In the semi, the Whitehorse Vanier Catholic Crusaders defeated the Porter Creek Rams 38-34. “It was a tough game all around,” said Crusaders coach Ed Frison. “It was a rough-and-tumble kind of game. It was back and forth and at the end of the game we were the ones that managed to be up.”
In the final, the F.H. Collins Warriors defeated the Whitehorse Vanier Catholic Secondary Crusaders 67-35 to cap an undefeated Yukon season. The Warriors opened with a 22-6 run and never trailed. “I think we played well,” Warrior Nicole Bendera told the Yukon News. “We work well together. We’ve been together for a while. We played volleyball together so we all know each other. I think it helps that we’re all really good friends.” The Warriors led 22-6 after one quarter as Bendera drained back to back treys and the squad dominated the boards. Markie May Bailie led the Warriors with 19. Bendera added 17 and Jennifer Curtis 15. Warriors coach Ann Jirousek, who planned to take a sabbatical after the season, said “it was really fun. It was a good team. We work really well together – it’s a team, it’s not just one player.” Nesha Wright said “we had a really good coach – that helps. She knows her stuff.” Wright really pulled the team together, said Bendera. “I don’t think we could have done it without her. We could have played well, it just wouldn’t have been the same. She can drive, she can shoot, pass. She keeps us all together. She’s the only who talks.” Crusaders captain Robin Fortune led her team with 14 points. Sabrina Clarke added 8 and Antonia Lafferty 6. Crusaders coach Ed Frison said “it was disappointing, but that’s OK, that’s a tough team. They have some great offensive players on there.”
The bronze medalist Porter Creek Rams: Amanda Mervyn; Megan Lanigan; Hannah Milner;
The silver medalist Whitehorse Vanier Catholic Secondary Crusaders: Robyn Fortune; Vierle Viernes; Hannah Frison; Sabrina Clarke; Antonia Lafferty; coach Ed Frison
The gold medalist F.H. Collins Warriors: Jennifer Curtis; Nesha Wright; Nicole Bendera; Hana Val; Markie May Baillie; coach Ann Jirousek