Ross jumps ahead in first quarter in quarter-final win
GUELPH – The first-quarter performance by the Ross Royals proved to be vital as they defeated the Bishop Macdonell Celtics 38-30 in District 10 high school senior girls’ basketball quarter-final playoff action Tuesday.
Ross grabbed a 10-point lead in the opening quarter as they led 14-4 heading into the second quarter. The Celtics cut the margin in half in that second quarter as it fell to five points (20-15) at halftime before the teams scored five points apiece in the third quarter.
Samrawit Testfit Ezra led Ross with 13 points while Sikar Tesfit Ezra and Sierra Curvan added nine apiece and Abby Blashuk had six.
Talya Kridli collected a game-high 16 points for Bishop Mac with eight coming in the fourth quarter. Sydney Richardson had eight.
Ross had finished the regular season fourth at 9-5 while Bishop Mac was fifth at 7-7.
During the regular season, Ross defeated Bishop Mac 49-24 at home Sept. 21 while the Celtics defeated the Royals 53-47 at Bishop Mac Oct. 17.
Lourdes 34 Guelph CVI 33
The sixth-place Lourdes Crusaders surprised the third-place GCVI Green Gaels as they defeated their closest rivals by a single point.
McKenna Codrington connected for 13 points for Lourdes while Ciara Hayne and Olivia Doucette netted eight apiece.
Jasmine Liban had 13 for GCVI and Molly Hannay followed with 11.
The Gaels had finished the regular season at 10-4 while the Crusaders were at 5-9.
During the regular season, GCVI defeated Lourdes 46-33 at GC Sept. 26 and 54-34 at Lourdes Oct. 19.
With the win the Crusaders become the first D10 senior team to secure a berth in a CWOSSA championship tournament this season as they grabbed a spot in the AA tournament at Galt CI in Cambridge Nov. 17 and 18.
That’s big as the championship-game combatants from that tournament will both advance to the OFSAA provincial tournament that is to be hosted by Guelph’s St. James Lions Nov. 23 to 25. With games in that tournament to be played at St. James, Lourdes and Bishop Mac, the Crusaders could get to play on their home court should they qualify for the provincial event. Lourdes is the defending CWOSSA AA champion and D10 teams have won that title 17 consecutive seasons.
Centennial 48 Centre Wellington 30
Second-place Centennial advanced with the win over seventh-place Centre Wellington.
Centennial’s leading scorers were not reported.
Natalie Abra had 15 points for Centre Wellington.
The Spartans had finished second at 11-3 while the Falcons were seventh at 1-13.
Centennial swept the regular-season games between the two, winning 55-18 at the Fergus school Sept. 21 and 53-33 in Guelph Oct. 17.
The Spartans, who are to host next week’s CWOSSA AAA tournament, are to host Ross in Thursday’s semifinals. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
Winner gets a berth to the D10 final Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre.
Orangeville 62 St. James 29
The first-place Bears ousted the eighth-place Lions with the victory in Orangeville.
Orangeville had three players reach double digits in scoring as Ayla Corrigale had a game-high 19 points, Emma Firth added 16 and Lilian Beattie netted 10.
Eva Wenger had 11 for St. James.
The Bears had finished first with a 12-2 record while St. James was eighth at 1-13.
Orangeville had also swept the regular-season games with the Lions, winning 69-22 at Orangeville Sept. 26 and 64-33 at St. James Oct. 19.
The Bears are to host Lourdes Thursday at 2 p.m. in the semifinals.
Winner advances to the D10 final Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre.
Junior Girls’ Basketball
Bishop Macdonell 76 Orangeville 33
Bishop Mac kept its unbeaten season in D10 play going with the quarter-final victory.
Maeve Bedard had 14 points for Bishop Mac while Vera Sewell added 10.
Walker had a game-high 19 for Orangeville while Rocha netted six.
Bishop Mac is to host Centennial at 3:15 p.m. Thursday in the semifinals. Winner gets a berth in the championship game set for 12 noon Saturday at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre.
Ross 65 Lourdes 21
Alex Blashuk struck for 23 points for Ross while Rachael Van Milligan contributed 16.
Jwokmeer Omot had 12 for Lourdes.
Ross is to host Centre Wellington Thursday at 4 p.m. in the semifinals with the winner advancing to the championship game Saturday at 12 noon at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre.
Centre Wellington 59 St. James 37
Sydney Sellers led Centre Wellington with 20 points while Maggie Long collected 17.
Gracin Jones had 19 for St. James.
Centennial 54 Guelph CVI 49
Camryn Stam led Centennial with 37 points.
Gwen Rankin had 17 for GCVI.
- Guelph Sports Journal