GUELPH — The Lourdes Crusaders and Bishop Macdonell Celtics will battle for supremacy in the District 10 high schools senior girls’ basketball league Saturday night.
The Crusaders and Celtics scored semifinal victories Thursday to gain a berth in Saturday’s championship match at the Mitchell Athletics Centre.
At Lourdes, the Crusaders had to work double overtime to edge the St. James Lions 56-54 while at Bishop Mac, the Celtics won the battle of three-point shots as they downed the Ross Royals 62-39 in a game that saw the players sink a total of 13 three-point shots.
The Crusaders trailed 14-9 at the end of the first quarter, 26-25 at the half and 40-36 after three quarters before pulling even at 47 by the end of regulation time. The teams scored four points apiece in the first four-minute overtime period before Lourdes claimed the win in the second overtime.
“That’s not the way we drew it up, but we knew they were going to fight hard,” Lourdes coach Mark Tonizzo said. “Those two sisters (Chelsey and Brittany Gazzola) are hard to stop and they had other people step up and play well. It’s too bad someone had to lose because both teams played super well.”
In the eight minutes of overtime, the teams sank one field goal apiece, meaning the Crusaders won the match on free throws, sinking seven to five for the Lions.
“We’ve actually improved a lot over the season because we had some trouble shooting free throws,” Tonizzo said.
Madison Vettoretto sank one of the free throws for the Crusaders despite shooting with her left hand. She’s not a lefty, but a wrist injury prevents her from shooting with her right hand. She hit one of six free throws during the final 16 minutes of the game, but it was the basket that put Lourdes ahead for good in the second overtime period.
“It’s tough to keep going when you miss continually, but you’ve got to go in with confidence, no matter what,” she said. “You can’t let yourself down. Keep going and you’ll make it eventually.”
Hannah Pearsall led Lourdes with 16 points while Charlotte Case had 13, Monica Trimble 11, Vettoretto and Cecilia Hudecki five apiece, Aida Raab four and Victoria Brombal two.
Chelsey Gazzola and Keely McVicar each had 13 for St. James while Brittany Gazzola had 12. Ashley Benham and Lia Aramini netted six apiece while Jordan Morris had three.
The overtime period were tight affairs with both teams concentrating on playing tight defence. That could lead to many nervous moments for all players on the court.
“I try not to get nervous because I know it will affect my game,” Vettoretto said. “I have to stay calm, breath and keep everybody else calm and if we play as a team, we can do it.”
At Bishop Mac, the Celtics grabbed an early lead and never let it go. They held quarter leads of 16-11, 39-23 and 45-28.
Andrea Priamo led Bishop Mac with 16 points while Rebecca Morris had 14 (two three-pointers), Jess Morris 10 (three threes), Sandra Clark nine (one three), Kaitlyn Phillips seven (one three) and Katie Labron six.
Sydney Resch hit five three-pointers on her way to a game-high 24 points for Ross. Julia Robertson and Teddi Taran had six apiece, Taran hitting a three-pointer, and Stephanie Gordon added four.
The Crusaders and Celtics are to meet in Saturday’s semifinal which is to start at 8 p.m.
D10 Jr. Girls Basketball
Semifinals
St. James 36 Bishop Macdonell 35
Natasha Herrot struck for 18 points for St. James while Donna Zen had eight and Meghan Santi and Stephanie Giovinazzo four apiece. Caroline Bimbino added two. For Bishop Mac, Tianna Sullivan led with nine while Madison Martinez had six, Carter Godman and Hannah Kendall five each, Mikayla Tassone and Jessica Burke four each and Rachael DiGravio two.
Guelph CVI 49 Centennial 26
Sydney Wilson collected 20 points for GCVI while Abby MacIntyre had 10 and Jenna Falconer and Ijeoma Staunton seven apiece. Emma Cain connected for 11 for Centennial while Halle Milne chipped in with six and Emma Korol contributed five.
GCVI and St. James are to start Saturday’s championship doubleheader at the Mitchell Athletics Centre at 6 p.m.
D4 Sr. Girls Basketball - Final
Wellington Heights 37 Norwell 27
Nicole Bauman hit for a game-high 17 points to lead Wellington Heights while Stacey Harper followed with 15. Erica Runstedler led Norwell with eight points while Laura Rumph added six.
D4 Jr. Girls Basketball - Final
Wellington Heights 41 Centre Dufferin 34
Elyse Bridgwater’s 18 points led Wellington Heights while Haley Rooney added eight. Aislyn Thornington and Micaela Pflance each had eight for Centre Dufferin.
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