Game Time / Location
8pm today, Resurrection CSS
Season Series
RCSS 2-0 (W 45-24 & W 34-26)
How They Got Here
Resurrection: Defeated #4 St. Benedict 46-30
St. Mary's: Defeated #3 Woodland Christian 36-17
Key Players / Projected Starters
Resurrection: Sarah Schulz (20.2 PPG - D8's Leading Scorer); Marley Neiscier; Angelika Jarski; Andrea Philippi; Ellen McGowan.
St. Mary's: Sydney Greulich, Laura Kay, Beth Zabib, Alysha Hergott, Monica Januszek.
Preview
Here we are again -- albeit with a much different cast than last year.
Gone from last year's match-up are three players that are now donning CIS uniforms (Jacqui Rodrigues, RCSS & Natasha Stoyakovich, SMHS - Waterloo; Kaitlyn Schenck, SMHS - Laurier). In fact, heading into the season, I wasn't sure if these teams would be back in this year's final, but both teams have received tremendous contributions from some of their grade eleven rookies.
Obviously, Sarah Schulz has been tremendous for Rez and has made a smooth adjustment to the senior ranks, where she is among CWOSSA's leading scorers. However, Andrea Phillippi and Ellen McGowan, fellow grade 11s, have also made significant contributions on and off the scoresheet.
For St. Mary's, Sydney Greulich, Laura Kay, and Beth Zabib are their grade 11s, who have mixed in nicely with 5th year veterans Alysha Hergott and Monica Januszek.
Whereas Rez's Schulz is their expected offensive threat, the Eagles have a "score by committee" approach that could see any of the above five players lead their scoring on any given day. Along with that, they have significant balance (only once did a St. Mary's player score over 12 points in a game); most games you'll see 2, 3, or even 4 players tally 7+ points in the stat book.
For that reason, expect St. Mary's to have a game-plan that looks to contain Schulz. They regrouped after their first meeting (a 45-24 Rez win where Schulz had 24 points), and focused their defense on her the second-time around --- even triple and quadruple teaming her on occasion in the second meeting. Though they lost the second meeting (34-26), the game was much more competitive and Schulz was held to 12 points.
Having seen both teams in person, I think St. Mary's has the edge in inside scoring and Rez a strong edge in guard-play. The Phoenix will want to push the ball with Schulz and try to keep St. Mary's (who aren't a great shooting team) on the perimeter when Rez is on the defensive end.
The Eagles, meanwhile, will most certainly key on Schulz so somebody else from Resurrection is going to have to step up in this one. If that doesn't happen, St. Mary's could certainly walk away with (another) D8 Championship tonight.
That being said, I'll still go with the Phoenix in this one but I'm intrigued to see how both teams approach this one!
Mark's Pick: Resurrection 37, St. Mary's 29.
