Junior - "AAAA"
As is the norm in the CWOSSA "AAAA" tournaments of recent memory, this year's event will again be a six-team, two-pool event.
In the junior division, Pool A features WCI (WCSSAA #1), Resurrection (D8 #1) and Centre Wellington (D5 #1); Pool B has Grand River (WCSSAA #2), Centennial (D10 #1), and St. John's (D5 #1).
To be honest, the junior event appears to be fairly wide-open. No team has proved to be "unbeatable" to this point in the season.
In Pool A, the WCI Vikings would appear to be the favourites, led by Kaylee Anagnostopoulos. Although Anagnostopoulos accounts for the bulk of the WCI offense, the Vikes will need contributions from their other starters throughout the tournament in order to walk away with the title.
The same can be said for the Resurrection Phoenix, who have arguably the best scorer in the tournament (Sarah Schultz). The Phoenix will be working off some rust after not having played a game since last Friday's D8 championship final.
Chloe Trapp, Kristen Gora and Madison Fennell are the three key players for the Centre Wellington Falcons, who finished at 8-6 in the competitive D10 league. Don't be surprised to see CW pull out a win and a potential semifinal spot.
Over in the B pool, the St. John's Green Eagles (last year's champs) appear to be the favourites. Led by Megan Thompson, the Eagles will be playing in the friendly confines of their hometown --- but they aren't as dominant as last year's squad that won each CWOSSA game by double digits.
The Grand River Renegades and Centennial Spartans were both "middle of the pack" teams in their respective leagues, but one of them will be a CWOSSA semifinalist. The Spartans, in fact, had a losing record in D10 play but have come on at the end of the season --- pulling out a road win over CWDHS in the first round of the playoffs. Look for the winner of the CCVI/GRCI game to take 2nd spot in the pool.
Mark's Predictions
Pool Play:
Pool A: WCI 2-0, Resurrection 1-1, CWDHS 0-2
Pool B: St. John's 2-0, Grand River 1-1, Centennial 0-2
Semifinals:
St. John's over Resurrection
WCI over Grand River
Final: St. John's over WCI
Senior "AAAA"
This may honestly be one of the most competitive fields assembled in CWOSSA "AAAA" in some time.
In Pool A, the St. Mary's Eagles (D8 #1), WCI Vikings (WCSSAA #1) and JF Ross Royals (D10 #2) will fight it out for the two semifinal spots.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, who many had projected as a CWOSSA semifinalist all-season, they will be in tough after losing starting guard Laura Boterman to a stress fracture in the D8 finals. Without her, added pressure will be on Kaitlyn Schenck and the rest of the Eagles to get through to the semifinals.
The WCI Vikings are clear favourites in "A", and should win both of their pool games. The winner of the JF Ross-St. Mary's game will likely take 2nd place in the pool. Both are similar squads, heavily reliant on their guard play (Julia Robertson, Sydney Resch are the key players to watch for the Royals).
The "B" pool is really interesting, in my opinion. There's some great individual talent on each squad --- Katie Polischuk (St. John's), Michelle Hudyn (Eastwood), Erica McFadden/Jaime Janssen (CWDHS). I wouldn't be surprised to see any of the three teams emerge victorious from the "pool of death". Finishing first in this pool is of extreme importance, as teams will want to avoid WCI in the crossover semifinal game.
Mark's Predictions
Pool Play:
Pool A: WCI 2-0, JF Ross 1-1, St. Mary's 0-2
Pool B: Centre Wellington 2-0, St. John's 1-1, Eastwood 0-2
Semifinals:
Centre Wellington over JF Ross
WCI over St. John's
WCI over Centre Wellington
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