The Cameron Heights Golden Gaels' senior girls basketball team are on the verge of advancing to the CWOSSA "AAAA" playdowns after a dominating 53-30 quarterfinal win over the Bluevale Knights at Cameron this afternoon.
The Gaels, who were hosting their first quarterfinal game in some time, donned "green and gold" socks for the afternoon affair (i.e. one green, one gold). Cameron showed some jitters in the opening couple minutes of the game; however, after Bluevale scored the game's first basket the Gaels settled in and put the hammer down on defense, going on an 11-0 run over a three-minute span that saw the Knights utilize two timeouts to try to handle Cameron's pressure.
Cameron would maintain a near double-digit lead for most of the first half, and, despite guard Erin Robbins having headed to the bench at the 4:32 mark of the second quarter (3 fouls), the rest of the Gaels stepped up and maintained the advantage going into halftime (29-16).
The second half saw the Gaels continue to increase the margin, thanks to tremendous ball pressure from their forwards (Siki Jez, Camille Gardner and Liz McLellan) resulting in steals and transition baskets.
"The fact that we played real good defense was one of the main components that (helped us) keep up our lead," said Jez.
"The fact that we played real good defense was one of the main components that (helped us) keep up our lead," said Jez.
The Knights got as close as 14 points after Donna Cloes hit a "three" with about 4:30 left in the game; "three" is in quotation marks because Cloes was inside the line and neither referee signaled a three-pointer --- but it was awarded as such on the scoreboard. It made little difference in the end, however, as Siki Jez came back with one of her two second half threes to push the lead back up to 17 and Cameron never looked back after that, getting their entire roster into the game towards the end of the fourth.
A scary moment for Cameron occurred at the midway point of the fourth quarter when Robbins diced through the Bluevale defense on a fast break and was fouled hard, landing awkwardly on her leg. Though she stayed in the game to make 1-of-2 free throws, she subbed out immediately thereafter and the prognosis is probably not what Cameron fans would have hoped for.
It looks as though Robbins has an achilles injury --- not a tear --- but the severity of the injury is such that it may still be (up to) a couple weeks' recovery time. In other words, she's doubtful for Saturday night's semifinal game against KCI.
On the positive side, the Gaels can still get through to CWOSSA even with a loss, so long as WCI beats Eastwood in the other semifinal. That said, if there's a team that can possibly withstand an injury to one of their top guns, it's the Gaels, since they are extremely balanced on offense.
Siki Jez led the way on the day for Cameron with 15 points (including 3-for-6 from three-point range). Robbins and Liz McLellan had 13 each, and guard Anny Phan contributed 8. Camille Gardner (2), Cindy Xayavong (2) and Sam Murray (1) rounded out the CHCI scoring.
Bluevale also had a balanced scoring attack on this night, which was led by Donna Cloes' 8 points (including two threes), Jen Gilmour (7), Elissa Dent (7 after scoring 25 against SJAM on Tuesday), Shannon Curran (6) and Deanna Papp (2). Though Bluevale's season is over, they still have a relatively young roster with many players from the '08 WCSSAA junior championship team, and the '09 junior team that advanced through to CWOSSA. I expect the Knights to again be one of the top few teams in the league next season ---- especially with the additional help that is coming up from their (currently undefeated) junior squad.
As for Cameron, you have to like how this squad plays. Their starting lineup can all play defense, handle the ball in the open floor, and shoot (all 5 starters attempted at least one three-pointer). Grade 10 forward McLellan is a beast on the boards (8 on Thursday) and has the confidence of someone who has played a couple years of senior ball. Meanwhile, Jez might be one of the better all-around players in WCSSAA --- she has height, plays great defense with active hands, can shoot from distance, and can bring the ball up against pressure.
Robbins, meanwhile, is a great leader on the floor --- and the bench; despite her foul trouble and late-game injury she was right into the game cheering her teammates on. If she can't go on Saturday (which looks like the case at this point in time), I'm sure she'll be the loudest Cameron supporter in attendance.
As mentioned above, KCI will battle Cameron on the Gaels' home floor this Saturday at 7:00pm.
"The fact that our semi-final game will take place on our homecourt will hopefully build our confidence," said Jez.
The other semifinal will see #5 Eastwood play top-ranked WCI. The winner of that game will be guaranteed a CWOSSA "AAAA" berth.
As mentioned above, KCI will battle Cameron on the Gaels' home floor this Saturday at 7:00pm.
"The fact that our semi-final game will take place on our homecourt will hopefully build our confidence," said Jez.
The other semifinal will see #5 Eastwood play top-ranked WCI. The winner of that game will be guaranteed a CWOSSA "AAAA" berth.
Boxscore - Cameron Heights (53) vs. Bluevale (30)
CHCI 14-15-12-12 = 53
BCI 06-10-07-07 = 30
Cameron Heights
A. Phan 3-7 FG (2-4 3PT); 4 Reb, 2 Ast - 8 points.
E. Robbins 6-11 FG (0-2 3PT), 1-2 FT; 3 Reb, 2 Ast - 13 points.
S. Jez 5-13 FG (3-6 3PT), 2-2 FT; 5 Reb, 1 Ast - 15 points.
C. Gardner 0-5 FG (0-1 3PT), 2-4 FT; 2 Reb, 1 Ast - 2 points.
L. McLellan 4-13 FG (0-1 3PT), 5-6 FT; 8 Reb, 1 Ast - 13 points.
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S. Murray 0-2 FG, 1-2 FT; 3 Reb - 1 point.
C. Xayavong 1-1 FG, 2 points.
T. Be 0-0 FG, 0-1 FT; 1 Reb - 0 points.
#25 0-0 FG, 1 Ast - 0 points.
L. Cowie 0-0 FG, 0 Points.
#35 0-0 FG, 0 points.
#15 0-0 FG, 0 points.
S. Slovinski 0-0 FG, 0 Points.
Field Goals: 19-52, .365. Three-Point Goals: 5-14, .357. Free-Throws: 11-17, .647
Bluevale
D. Cloes 3-10 FG (2-8 3PT), 0-3 FT; 4 Reb, 1 Ast - 8 points.
J. Gilmour 2-5 FG, 3-4 FT; 5 Reb, 1 Ast - 7 points.
E. Dent 3-7 FG, 1-4 FT; 6 Reb, 1 Ast - 7 points.
A. Shinkar 0-4 FG (0-1 3PT); 3 Reb, 2 Ast - 3 points.
S. Curran 3-8 FG; 4 Reb - 6 points.
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D. Papp 1-1 FG; 2 Reb, 1 Ast - 2 points.
A. Bartlett 0-3 FG; 1 Reb - 0 points.
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