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| Saints Celebrate Their Title at the Buzzer |
down the stretch for a 46-30 win over the Resurrection Phoenix in the D8 Senior Championship held at SBCSS on Friday evening.
The win was St. Benedict's second-ever District 8 Senior Girls' title, and their first since 2002.
Both teams came out a bit tight, with baskets at a premium early on. The Saints led 7-6 after one, but a strong second quarter by Afifa Salaad keyed a 12-3 run that put the Saints up by 10 late in the second.
In fact, Salaad hit a very nice step-back three pointer before being fouled and making two free throws on the very next possession.
Down 19-9, Rez's Rachel Engel had a huge "and one" basket for the Phoenix in the waning seconds of the half, to cut the Saints' lead to 7 at the break (19-12).
CC McGlynn, Resurrection's leading scorer during the regular season, was held off the scoresheet in the first half although she was saddled with some foul difficulties.
The squads traded baskets for most of the third quarter, although a late surge by the Saints (keyed by Leusink) allowed them to maintain their halftime edge of seven points heading to the fourth.
With about 2:30 left in the third and SBCSS clinging to a 4-point lead, Leusink found herself uncovered by the Phoenix defense during an inbounds play, which gave them a six point lead.
The 29-22 score heading into the fourth was as close as Rez would get.
Timely baskets (and free-throw shooting) by St. Benedict in the fourth took away any hope of an RCSS comeback --- midway through the fourth, Rez was within 10 points but the Saints promptly shredded the Phoenix press on the ensuing possession, followed by a backbreaking Leusink "and one" (which fouled out Rachel Engel, Rez's leading scorer to that point), which made the score an insurmountable 41-26.
Leusink led the way with those 19 points, and added 6 rebounds. Afifa Salaad was also in double-digits, as she had 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists for SBCSS.
For Rez, Rachel Engel had 12 points while Britney Haughton netted 11 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. CC McGlynn, under a close eye from the SBCSS defense, finished with 4 points and 6 rebounds.
St. Benedict will host a qualifier this Wednesday against Brantford Collegiate to see who will join Grand River, WCI, and Centennial as the final "AAAA" CWOSSA qualifier.
