Today, the D10 league tips off with a full slate of 4 games involving the 8 teams competing for the D10 title (as well as 4 potential CWOSSA berths among 3 divisions).
What to expect this year? Perhaps a bit more parity, for one thing. The Bishop Macdonell Celtics have long been the queens of the D10 senior girls hoop circuit, having reeled off an astounding 46 consecutive league and playoff victories between 2008 and 2010. They dropped two games last year --- a regular season tilt to JF Ross and then a playoff semifinal loss to GCVI in a 1-point squeaker.
The early indications are that last year's playoff champs, the Centre Wellington Falcons may be the early favourites to repeat their D10 title. Led by outstanding guard Erica McFadden and with forward Jaime Janssen returning from injury, the Falcons should be able to make a deep playoff push and will likely at least snag one of the two "AAAA" CWOSSA berths.
The aforementioned Celtics do lose 3 key starters ---- Logan Lane, Alison Morris and Janine DeLeon ---- but they do return forward Andrea Priamo and guard/forward Rebecca Keil, who can both put the ball in the basket with regularity. The Celts will be aiming for not only another D10 title, but their 8th (yes, 8th!) straight CWOSSA "AA" title.
The Lourdes Crusaders, the other "AA" team challenging Bishop Mac for that CWOSSA berth, should be improved over their 7-7 mark a year ago, though they do lose all-star guard Kiera Bunnaman to graduation. Still, they return the bulk of their scoring offense, including guard Hannah Pearsall, and are definitely going to be fighting for a home playoff game --- especially with a ton of talent coming up from the junior ranks.
The Guelph CVI Gaels, Centennial Spartans, JF Ross Royals and St. James Lions all have key returnees as well that should enable them to be competitive with the rest of the D10 league. Sierra McLaren (GCVI), Erica Zen (St. James), Charlotte Clarke (CCVI) and Sydney Resch (JFR) were all D10 all-stars a season ago.
Orangeville will again be in for a challenging season, especially after losing their D10 all-star Tori Quinn to a NCAA D1 lacrosse scholarship at Canisius College. The Bears are currently riding a 29-game D10 losing streak, with their last league victory coming on October 28th, 2008. Still, you have to admire the effort that the ODSS ladies put up on a game-by-game basis despite the long odds they face.
Here are today's games:
Centennial at JF Ross (4:00pm)
Pick: JFR
I'll go with the Royals and their homecourt advantage today over the Centennial Spartans. But it's usually a good game when these two Guelph rivals meet up.
Lourdes at Orangeville (5:15pm)
Pick: OLOL
The Lourdes Crusaders will get off to a 1-0 start at the expense of the ODSS Bears.
Centre Wellington at Bishop Mac (5:30pm)
Pick: CWDHS
Probably the "game of the week" by CWOSSA standards. I'll stick to my guns with what I wrote above about CW, although the Celts are always tough at home. Falcons by single-digits in a close one.
St. James at Guelph CVI (5:30pm)
Pick: GCVI
The Lions should be improved from a season ago, but the Gaels should be able to get by them today.
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