2011 15U GIRLS’ NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – DAY 1 RECAP

Game #1 – Nova Scotia 64 New Brunswick 43

Nova Scotia won handily over New Brunswick to open the 15U National Basketball Championships. Nova Scotia carried a 15 point lead into half and never looked back from there. They outscored New Brunswick in each of the 4 periods.

The Nothers/Home Run Sports player of the game was Jayla Verney who had 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals for Nova Scotia. Hannah Brown had a game high 12 rebounds for the winning side. New Brunswick’s scoring leader was Jennifer Mctague who collected 14 points.

Nova Scotia will look for consecutive wins when they face the host team from Manitoba on Monday at 8:15. New Brunswick will look for their first victory against Newfoundland on Tuesday at 9:00 am.

Game #2 – Newfoundland 62 Saskatchewan 48

Newfoundland’s 15U team opened their tournament pool play with a 62-48 victory over Saskatchewan.   Newfoundland went into half with a 20-15 lead which they extended to 7 points in the third. The game was never in doubt from there. Both teams are in Pool B which sees the top 2 teams moving into the medal round.

Leading Newfoundland with 18 points was Kelsey Moore, who was named the Nothers/Home Run Sports player of the game. The top rebounder for Newfoundland was Janet Lee, who collected 12 boards for the winning side.   The top scorer for Saskatchewan was Rebecca Burns with 12 points.  

Newfoundland will take on New Brunswick in their next match. Game time is 9:00 am on Tuesday. Saskatchewan will look for their first victory of the tournament when they take on Manitoba Tuesday at 1:30 pm.  

Game #3 – Ontario 68 Alberta 34

Team Ontario and Alberta took to the east court on Monday afternoon with Ontario coming out on top by a 68-34 score. Ontario went on a 24-10 run in the first period and never looked back. Ontario played some stingy defence to open the 2^nd half, only allowing Alberta to score 3 points in the 3^rd period.  

Kia Nurse of Ontario was the Nothers/Home Run Sports player of the game. Her game stats included 19 points and 5 steals for the victorious Ontario side. Chiso Ofundu of Saskatchewan collected 7 points and 14 rebounds in a losing cause.

Ontario continues its run to the medal round with a game versus British Columbia on Tuesday at 11:15 am. Alberta will look to get into the win column when they face Quebec on Tuesday afternoon. All tournament action is taking place at the Investors Group Athletic Centre on the University of Manitoba campus.  

Game #4 – Quebec 74 British Columbia 70

 

Quebec and British Columbia’s 15U teams added to a day filled with close games. Although they were outscored 20-13 in the fourth period, Quebec snuck out a 74-70 victory. Quebec scored 31 points in the second period alone, which turned out to be too much for BC to battle back from.    

 

Lauren Yearwood was named the Nothers/Home Run Sports player of the game. Lauren had game highs with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals in a losing cause. Team Quebec was led by Erika Steeve’s 12 points and 9 rebounds.

 

Quebec hopes to keep their winning ways when they face Alberta on Tuesday afternoon. BC’s next game is also on Tuesday, where they face-off against a tough Ontario side.    

 

Game #5 – Nova Scotia 71 Manitoba 47

 

Nova Scotia won its second consecutive game with a 71-47 victory over the host squad. Nova Scotia gathered a 13 point lead in the first period, extended that to 16 at half, and rolled with that to the end.      

 

Nova Scotia’s Holly Scott was named the Nothers/Home Run Sports player of the game. Holly had a game high 19 points to go with 5 rebounds for the winning Nova Scotia side. Montana Kinzel of Manitoba had a team high 8 points.  

 

Nova Scotia will look for their third straight victory when they face Saskatchewan on Wednesday morning. Manitoba’s second game will be against Saskatchewan on Tuesday afternoon.      

 

2011 17U GIRLS’ NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – DAY 1 RECAP

 

Game #1 – Nova Scotia 81 Manitoba 75 [OT]

Nova Scotia defeated Manitoba 81-75 in overtime to start the 2011 17U National Championships. In front of a raucous crowd at the University of Manitoba in the opening game of the 2011 17U National Championships, the home town Team Manitoba came out firing, scoring the first eight points of the game.

However, Nova Scotia did not let the lead climb to more than eight, as they stayed within striking distance throughout the first half, trailing 39-33 at half. Kerri Kuzbyt paced Manitoba on offense, as she continually came up with key scoring plays to keep Manitoba ahead.

To start the second half, Manitoba drew on the momentum of the crowd and Megan Noonan’s fourth three-pointer of the game to take a nine point lead. After that, Nova Scotia began to chip away led by Ainsley McIntyre and a three-point play by Mendeira Smith. With a minute left in the third quarter, Alison Keough gave Nova Scotia its first lead of the game with a bucket under the basket.

