Brantford Expositor: Brawl Cuts Senior Girls Contest Short

By:  Ed O'Leary

Retrieved From:  http://www.brantfordexpositor.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2787321

A brawl involving players with the Pauline Johnson Collegiate Thunderbirds and Paris District High School Panthers caused a Brant County high school senior girls' basketball game to be stopped with 5:23 remaining in the fourth quarter at PJC on Tuesday night.

The T-Birds, leading 29-16 at the time, were awarded the victory.

Both teams went into the game with 0-3 records.

Head coaches, Neal Stamer of the T-Birds and Dani Hawkins of the Panthers, declined comment on the brawl because of possible disciplinary action against their players.

The brawl started after a Paris player committed a foul and was confronted by a PJC player. As referee Jim Zareski separated the players, another fight broke out at the Paris bench.

The game was called after the referees and the coaches restored order.

"I've never been involved in anything like that," said Zareski.

Stamer said his players are looking to improve their basketball skills with every game.

"It's nice to play a competitive game," he said. "It's unfortunate that we didn't get to finish it."

Chelsea Biggs, a six-foot centre, scored 15 points to lead the T-Birds offence.

Emma Perry scored nine points for the Panthers.

"The kids played tough defence but when they created turnovers they were careless with the ball," Hawkins said of the Panthers.

"It was a scrappy game. Both teams were playing hard and PJ capitalized on their opportunities and their height."

Paris defeated PJC 32-20 in the junior game.

Alexandra Forsyth, coming off her victory in girls singles at the Brant County junior tennis championships Monday, scored 14 points to lead the junior Panthers.

Faye Perry and Skylar Wright each scored eight points for the Panthers.

Natasha Irwin scored eight points for PJC. Madeline Dailey and Shelby Laughlin also played well for PJC.

Brantford Collegiate Institute swept a doubleheader from North Park Collegiate at BCI.

The senior Mustangs defeated the Trojans 43-38 and the junior Colts edged North Park 33-30.

Tory Candy scored 14 points for the Mustangs, who led 20-14 at the half after overcoming an early 9-2 deficit. Claudia DiFrancesco got 12 points, Spencer Candy 11 and Jacqueline Jamula hit two three-pointers for six points.

Jenny Howell and Haley Welsh scored 12 points each for the Trojans. Reo Roland scored eight points and Cassie Fletcher chipped in six. Lexi Lancaster scored 19 points to lead the junior Colts. Cara Humeniuk netted eight points. Abbey Johnson scored 10 points for the junior Trojans and Abbey Sales added six points.

St. John's College Green Eagles swept a doubleheader from the Assumption College Lions at Assumption.

The senior Eagles scored a 75-35 victory and the junior Eagles edged Assumption 31-29. Kelly Van Leeuwen, Arielle Mendoza, Rachel Cleary and Caroline Rebry starred for the senior Eagles. Rebekah Couperus, Kaitlyn Waud and Abby Heron were outstanding for the senior Lions.

Lauren Dubois netted 10 points for the junior Eagles and Bridge Monkman got seven points. Sara Harris scored 13 points for the junior Lions and Alexandra Van Dyk netted eight.