In the final, the Whitehorse Porter Creek Rams defeated the Whitehorse F.H. Collins Warriors 82-74. The score was knotted at 20 when the Rams called a timeout and responded with a 6-0 run. Leading 26-23, the Rams put the squeeze on the Warriors with a 9-0 run, with Krista Mooney hitting a bucket and two free throws, Jenna Blanchette notched an and-one and Shannon Thompson scoring in transition. While Dahria Beatty forced several turnovers for the Warriors, the Rams passing game proved the difference as they built a 37-28 lead at the half and 64-49 after three quarters. The Warriors rallied within five but Krista Mooney hit a series of critical buckets to ensure the Rams win. Rams coach Trevor Hale told the Yukon News “I’ve never had a heart attack, but I could kind of sense that’s what it would feel like.” Hale added that Jenna Blanchet was also exceptional, at one point scoring four consecutive buckets. Amanda Keleher was chosen player of the game for the Rams. Hale said Mooney used her height to great advantage and the teams’ defence was “sensational. We knew that we could bring that defence in and stall their game. … We played our trap that we hadn’t used against them all year and we got some good turnover off of that. This team attacks well when they’re on defence and sets up momentum for offence.” Shannon Thompson said toughness proved the difference. “We just got the confidence. We were always down – we thought FH could beat us – but we got confident and we brought it. We wanted it really bad – all our seniors were really pumped. We got our player, Krista Mooney back – she had back surgery – and she brought a lot of energy back to the team.” Krista Mooney led the Rams with 19. Shannon Thompson added 17, Jenna Blanchette 17 and Amanda Keleher 15. Dahria Beatty led the Warriors with 22. Nesha Wright added 20 and Angela Burke 11. Warriors coach Ann Jirousek said her squad was hurt by foul trouble. “Angela Burke fouled out in the third quarter – that really hurt because not only is she strong on defence, she’s a physical threat all the time. And Dahria (Beatty) had four fouls on her since the second quarter, so she had to play a little more timid than she usually does. But other players did step up.” Hale said “these girls changed their mindset, that they were going to beat FH. We went to the Winter Tournament in Delta Junction in Alaska and we played three great teams and played great basketball. They decided that they were going to play the way they did in Alaska. That was the tournament they finally realized that they could believe in themselves.” Thompson said “tonight was like yesterday’s game; the first half was neck-and-neck. We decided to calm it down, swing the ball and wait for right opportunity and play good ball. It was the first time we had a win against them when they had their full team there.” Hale said Keleher is “just consistent, night in and night out. She seems to play happy all the time and seems to just enjoy the game, and she’s solid defensively. She was our top player tonight.”
The bronze medalist Whitehorse Vanier Catholic Crusaders: Megan Schmidt; Sheena Greenlaw; Brooke Neilsen; Emily Ratcliff;
The silver medalist F.H. Collins Warriors: Angela Burke; Dahria Beatty; Savanna Leary; Helen Hedstrom; Rachel Tredger; Kendra Murray; Claire Beatty; Nesha Wright; coach Ann Jirousek
The champion Porter Creek Rams: Katie Lacey; Devon Hanson; Amanda Keleher, Krista Mooney; Jenna Blanchette; Shelby Hurlburt; Shannon Thompson; coach Trevor Hale