After an intense fourth quarter that saw Keough foul out, the game went to overtime, thanks to a two point shot by Taylor Thorkelsson, who led the Manitoba charge while Emily Potter was relegated to the bench with foul trouble.

Nova Scotia outscored Manitoba 10-4 in overtime to secure the victory thanks to The Nothers/Home Run Sports player of the game was Nova Scotia’s Candace Smith who collected 19 points and 3 rebounds in the victory. Candace went 3 for 5 from behind the arc.

Manitoba’s leading scorer was Lauren Anderson who had a game high 25 points. Potter had a game-high 16 rebounds for Manitoba.

 

Nova Scotia will look to continue their winning ways when they take on team Quebec on the east court on Tuesday, August 2nd, at 1:30 pm. Manitoba will complete their pool play when they take on Quebec Monday at 6:00 pm.

 

Game #2 – Newfoundland 78 New Brunswick 74

 

Newfoundland found the win column by edging New Brunswick 78-74 in 17U action. Newfoundland found themselves up by 15 after 3 periods but New Brunswick clawed back into the game in the fourth but it was too little too late for the maritime province.        

 

The Nothers/Home Run Sports player of the game was Hannah Jardine of Newfoundland who had an impressive 33 points to go along with 18 rebounds and 5 assists. Emily Hazlett had a team high 15 points and 13 rebounds for New Brunswick.

 

Newfoundland’s next game will be against team British Columbia. They face each other on centre court on Monday at 8:15 pm. New Brunswick will look for their first victory against British Columbia at 3:45 pm on Tuesday.

 

Game #3 – Ontario 103 Prince Edward Island 36

 

Ontario opened with an easy 103-36 victory over team Prince Edward Island. It was the first game of the tournament for both teams. Ontario outscored PEI 39-13 in the first period and stayed in control the remainder of the game. Ontario held PEI to only 13 points in the last 20 minutes of the game.

 

The Nothers/Home Run Sports player of the game was Danielle Boiago from Ontario. Danielle had a perfect shooting night going 7-7 from the floor, including 2-2 from behind the 3 point line. She finished with 16 points and added 4 assists. PEI’s leading scorer was Jane McLaughlin who finished with 9 points.

 

Ontario’s next competition will be the winner of the Alberta and Saskatchewan game, while PEI will face the loser of that game. Those games will take place on Tuesday morning at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.  

 

Game #4 – Alberta 66 Saskatchewan 64

 

Alberta staged a late 4^th period comeback on team Saskatchewan to come out on top 66-64. With the game tied at 34 at half, Saskatchewan opened up a 11 point lead by outscoring Alberta 22-11 in the 3^rd period. Alberta would not go away and outscored Saskatchewan 21-8 in the final frame to snatch the victory away.

 

Renee Byrne of Alberta had a team high 14 points, including a clutch 3-pointer in the dying minutes, to be named the Nothers/Home Run Sports player of the game. Saskatchewan’s Quinn Dornstauder had a game high 16 points.

 

Alberta will now take on team Ontario, while Saskatchewan battles with Prince Edward Island. Both of those games take place Tuesday morning.

 

Game #5 – Nova Scotia 71 Manitoba 47

 

Nova Scotia won its second consecutive game with a 71-47 victory over the host squad. Nova Scotia gathered a 13 point lead in the first period, extended that to 16 at half, and rolled with that to the end.      

 

Nova Scotia’s Holly Scott was named the Nothers/Home Run Sports player of the game. Holly had a game high 19 points to go with 5 rebounds for the winning Nova Scotia side. Montana Kinzel of Manitoba had a team high 8 points.  

 

Nova Scotia will look for their third straight victory when they face Saskatchewan on Wednesday morning. Manitoba’s second game will be against Saskatchewan on Tuesday afternoon.      

 

Game #6 – British Columbia 82 Newfoundland 48

 

British Columbia defeated Newfoundland 82-48 to wrap up centre court action on day 1. British Columbia led from beginning to end in the lop-sided affair. Newfoundland could only put up 14 points in the first half and found themselves battling uphill the rest of the game.    

 

Hannah Jardine of Newfoundland was the Nothers/Home Run Sports player of the game for her 16 point, 10 rebound effort. Alisha Roberts led BC with 16 points.

 

British Columbia moves on to face New Brunswick on Tuesday. They can secure 1^st place in Pool A with a victory. Newfoundland will wait for the BC and New Brunswick result to see who they will face next.