Brantford Expositor: Trojans, Green Eagles in Senior Final

Article By:  Vincent Ball

The North Park Collegiate Trojans found their game not a moment too soon to earn a spot in the Brant County senior girls basketball final.

The Trojans beat a feisty Assumption College Lions team 34-30 on Thursday night in a game that featured several lead changes.

"We got off to a really slow start and we had far too many turnovers," Sarah Minutillo, the Trojans point guard said following the game. "But in the fourth quarter we found our game.

"We really picked up the intensity and managed to pull out a win. The intensity in the last four minutes was awesome."

The Trojans will face St. John's College Green Eagles at St. John's in the best-of-three final starting Tuesday. Game time is 7 p.m. Game 2 will be Thursday and, if necessary, Game 3 will be Friday.

St. John's earned its spot in the final by beating Brantford Collegiate Mustangs 80-43.

For North Park, Minutillo played a lot of hard minutes, working to beat the tough Lions' press, as well as running the offence.

With both teams playing strong defence it was a tight game and by the end of the first half the Trojans led 13 to 11.

The Trojans opened the scoring in the second half with a three-pointer to take a 16-11 lead but couldn't generate much offence for the quarter.

The Lions, meanwhile, used their tenacious defence to force some turnovers and take over the game. By the end of the third-quarter, the Lions led 23-16.

In the fourth quarter, the Trojans fought back and got some key baskets from Brooke Cesar, who made a couple of nice outside shots and also scored from the foul line.

The Trojans also got points from Sydney Adams late in the game.

With just minutes to go, the game was tied at 28. Assumption took it to the hoop for a layup but the Trojans immediately countered with one of their own and drew a foul.

When the flurry ended, the Trojans had a 31-30 lead and we're able to close out the game by protecting the ball with under a minute left.

Lauren Snider, of the Lions, was pleased with her team's effort.

"This is the best kind of loss," Snider said after the game. "We wanted it really bad and we played our hearts out.

"But we came in as the underdog and lost to a really good team."

The team has learned a great deal about playing together this year and that experience will help them next year, the Grade 11 student said.

The Trojans were led in scoring by Cesar who had 19 points. Dani Romany hit for seven for North Park, while Sydney Adams had six.

Chelsea Murray had eight for the Lions while Rykala Baldin had 6.

The Green Eagles were led by Erin Dubois and Alex Girardi with 17 points each, while Emily Dignan and Kaitlyn Overeem each scored 15.

The Mustang were led in scoring by Summer Sakaluk with 21, Lacey Madia with 10 and Madison McBride with four.

The best-of-three junior final is also set to begin Tuesday. BCI will play North Park at St. John's at 5:30 p.m.

North Park earned its spot in the final by beating St. John's 35-21. Noelle Adams scored 11 points for the Trojans, while Amber Leggett scored and Simran Grewal each scored 8. The Green Eagles were led in scoring by Madi Brimmer with 8 and Christina Emmons with 7.

BCI, meanwhile, beat Assumption 50-24. Taylor Hill scored 16 for the Mustangs, while Kennedy Chisholm scored 12. Dakota Tlustos scored 8 for the Lions.

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