For the second night in a row, the Brant County senior girls basketball final was decided by a set of free throws.
This time it was Assumption College Lions' Alex VanDyk's turn to play the role of hero.
With 16.6 seconds remaining in Game 2 of the best-of-three series at North Park Collegiate, VanDyk stood at the foul line with her team down by one after she stole the ball at half court and drove to the hoop, drawing a foul.
VanDyk showed nerves of steel, as she sank both shots, then did a fist pump as she gave her team the lead for good. Moments later, Nicole Shea sank one of two from the charity stripe to add some insurance as the Lions came away with a 55-53 win over the St. John's College Green Eagles.
"I was thinking I was going to do it for my team," VanDyk said. "We deserved it all year. There's no words to describe how excited I am. There was a bunch of emotions coming at me."
Despite those emotions and the obvious nerves thanks to a packed gym and the game on the line, VanDyk was confident.
"Under pressure I was OK because I knew I could do it for my team," she said.
VanDyk's late heroics capped another nail-biter between the two teams that have battled at the top of the loop all season. And with each team splitting a regular season and playoff game, Monday's Game 3 is not only the rubber match, but for all of the marbles - Brant County title and Central Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association AAAA berth.
"It was an amazing feeling (to win the game)," VanDyk said. "We knew we'd come out 100% and we're going to do the same thing on Monday."
But to do it, the Lions had to persevere through injury and foul trouble to win the fourth quarter.
With Jerika Baldin and Abby Heron in foul trouble, Emily Gill, who was the leading Lion scoring 12 points and grabbing almost every rebound in site through three quarters, left the game because of an injury at the end of the third quarter.
For the Green Eagles, they realize they have another chance to lock up another senior girls basketball title.
"We came out and we played hard," Lauren Dubois said.
"We fought for every single loose ball out there. You know what? Both teams were battling. And, when it came down to it, they had us in the end.
"It happens," she said. "But honestly, I'm not too worried. Our team is strong. We just have to come out on Monday and take it home. If anything, this was a learning experience."
IN THE PAINT: Game 3 of the junior final begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday, with the seniors to follow at 7 p.m. Both games are back at NPC.
Retrieved From: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2012/11/08/senior-lions-eagles-heading-to-game-3
