we tried to focus on no matter what the other team did. … We knew we just had to play our game and that meant hard defence and getting the rebounds and pushing the ball up the floor.” Kelly Linnell told the Melfort Journal that “we have a lot of weapons and they work hard as a team. If somebody is hot, they are going to give them the ball. They all have their role to play and that is what we try to focus on, what is your job.” Linnell added. “I am just really proud of the work ethic and win or lose it was a fantastic season.” Alexa Hangs-Copeland paced the Comets with 19. Rachel Linnell added 13 and Jenna Fedusiak added 12. Tatiana Dutka led the Elecs with 24.
The bronze medalist Moose Jaw A.E. Peacock Toilers: Katherine McDougall; Anna Maelde; E Mackenzie; Kennedy Ward; Piper Ingalls; Megan MacDonald; Abby Busch; Alexia Aikman; coach Craig McDougall
The silver medalist Estevan Elecs: Morgan Fichter; Tatiana Dutka, Taylor Haux; Sammy Wade; Khrystal Montebon; Haylee Jones; Ruth Pecson; Sarah Dacuycuy; Bethany Montebon; Jennica Memory; Meghan Wright; Shanelle Rioux; coach Jessie Smoliak; assistant Ashleigh Dzuba; manager Stacy Dutka; manager Reese Handley
The gold medalist Melfort Comets: Alexa Hangs-Copeland; Rachel Linnell; Hannah Linnell; Morgan Dmytrow; Kayla Kish; Jenna Fedusiak; Mackenzie Johnson; Avery South; Nicole Fedorychka; Laurin Riley; Paige Rolland; Tricia Dimapilis; coach Kelly Linnell