SIMCOE - The Simcoe Sabres had something to prove heading into the NSSAA Senior Girls Basketball Championship against the Delhi Raiders.
When the two teams last met in regular season play, Delhi beat the Sabres after Kendra Freund scored a buzzer-beater to give the Raiders a 38-36 victory. It was Simcoe's only loss on the season, and one they weren't about to see repeated.
“I think coming into this game we knew we had to prove ourselves to them,” said Simcoe’s Jenna Schott.
Their confidence — built through hard work in practice all season long — was justified as the Sabres earned a 43-37 victory on their home court, to claim the school's second straight senior girls title.
The win didn’t come easy for Simcoe by any means.
The two teams battled back and forth during the first half of play and were deadlocked 22-22 heading into the second half of the game.
“Delhi fought a great battle and had us shaking in our chairs a bit,” said Simcoe’s Hailey Taylor. “They were beating our press and they were so fast.”
As soon as Simcoe earned a bucket, Delhi would push past the Sabres and answer back.
“I think it was nerves a lot of it, we were rushing plays, whereas in the second half we slowed down,” said Schott. “No one got tired, and we hustled.”
By the start of the fourth quarter Simcoe held a slim 33-30 lead.
“Our shots were going in and our plays were going well and I think Delhi was getting frustrated with that because they realized we were getting up there,” said Taylor.
That’s when the game turned scrappy. Two of Delhi’s players were hit with five personal fouls before the end of the game, one being leading scorer Leah Ebdon.
“It was a really aggressive game. In the last minute of play, you do what you’ve got to do,” said Ebdon.
Delhi refused to surrender the win to Simcoe. With 21 seconds left on the clock Delhi’s Morgan King pulled her team within two possessions, but the damage was already done.
This is the second year in a row the Sabres have ousted the Raiders in the final game of NSSAA.
“It’s always a rivalry with them,” said Ebdon.
With the victory, Simcoe will advance to the AA CWOSSA tournament being held Nov. 14 in Guelph.
Retrieved From: http://www.simcoereformer.ca/2012/11/08/senior-sabres-back-on-top
