Second time's a charm.After coming up on the short end of a 28-26 game in the championship final of the Southwood tournament last year, the Jacob Hespeler Hawks again held their opponents to 28 points, this time with a more positive result as the Hawks posted a 41-28 win over Kitchener Resurrection.
The Hawks got off to a flying start, outscoring the Phoenix 12-2 over the opening five minutes, thanks to some great inside scoring by Candice Wright and timely outside shooting by Jasmine Ramcharan.
Jacob Hespeler would extend their lead to 27-9 midway through the second quarter before Rez found their offensive groove, closing the half on a 10-2 run to get back to within 29-19 at halftime.
However, the Hawks would put the clamps down on the defensive end in the second half, holding the Phoenix to just five third quarter points and four in the final frame.
Candice Wright led the way for Jacob Hespeler with an 18 point, 7 rebound performance. Ramcharan had 12 points --- all in the first half --- while Courtney Wright had 7 points and 9 rebounds; she was extremely active on the offensive glass. Jacob Hespeler held a 28-18 edge in rebounding for the game.
Rez was led by Sarah Schulz, who scored 14 points while adding 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Celia McGlynn was next on the Phoenix scoresheet with 8.
Both teams advanced to the finals by posting single digit wins earlier on Saturday. Jacob Hespeler defeated Guelph CVI 38-31, while Resurrection knocked off London Laurier 56-49, with Sarah Schulz scoring 32 points in that one.
Schulz knocked home a three-pointer in the waning seconds to give Resurrection an opening-round 42-41 win over the KCI Raiders in the most competitive of the quarterfinal games. Other first round scores were: Guelph CVI 56, Southwood 30; Jacob Hespeler 42, Owen Sound 17; and Laurier 50, Eastwood 15.
