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(Posted
2:30 p.m., Nov. 9)
Cairine Wilson successfully defends as 'AA' hoops crown
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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 Members
of the Cairine Wilson Wildcats senior girls
basketball team pose with the championship
trophy after winning the NCSSAA 'AA' final
on Nov. 9. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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The
Cairine Wilson Wildcats will be moving on to the OFSAA 'AA'
provincial girls basketball championships after successfully
defending their NCSSAA title last week.
The
Lady Wildcats had compiled an 8-0 regular season record
heading into the playoffs that included a 52-46 win over
AAA champs Mother Teresa on Oct. 17.
The
Wildcats' opponents in the AA final were the Immaculate
Saints who had a mediocre 4-4 record during the regular
season, including a 44-33 loss to the Wildcats.
Despite
their respective regular season records, it was the Saints
who got out to a strong start in the final, jumping out
to a 10-3 first quarter lead. The Wildcats responded with
a 6-0 run to close out the quarter and narrow the deficit
to a single point.
After
giving up 10 points in the opening stanza, the Wildcats
tightened up on defence, limiting the Saints scoring opportunities
and creating a string of turnovers which resulted in a
13-2 run and a 22-14 lead by half-time.
Far
from being done, the Saints came out of the half-time
break determined to battle back into the game. And battle
they did. Led by Avery Walker, who scored a game high
17 points, including four three-point shots, the underdogs
outscored the Wildcats 17-8 in the third quarter to take
a 31-30 lead into the final stanza.
But
just as they did in the second quarter, the Wildcats re-focused
their efforts on defence in the final 10 minutes of the
game, shutting the Saints down and capitalizing on their
turnovers. Cairine Wilson retook the lead with a pair
back-to-back baskets by Hadeza Ismaila and Sylvie Strong
on the first two shots from the floor.
With
momentum on their side, the Wildcats extended their advantage
to seven points and never looked back. The closest the
Saints got was 38-35, but a pair of baskets by Ismaila,
including a three-point bucket, would nip the threat in
the bud and the Wildcats would cruise to a 43-37 win.
Ismaila
finished the game with a team high 15 points, while Navneet
Sandhu and Sylvie Strong added 12 and seven points respectively.
After
the game, Shoup contributed the win to his team's play
on defence.
"We've
been working really hard on our defence trying to get
all the team together and holding them to 30 points tonight
that's how we won tonight,� said Shoup.
The
team only lost three players to graduation last year,
which should put them in good stead heading into the provincial
championships which get underway later this week.
"We've
been there before. We won three of the five games we played
last year, so the girls know what to do,� said Shoup.
"If we limit the other teams to 35-37 points we'll do
fine, but if we give up 40-42 points, it's going to be
close.�
The
OFSAA �AA' championships are taking place in Huntsville
from Nov. 23-25.
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Standing
left to right: Murray Shoup, Kaylee Day, Aiesha Roy,
Thalia Guardado, Sylvie Strong, Abigail Lea, Ally
Blackadder, and Kayza Massey. Front row left to right:
Michelle Ayotte, Hadeza Ismaila, and Navneet Sandhu.
Fred Sherwin/Photo
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
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Commons Corner
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Queen's Park Corner
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